Victor King, National Chairman of the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP), has stated that Honourable Musa Tarawally ceased to be a member of the party in 2018, dismissing recent attempts to associate the former CDP flagbearer with the party.
According to Victor King, Honourable Musa Tarawally formally communicated his decision to leave the CDP in 2018 and subsequently declared his support for the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Bo.
Victor King also alleged that SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa was interfering in the internal affairs of the CDP and attempting to use certain members of the party against Honourable Musa Tarawally.
“I met him, I said no,” Victor King said, referring to what he described as a private meeting during which he rejected the alleged plan.
“If they have a problem with Musa, let them solve it. He is not a member of CDP,” he said.
The CDP National Chairman maintained that since Honourable Musa Tarawally left the party, he had neither attended CDP meetings nor paid membership dues or participated in any political activity organised by the party.
Victor King said there had previously been efforts to convince Honourable Musa Tarawally to return to the CDP, but those attempts were unsuccessful.
“At some point, we were yearning for him to return to the party, but he didn’t, despite our best efforts to convince him,” he stated.
Giving an account of a recent party meeting, Victor King said the issue surrounding Honourable Musa Tarawally’s membership was among the matters scheduled for discussion.
He alleged, however, that during the meeting, it became apparent that there was what he described as a “premeditated plot,” claiming that a document had already been prepared for members to sign.
Victor King said he and other party officials resisted signing the document, insisting that issues affecting the CDP should first be properly addressed before members could proceed with signing any communiqué.
“We didn’t sign the document that they brought because we don’t know where it came from,” he said.
According to him, all regional chairmen and some senior members subsequently left the meeting hall. He further stated that he had already formally closed the meeting and that representatives of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) were present.
Victor King alleged that some individuals later proceeded to sign a communiqué after the meeting had been closed, describing the document as not reflecting the position or spirit of the CDP.
“The SLPP is a party on its own. But we know in the CDP that the letter that was written on behalf of the party does not represent the spirit of the party,” he said.
He further alleged that the letter was prepared by a group of individuals within the CDP whom he claimed had direct links with the SLPP National Chairman, an allegation presented by Victor King as his account of the internal dispute.
Victor King reiterated that Honourable Musa Tarawally was no longer a member of the Citizens Democratic Party and said any political disagreement involving him should be handled within the party to which he currently belongs.
“Hon. Musa Tarawally is not a member of the CDP. If anybody is using certain people because he thinks Musa Tarawally is a threat to his political ambition, that’s his problem. But Hon. Musa Tarawally is not a member of our party,” Victor King said.
“If the SLPP Chairman has an issue with Musa Tarawally, he should settle it within their party and not use CDP to bring anybody down,” he added.
Joseph E. Kobie, Southern Regional Chairman of the Citizens Democratic Party, also maintained that Honourable Musa Tarawally was no longer a member of the CDP.
According to Joseph E. Kobie, Honourable Musa Tarawally joined the CDP and contested as the party’s flagbearer in the 2018 elections. He said that when the presidential election proceeded to a runoff, party members accompanied Honourable Musa Tarawally to Bo, where he declared his support for the SLPP.
Joseph E. Kobie further stated that Honourable Musa Tarawally subsequently submitted a resignation letter to the CDP, which he said was acknowledged by the party’s national leadership.
“I want Sierra Leoneans to know that Hon. Musa Tarawally is not a member of CDP. He resigned long ago while actively participating in the activities of the SLPP,” Joseph E. Kobie stated.
The statements by Victor King and Joseph E. Kobie come amid disagreement within the Citizens Democratic Party over Honourable Musa Tarawally’s relationship with the party and the circumstances surrounding the disputed communiqué.
