By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Mohamed Gento Kamara, the leading and well-acclaimed political contender of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in the forthcoming June 24 elections, for the position of Mayor of Freetown Municipality, has informed a mammoth crowd that the Sunday 23rd April, 2023 Progressive Alliance Agreement which President Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) signed with the leader of National Grand Coalition (NGC), Hon. Dr, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY) is victory for all and very beneficial to all Sierra Leoneans and that it is a deliberate agreement for the fast development of Sierra Leone.
Mohamed Gento Kamara was speaking after the momentous event of 23rd April, 2023. He was among dignitaries that witnessed, participated and warmly embraced themselves at the formal signing of the Progressive Alliance for Transformational Development between the leaders of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and National Grand Coalition (NGC), H.E President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Hon. Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella respectively.
During the auspicious, colourful and well-attended event which took place at the Freetown International Conference Centre at Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown, thousands of SLPP, NGC supporters and members of the general public were in attendance, inside and outside the edifice.
President Julius Maada Bio in his statement said: “As leader of the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party, I formally sign the Progressive Alliance for Transformational Development Agreement with the leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) party, Honourable Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella.”
He further explained that the SLPP went into this Progressive Alliance with the NGC to maintain the peace, stability and development of Sierra Leone because “Sierra Leone is bigger than any political party or any individual.”
He added that the future of Sierra Leone is in the hands of all Sierra Leoneans irrespective of political affiliation, regional or ethnic connection.
On his part, Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella informed his audience that, “Wae We Put Salone Fos, Salone Go Beteh…Pa-o-pa Salone Go Beteh.” Loosely translated into English he meant: “When we put the business of Sierra Leone first and before any other business, Sierra Leone will develop as a matter of must.”
He added that: “Today marks a historic day in Sierra Leone as the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the National Grand Coalition (NGC) come together to form a Progressive Alliance. This decision demonstrates our unwavering dedication to placing the interests of our nation first and collaborating to create a brighter and more prosperous future for all our people.”
In his words of praise and support for the Progressive Alliance, the result-oriented and pragmatic SLPP Freetown Mayoral aspirant, Mohamed Gento Kamara frankly and candidly stated that the occasion indeed marked a momentous and significant milestone in the history of the country, firmly underscoring how the SLPP and NGC team is now set for victory.
He used the opportunity to call on all Sierra Leoneans to support the winning team that has emerged and to massively cast their votes for President Julius Maada Bio, his running mate, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and for him as Mayor of Freetown in order to usher in meaningful and sustainable progress and development.
In high spirits, dressed in a green SLPP Lacoste T-Shirt, with white trousers and green sneakers in addition to a green cap bearing his insignia, Gento went on to tell his mammoth crowd that he was in attendance at a SLPP/NGC Alliance Carnival in the wake of the formal signing ceremony.
He also informed citizens that Sierra Leone is going through serious economic challenges, but praised the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio for cushioning the effects of global economic meltdown through implementation of sound policies.
He maintained that he is optimistic that when this new team takes over State Governance, after winning the elections, things will continue to improve in better ways for majority of Sierra Leoneans, adding that “a bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush.”
Gento as he is commonly known enthusiastically told his audience that, forming the Alliance clearly demonstrates their (SLPP’s) commitment to putting the interest of the nation paramount as they see the need to collaborate with the aim of charting forward a viable future for the nation in the interest of all Sierra Leoneans.
It must be stated that, Gento joined the political race with the ambition of putting an end to tribal politics and to promote unity, especially among residents of the Freetown Metropolis and also with the firm belief that individual as well collective actions heavily influenced or laced by tribal or religious sentiments do not have a place in Freetown if progress and development are to be realized.
He said, “Regardless of tribal belonging, we all belong to one nation. It is very significant for all of us to put hands on deck, devoid of political or tribal differences to holistically work towards the progress and development of the Freetown Metropolis and the entire country.”
Worthy of note is that since the declaration of his political intention, Gento and his entourage have been crisscrossing the length and breadth of the Freetown Metropolis in meet-the-people tours with clear messages of his determination to sustainably transform Freetown – one of the oldest cities in the West Africa Sub-Region, to a more befitting city with modern and internationally recognized structures.
Meanwhile, it is being debated by schools of thought that the Progressive Alliance will be a formidable force to reckon with; underpinning how Mohamed Gento Kamara is indeed the right and appropriate political candidate for the FCC Mayor position as he has the requisite wherewithal, charisma, character, contacts, technical expertise and material resources to make major inroads in the development of Freetown Municipality when he is elected Mayor.
In a snap interview with residents of Freetown, it came out vividly that with President Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Hon. Kandeh Yumkella and Mohamed Gento Kamara, there will be massive development as agreed in the Progressive Alliance.
Shortly after the signing was announced, a number of political pundits expressed the view that, Dr. Yumkella’s decision has put an end to speculations as to which party he had been planning to aligning with, after being wooed by both the APC and SLPP, and more especially as he had announced a few weeks ago that he will be forming a strategic alliance with a political party any time soon.
Political pundits also say that the team is set for victory on June 24, this year, adding that they believe that the Progressive Alliance Agreement is sacrosanct, truthful and nothing but the ultimate truth.
