The Flagbearer of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) , Julius Maada Bio, has called on the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC) Dr. Samura Kamara, to behave like a true Catholic by denouncing all forms of hate speech and incitement, which have the potential of destabilizing the hard-won peace and national cohesion the country enjoys.
He was speaking at an engagement with voters in Koindu, Buedu, and Kailahun townships, in the Kailahun district, as part of his ongoing nationwide engagement with stakeholders and voters ahead of the June 24 elections.
The President called out former President Ernest Bai Koroma and Dr Samura Kamara, the Presidential candidate for the APC, to disassociate themselves from a certain Adebayor, who, in the past five years, had incited violence and used abusive language against decent Sierra Leoneans.
“For the past five years, I have kept the peace and stability of this country. But the former President and the entire APC Executive have never come out publicly to denounce Adebayor’s hate speeches and incitements that had led to the loss of lives and destruction of property. Samura Kamara, be your own man. You are a Catholic Christian, you have values, and you should stand by those values. We have a country to protect, and we will protect it from anybody.
“We will never allow anybody to bring war to Sierra Leone again. I am calling on all peaceful Sierra Leoneans to go about their normal business now and always. We are going to conduct the June elections peacefully, and nothing will stop us from doing so. I am, therefore, calling on all registered voters to go out on June 24 and cast their ballot,” the President reiterated.
President Bio warned Samura Kamara to be a true Catholic and embrace peace. “Samura Kamara should be his own man or else I will take to security level since peace and stability is of essence,” he noted and said he is waiting for the end of the ultimatum sanctioned by the APC leadership to elapse. He referred to the recent political statements made by Ernest Koroma and Samura Kamara as mere rubbish and nonsensical.
He added that the SLPP recognized the role that was played by women in the district and the country in general towards his election victory in 2018, noting that women and girls would always be his priorities.
“Kailahun district is significant to me and the SLPP as a party. You have never disappointed me because this district is the party’s root, and you have always remained strong for us.
“Five years ago, I made a lot of promises and pledges to you, and I kept them. This is the opportunity for me to come and say thank you for believing that I can deliver some of the promises I made. Today, I am switching on the power to supply electricity to Kailahun town. You deserve more than what I have given you in the last five years.
“Kailahun district was neglected and willfully denied the development you should have had eleven years ago by the former All People’s Congress Government. I am here to show you how different the SLPP is from the APC,” he stated.
Haja Jeneba Gobeh, a senior member of the Kailahun Sowei Group, expressed gratitude and happiness for the visit of President Bio to their district and, in particular, for thanking them for voting for him in the 2018 elections. She confirmed that, “Kailahun district is for President Bio, and we, the women of Kailahun, are going to ensure that he wins the June election at the first ballot.
