Strong members and supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) have reminded the two leading contenders for the position of SLPP Chairman that they belong to the same party. The purpose of this reminder is for peace to prevail in the party running the affairs of the state.
Concerned members of the ruling party including some party executives and grassroots supporters have reminded the two leading contenders for the position of SLPP Chairman, Batilo Songa and Engineer Amara Jambai Kanneh that the position of party chairman is serious and for someone who will unify instead of divide the party.
The staunch SLPP supporters reminded the men vying for the party’s chairmanship that the party is a credible republican institution with a long history in the country and on the continent of fielding local and national leaders of good repute for their executive positions.
It must be reminded that the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is one of Sierra Leone’s oldest and most influential political parties. It was formed in 1951 through the merger of the Protectorate Educational Progressive Union (PEPU) and the Sierra Leone Organisation Society (SOS). Initially, the party drew support from traditional rulers and the emerging middle class, and it played a key role in the country’s independence movement. Under the leadership of Sir Milton Margai, the SLPP governed Sierra Leone from independence in 1961 until 1967.
“The SLPP emerged from the fusion of PEPU and SOS, with Sir Milton Margai as its first national chairman. The party’s formation was intertwined with the desire for a unified political system for both the colony and the protectorate, a move that initially faced opposition from the Creole community in the colony. The SLPP’s ideology is rooted in social democracy and emphasises social justice, national unity, and economic development. This is what we want for the leading chairman contenders to remember. These elections are not a matter of do or die – no one has to die. We want to come out of this experience stronger and much unified,” the faithful SLPP supporters told this medium at the party’s office at Wallace Johnson Street.
Batilo Songa and Engineer Kanneh have been advised by concerned SLPP stalwarts and members of the party’s grassroots that the SLPP belongs to both of them and all of them at the same time.
“The party is ours. Both Batilo and Kanneh should know that we are in power so we expect them to be preaching peace and love for the party and our supporters. We don’t want anyone to die or anyone to be denied their right to vote, and we want peace to prevail. As men contending for such an honourable position in the party you should set a brighter example for the future. We want you to rein in your young supporters. Have a short leash on your party thugs; we should not be voting for chairmen who want to lead us into war. These elections should not be do or die battles. The election for the party’s chairman should be peaceful and credible. If we cannot run a successful and credible intraparty election what should we expect the people to think about our plan to run national elections?” the SLPP members asked rhetorically.
The diehard SLPP members and supporters reminded Batilo and Engineer Amara that whoever wins the election must call the other as the victory is not for either but for the sake of the party. The men are being reminded that they are being considered for election as party chairman not because of anything special but for the promises they made to improve things in the party and the country by extension.
“For these men to show that they are mature and not seeking votes for their personal interest, as soon as the elections are over they should start calling each other and wish each other well in the polls. We expect everyone vying for a party position to know that these elections are not do or die. They are to present a stronger party to the people for national elections. Batilo and Kanneh must know that they are fighting for the same cause and same goal, which is to win the 2028 elections. This means that they are partners in the SLPP’s hope of a third and possible fourth term as head of state. This is why we are repeating this call to both men to put a tight leash on their thugs. They must tell them that there is no need for internal fights between members of the same party who are also brothers from the same region. Tell your thugs to calm down so we can have a peaceful, free, fair, and credible chairman election that will not end up embarrassing us but also give the people an insider into what the 2028 elections would be. If we are to restore the people’s confidence in the electoral processes, they must start with how we do our intraparty elections,” one SLPP grassroots member stated.
The concerned SLPP members reminded the two leading contenders for the party’s chairman position- Batilo Songa and Engineer Amara Kanneh to remember that they are not enemies, that they are brothers representing the same party, same country, and region.
“Ahead of the SLPP chairman election we want to remind comrades Batilo and Kanneh that we belong to the same party. These elections must show the kind of maturity they will display as party chair. They must know that no matter what we are: One people, one country! At the end of the election there will be no loser as the party would have won and gotten a strong member for the chairman position,” the SLPP dons reminded the chairman hopefuls. Lonta!