The SLPP New Direction Government should not trust the likes of Ambassador Bond Wurie to deliver Port Loko, the APC stronghold, in the forthcoming 2023 elections. There is a saying that the strength of political heavyweights is judged by their ability to deliver certain areas, which will culminate into huge votes for their parties.
The likes of Ambassador Bond Wurie and the Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abassa Bundu, and many other older folks in the SLPP from Port Loko will in no way deliver Port Loko and translate it into votes for the SLPP.
The current Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the able vice Chairman of the party, Mr. Izick Turay, are making considerable inroads for the party. They have contributed immensely in the recent past towards the Muslim community, the youths and the rejuvenation of football in the District.
The Vice President has given a strong commitment to support the Bai Bureh Warriors football team, which was known for bringing laurels to that part of the country. Quite recently, a delegation from the team met with the Vice President amidst his very tight schedule to pave the way forward to develop the team.
Ambassador Bond Wurie and his cohorts have not done anything to swing Port Loko to the SLPP. The essence for their appointment by President Julius Maada Bio is to be able to make inroads in the District.
No matter what one would say Port Loko still remains red, and the Vice President of the Republic and the Deputy Minister of Education, who is also a son of the soil, have done all their best and still doing more to look at areas in which they would help in pushing the District forward.
The Government of President Bio has provided funds amidst the deplorable economy to ensure that the dream of Port Loko becoming a city is actualized. Port Loko as a city has received every bit of support provided to all Local Councils across the country.
Other state apparatus like NASSIT, the Sierra Leone Police and many more institutions and social services are being gradually provided to Port Loko with a view to make the city equal with other cities.
The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Juldeh Jalloh, has been very pivotal in acting as the Chairman for Local Government decentralization in the country. His exuberance has seen the decentralization of more functions to the local council in just one year.
The last straw, which will break the camel’s back, is the building of the Lungi Bridge as against the Mamamah International Airport. This will put the District in the spotlight in terms of development and economic transformation.
It is crystal clear that the District has long been neglected by previous Governments, including the APC, that have received the highest votes from the District in both the 2007 and 2012 elections.
Port Loko, despite its transformation into a city, cannot boast of most facilities that should be found in major towns. Local Government allocation to the Port Loko District Council was the highest before now, but its people remain the poorest.
The Districts has a number of deprived communities, such as highlands and far distant villages that hardly benefit from the state resources and their God given wealth of iron ore from the Marampa Mines.
The SLPP Government should not rely on Ambassador Bond Wurie and the other older folks in Port Loko to deliver Port Loko for the SLPP. Government, through the Vice President, should continue the good work and transform Port Loko into a City that will be the envy of other cities in the country. The future is bright for the City of Port Loko and its people under the New Direction.