Sierra Leone News: President Bio Holds Discussion with Former President
By Abu Bakarr Munu
Sierra Leone’s former president, Ernest Bai Koroma has on Thursday September 12, 2019, met with his successor President Julius Maada Bio at a closed door meeting at State Lodge in Freetown.
The long overdue meeting of the two elderly statesmen, according to the Information and Communication Minister, Mohamed Abdulrahman Swaray yesterday, was necessitated by the government because President Bio believes that it would be enduring peace and national cohesion, so that Sierra Leone will take its rightful position in the world.
Both sides have been at loggerheads since presidential election was won by the Bio-led Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in March 2018, following protests by the APC leadership about a range of issues including the removal of the security detail of former president without consultation.
There had been calls for mediation between the two sides, from various quarters in and outside of Sierra Leone. With the meeting of the two leaders, there is hope across the country for peace and national cohesion.
Senior government ministers including Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, Chief Minister David Francis were also present at the meeting with the APC party leadership which was represented by former President Ernest Bai Koroma, the deputy APC Chairman Minkailu Mansaray, National Secretary General Osman Yansaneh, and Ibrahim B. Kargbo.
Welcoming the APC leadership, president Bio expressed his commitment to peace and national cohesion, adding that irrespective of political differences, political leaders should have a continuous dialogue on issues of peace and national cohesion.
“This is our home and we owe it to the nation irrespective of our different political parties. Let us begin to chat the way forward so that peace and unity can return to the nation,” President Bio said.
President Bio noted that, this is the only country we all have called its patrimony, therefore they would have to ensure that it works and works for everybody not just the political class.
