By Alpha Abu
Citizens from all walks of life in all the 16 district headquarters towns and cities of Sierra Leone, simultaneously held peace marches to diffuse any potential tension, ahead of the 24th June General Elections in the country.
Dubbed “I Stand for Peace March”, the events organised by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) on Saturday 29th June, saw leaders of diverse groups make their commitments to transmit peace messages to their various communities.
In the Western Area, a long motorcade drove from Waterloo and through some of the main streets of Freetown onto Lumley Beach in the west of Freetown where Traditional Chiefs representing the 16 tribes in the region, Trade Union leaders, officials from the Security Sector, and Political Party representatives discussed the challenges to sustainable peace in the country as voters go to the polls next month.
Inspector-General of Police, William Fayia Sellu addressing the crowd said in all his 30 years in the force it was the first time he was witnessing a series of events taking place at the same time across the country.
He said the people of Sierra Leone want peace, and that the Police force is part of the efforts to have “a peace and quiet election”.
But the police chief issued a stern warning to potential troublemakers, saying they should think otherwise as any agenda they may have to cause mayhem was not going to work.
Deputy Head of the Office of National Security (ONS), Dr. Ahmed Sannoh explained the work of their department in creating an enabling environment for the country to progress.
He expressed hope that the chiefs’ presence would provide them with the opportunity to transmit messages of peace in their various settlements.
In his statement, the President of the Council of tribal heads, S.O. Gbekie recalled the Bintumani 3 Conference and the chiefs’ recent engagement with the peace commission all peace-focused that saw them signing a communiqué centred on fostering peace before, during, and after the elections.
Chief Gbekie then led his colleagues in unison to shout “No Violence”!
Deputy Chairperson United Democratic Party (UDM) Alima Lucy Deen, James Samuel Cole Grand Chief Patron of the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP), the leaders of the commercial bikers and rickshaw (Keke) riders and a host of other individuals made statements, generally committing themselves to promote peace in the country.
ICPNC Executive Secretary, Hawa Samai expressed gratitude to the different bodies that turned up all over the country to take across the message of peace and national cohesion. She said all must work hard to ensure the electoral process goes on without incidences of violence.
The upsurge in hate messages on social media has seen concerns being expressed about potential violence in the elections, if steps were not taken.
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