President Julius Maada Bio says the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Progressive Alliance between the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the National Grand Coalition is not just about winning the 2023 elections, but about governing and delivering what the citizens want.
The president was admonishing his supporters when introducing their progressive and strategic alliance to the people of Bo over the weekend.
He said looking at how enormous and complex the task ahead is in developing the country, it was the key reason for them to come together and put their human resource together to make life easier for Sierra Leoneans.
He also acknowledged how difficult it were to bring two former independent leaders together as it has so many challenges like conspiracy theory of betrayal, but said working together with NGC members would give a strong force.
Speaking on the importance of the alliance, he said they understood that working separately will not achieve much as compared to when working together.
He urged the SLPP members and supporters to go out of their comfort zone and cajole more people from other political parties, to see reason in joining the ruling party.
“Is not just about saying no run off, what have you done to ensure there is no run off? How many people have you brought to the party? Shouting one country, one people is just the same number,” President Bio pointed out.
The president told the supporters of those preaching hate messages, that the alliance in contrast, clearly preaches togetherness, peace and development.
The Leader of NGC, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY), said the alliance is about how they can develop, bring Sierra Leoneans together, defend, and bring hope to the citizens of the country.
He also talked about how other people’s aim is to always criticize everything others do. He said he’s worried of the division in the country because people are preaching hate.
KKY said the alliance is about putting their grievances and ego aside to unify the country adding that when you place the county first it will definitely develop. He also noted that the alliance also speaks a message of non-tribalism.
He said the president now and again ask him what needed to be done to develop the country, as they always feel ashamed seeing other countries vastly developing.
He also noted that development of a country needs every hand on deck and that development cannot be achieved overnight.
Yumkella also told government officials that the second term of president should be time for delivery.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (15/05/23)
