After the act of vandalism at the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) headquarters in Freetown, top party officials yesterday visited and held a press conference at the vandalized office.
With no chairs to sit on the SLPP chairman, Alhaji U.N.S Jah, consoled crying supporters that all was not lost for their party.
Even though he spoke confidently, his facial expressions showed grief and disbelief.
He said, “if there is any time in the history of our country when we are saddened with what has happened to this party that is beyond our imagination and does not reflect the civilization of our country and does not respond adequately to the democracy that we all seek, this is one of such times that we are dismayed, shocked and puzzled by the magnitude of and propensity of the indescribable tragedy that has befallen this party in the name of wicked people coming to invade and harass us”.
The crying intensified as the chairman expressed to his supporters the commitment they gave to the party and for voting for it. He also reminded them that they had moral victory as what happened to the party was beyond their control.
“Be that as it may we are the mother of all political parties and shall continue to show the motherly feelings and lead for others to follow when it comes to matter of culture, tradition and discipline and the best way to support us is by recognizing the rule of law,” he noted.
The party’s national secretary general, Jacob Jusu Saffa, read a statement from the party stating that preliminary estimates to the damage done to the party put it to over two billion Leones.
The now opposition party secretary general said under the eyes of the police, “APC youths pelted stones at our party headquarters and comprehensively looted the office”, he said adding that computers, accessories, photocopiers, sewing machines, motor bikes, bicycles, chairs and tables with personal items were charted away.
Jacob Saffa said since Monday, many of their supporters had been intimidated, harassed and victimized. He told of how the residence of Sidique Brima, former minister of local government, was looted and a vehicle owned by outgoing defence minister also looted, whilst houses owned by resident minister north, Alex Kargbo, and Ambassador Saccoh were destroyed in Kalangba, Bombali district.
The hotel of a minister, Okere Adams, he continued, was also vandalized together with vehicles owned by guests.