The All Peoples Congress (APC) Secretary General Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh has written to the Inspector General of Police making a complaint against Austin Johnny, who he said calls himself the Chairman of the SLPP Grassroots, about an audio threatening him and all executive members of the APC party. In the letter to the IG, Yansaneh said he is forwarding the audio to him that says the SLPP Grassroots are prepared to unleash violence against him and his family, and even kill him and destroy his properties.
“This is to kindly ask you to invite such a man to be investigated for formenting and inciting violence against me and my family and against other prominent APC leaders including the former President and current Chairman and Leader of the APC, the former flag bearer and all executive members of our party, the APC,” read the letter. In his letter, Yansaneh stated that the APC has not called on any of its members to go out into the streets and demonstrate against the government, “so why is Mr Austin Johnny targeting me and my family amongst other prominent APC members?”
The Secretary General said it is his hope that the IG will treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves, adding that he has sent the letter to all foreign Embassies, the Chairman of PPRC, all civil society organisations and political parties, and the Director of ONS. In a telephone interview with Alhaji Osman Yansaneh, he said he has to take up the matter with the police and follow due process, “because that is the right thing to do”.
“In the last two years we have seen all the violence against our members and the party office, and with such an audio making rounds on social media I have to make the complaint, and look forward to the IG to take action.” Alhaji Osman Yansaneh said at no time has the party called for demonstration, and he was shocked to hear such because the national executive of the party has never thought of that.
He said the reason why the executive is having meetings is to see how they can organise their lower level elections across the country, as the mandate of the party’s executive comes to an end in October. “We have no such intention and we will never sanction such to happen under the party as we believe to follow the due process rather than jumping on the street. APC is a law abiding party and will never allow its members to do the wrong thing. We have been calling on all of our members to listen to the national executive and what they have been doing to keep the peace we fought for, and to save lives and properties.”
Alhaji Yansaneh said he is appealing to all members of the party not to take the law into their hands, but to always listen to the executive to know the way forward. He said he is hoping that the police will take the appropriate measures to ensure that peace and tranquility reign in the country.