The Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Convention held over the weekend in Bo at Haikal School along Bo Koribondo highway was overshadowed by the dominant presence of state security personnel (Police and Army) causing many to be denied entrance into the convention hall.
The road leading to the convention venue was condoned with barriers set several metres before the gate with robust scrutiny of ID cards and vehicle searches. Neighbours to the school completely, were forced to divert their movement as armed Police and military personnel randomly patrolled the area.
The outgoing chairman of the SLPP John Oponjo Benjamin while addressing delegates and observers at the convention raised serious concern over the presence of state security but attributed it to the disunity within party and the violence issue.
Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio who was also absent during the opening ceremony of the convention spoke to a Local Radio in Bo where he condemned the increased presence of state security at their party convention.
Some observers said the presence of armed state security personnel was intimidating to many but others viewed their presence so as to restore peace and security during the convention.
The convention was well attended by different delegates and the process was peaceful without any violent incident.
In a related development motorists and pedestrians had to meander through deplorable roads with waist level depth of pot holes to get to the convention venue. As a result many low vehicles had to divert from the main Koribondo road to go through terrible access roads within the surrounding communities.
The deplorable roads pose serious challenges for the community which is host to hotels, guest houses, schools and offices. Residents and visitors blame the Roads Maintenance Fund for the bad condition of the road.
Residents told AWOKO that the road has not been repaired for years and they said the situation has also gone worse during the rains with nearby swamps feeding the Koribondo road.
By Saidu Bah in Bo
August 19, 2013
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