Following recent pronouncement by the SLPP that they were going to return fire for fire, due to alleged persistent attacks on their party membership by APC members, Presidential Affairs Minister, Hon Alpha Kanu yesterday called on the main opposition SLPP to apologise to the people of this nation for inciting their [SLPP] supporters to return fire for fire as said recently by J J. Saffa, the Secretary General for SLPP.
Speaking at the usual press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Hon Alpha Kanu, who was referring to a press release from the SLPP as published by a local newspaper said, the statement by the SLPP is a pointedly fallacious statement that should be corrected and that according to his understanding, fire for fire means, asking supporters of the SLPP to take the law into their own hands.
He said, it is very wrong for the SLPP to utter such words especially in a democracy like ours and that, “the SLPP must go back and tell the people that they made a mistake…Don’t give the impression that the law has broken in Sierra Leone”. Rhetorically, Alpha Kanu asked if the SLPP has no credible leadership to control their supporters. “This is a very precarious moment”, Kanu said.
In his words, the Minister of Information and Communication, Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said, the elections are perceived by his government as part of the process of peace maintenance and promoting the democratic culture of the country.
The government, the Minister said, is aware of the fact that, they are being monitored by the International Community and that democracy has come to stay in the country. “It can no longer be manipulated”, Minister Kargbo said.
The NEC outreach officer, Miatta French also spoke on the progress that the commission has made so far in ensuring free, fair and transparent elections come Saturday. She said, they have undertaken a number of training for NEC staffs in the country.
Police Operations Boss, Richard Moigbeh, while stating the readiness of police said, they have put in place measures that would ensure, they provide the needed security for the elections.
Meanwhile, representatives of the three leading political parties have yesterday reiterated their commitment towards free, fair and peaceful elections.
Michael Charlie Hinga from the SLPP said they are as a party are against violence and called on his supporters to go and vote on Saturday and do nothing contrary to the law.
Mohamed Bangura of the PMDC blamed the APC and SLPP for promoting violence and called on them to stop, while, Cornelius Deveaux of the APC spoke that they are always committed towards peace since they were elected on a clean record.
However, responding to a question from Awoko, Michael Charlie Hinga of SLPP said, they [SLPP] still maintain their call for fire for fire since, nobody would allow his or her friend to slap him or her and then that friend decides not to retaliate.
By John Baimba Sesay
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