Ruling party making inroads in the East as…1,460 SLPP Defect to APC.
{Courtsey: Sierra Leone Issues- Tony Konomanyi's Facebook Post}
By Director Moisa
At least a total of four hundred and sixty (460) individuals who are disgusted over the way and manner they are being treated by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) of late have declared their membership and loyalty to the All People’s Congress (APC) party in Nyama Chiefdom, Daru, Kailahun district eastern province.
Speaking on the line from Daru, chairman and coordinator Akido Konneh of Jawei chiefdom Constituency 006, explained that the massive declaration came as a result of SLPP’s maltreatment of them and disregard for their views and choices of candidates for the recent lower level elections in which the SLPP marginalized their supporters in that part of the country and went ahead and secretly held the lower level elections without informing them.
He added that when the way and manner in which the SLPP treated its members in that part of the country was reported to the SLPP Chairman Foday Musa; and a meeting was later organized, he (Foday Musa) failed to listen to the voice of the former SLPP members which action further emboldened them to leave the SLPP and opt for the APC.
He maintained however that before the 460 people from the SLPP declared for the APC, word had been going round that many of them had already got fed up with the bad treatment and lack of respect for their views by the SLPP in that part of the country. According to Akido Konneh three distinct groups were formed.
One of the group which consisted of 175 (one hundred and seventy five) people were convinced that the APC Minister of State, Vice President’s Office, Mr. Alieu Bah, was the correct person they could put their trust in if they are to leave the SLPP for the APC and they made this abundantly clear.
The other group which consisted of 140 (one hundred and forty) individuals that were fed up with bad treatment from the SLPP laid their trust on Hon. Robin Faley, saying that they have no doubt that as long as he is the one they would be following into the APC, then they were ready to lay their necks and loyalty to the APC.
The third group of 145 (one hundred and forty five) former SLPP members openly associated and pledged their allegiance to the APC because they believed in Dr. Lansana Nyallay whom they described as an icon in whom they have explicit trust. Additionally however, several other SLPP members close to 1,000 (one thousand) were also reported to have declared their intention to join the APC because they are fed up with what they described as “the hypocritical stance and pa-o-pa attitude of a candidate and a party doing everything to repel its supporters instead of attracting” them.
It was gathered that the bulk of the converts were mainly from 24 (twenty four) towns within the district. Other people who played various roles either way which led to the conversion of the above-mentioned number of people from the SLPP to the APC are former Trade Minister Usman Boie Kamara, Section Chief John Vandy and others.
It is understood that this massive exodus of SLPP members to the APC has impacted negatively on the Maada Bio support base in Kailahun, although the SLPP is denying that the exodus affected the party in any way. However, a date later this month has been set aside for the 460 (four hundred and sixty) new APC converts to be officially recognized, handed over and issued membership cards at an auspicious ceremony that would be attended by prominent APC figures.
See next edition for more details.
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*RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT AND THE SLPP: the familiar hidden hand of a political mission*
{Courtsey: Tony Konomanyi
Face Book Post in Sierra Leone Issues}
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*By Hon Cornelius* *Deveaux*
*Deputy Minister of* *Information and* *Communications**
Borrowing a few words from Wikipedia, Civil Society Organizations are an "aggregate of non-governmental organizations and institutions that manifest interests in promoting the welfare and will of citizens." Civil society includes the family and the private sphere, referred to as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government, business and partisan politics.
The positive role of civil society organizations in promoting good governance, increasing citizens participation in governance, holding government accountable and promoting the socioeconomic growth of a nation cannot be denied.
But the marriage between the Renaissance Movement and the opposition SLPP, evident in the joint press release issued yesterday, does not only contradict this characterisation of civil society, it also clearly shows that the duo are one of the same. From the activities, of and collaboration between the Renaissance Movement and the opposition SLPP; the facts stares at every keen observer that the course being pursued by the Renaissance Movement is, in its entirety, a political course of the opposition SLPP. It is certainly not in the interest of the people on whose behalf they claim to speak.
And this is not surprising! When a so- called civil society organization chooses to be a surrogate of a political party, then it means that objectivity has been buried for partisan political interest and gains.
For the SLPP, removing the APC from power through the ballot box is becoming increasingly impossible because of the government's continued development progress in almost every sphere across the country. The party's winning of recent by -elections, notwithstanding their efforts to dissuade voters, is a clear testimony to the government's prowess in winning elections.
One political observer told me that the fact that the ruling APC government has won practically every by - election in spite of all the malicious efforts by the Sierra People's Party to present the ruling APC government in bad light; has caused a lot of anguish and frustration among the rank and file of the SLPP.
I believe it is this inelectibility frustration that is beginning to boil over especially as we are approaching the next general elections. There is already ample evidence that their intention is to provoke civil unrest, make the country ungovernable ahead of the 2018 elections so as to force a government of national unity.
What baffles the right thinking Sierra Leoneans is that a civil society organisation like the one calling itself the Renaissance Movement, which is supposed to be a bastion of hope for the people, has allowed itself to be a pawn in an intricate political chess game.
But for many others, this is hardly surprising given that all of those who have openly identified themselves with the Renaissance Movement are card carrying members of the opposition SLPP and sworn enemies of the ruling APC party. This has been proved beyond all reasonable doubt through various whatsapp conversations and other forms of intelligence gathering.
And I understand that this Renaissance Movemebt doesn't even have a formal structure and presence; it is not registered and it doesn't have any offices anywhere.They only exist in virtual space spewing anger and promoting inflammatory actions through their social media recruits such as Theresa - a university girl who has been sharing messages that incite others to set vehicles ablaze.
Their illegality owing to their unregistered status in fact, means that the Renaissance Movement is operating unlawfully with all its attendant consequences. And, as a body, the Renaissance Movement cannot sue or be sued.
Assuming then that the Police had granted permission for a street protest which would have eventually gone berserk, it means an aggrieved citizen who may have possibly suffered damages will not have been able to seek redress in a court of law.
I therefore strongly believe that the Supreme Court will throw out any Summons from this subterfuge and unlawful entity against the Police for, in their words, refusing them a peaceful procession. Interestingly, these members, some of whom are laywers, know fully well that they do not have the legal standing to carryout any such legal actions in their name.
Sierra Leoneans must bear in mind that the Renaissance Movement is an illegal organization that is working assiduously to reverse the gains as a nation. We must also remember that Sierra Leone, with support from our international partners, has come along way in promoting and consolidating the peace in Sierra Leone after a decade long senseless war. A war which many believe was largely influenced by the opposition SLPP.
The APC has twice experienced the clandestine and nefarious political machinations of the SLPP in 1967 and in 1991. We have learned our lessons and are not prepared to entertain any undemocratice succession to power. Street protest, violence and threat to public peace and security reminiscent to 1967 and 1991 only bring bitter memories of the brutal persecution of APC political leaders and supporters.
Let me therefore underscore that government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that peace and security is maintained, even if it means apprehending members of the Renaissance Movement especially in view of the fact that they are an illegal entity promoting a dangerous political course in the guise of civil society.
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SLPP SUPPORTERS POSING AS CIVIL SOCIETY MEMBERS : No Nutrality!
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