Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio has called for unity, discipline and strategic preparation within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) as it approaches the 2028 general elections, using the party’s 75th anniversary celebration to stress the importance of cohesion and forward planning.

Speaking at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown on Tuesday, President Bio, who is also the SLPP’s leader, addressed party members, supporters and invited guests during the Diamond Jubilee event held under the theme “75 Years of Leadership, Legacy and Service.”

In his keynote address, Bio reflected on the party’s origins, noting that it was founded on April 27, 1951, in Bo after consultations in Kambia and Freetown. He said the formation of the SLPP marked the emergence of “a national idea” that went beyond politics to represent “a national compact.”

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“Seventy-five years ago, in the closing years of colonial rule, a group of Sierra Leoneans gathered around a simple but radical idea, that the people of this land, from every region, every chiefdom, every community, belonged to one another and had the right to govern themselves,” he said.

The President paid tribute to the party’s founding members, including Paramount Chiefs, grassroots organisers and women who, he said, played critical roles in sustaining the movement, often without formal recognition.

Bio also recalled difficult periods in the party’s history, including its ban under the one-party All People’s Congress (APC) system in 1978, during which supporters faced persecution. Despite this, he said, the SLPP endured because it was built on enduring values rather than political convenience.

“Our Party has endured because it was built on something deeper than convenience,” he stated, adding that the strength of a political movement is measured not only when it is in power but also when it is out of it.

He further acknowledged the role of former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in restoring the party to leadership following the return to multi-party democracy in 1996, describing that generation as one that preserved and passed on the party’s legacy.

Reflecting on his own leadership since 2011, Bio said his focus had been on rebuilding the party, restoring discipline and expanding its national appeal. He emphasized that leadership requires sacrifice and long-term commitment.

“I have given this Party my best years. I would give them again. But I say this clearly, the Sierra Leone People’s Party is greater than any one Leader, including me,” he said.

Turning to the future, Bio urged party members to remain loyal and disciplined, warning against internal divisions and actions driven by personal ambition. He stressed that the process of selecting the party’s next flagbearer ahead of the 2028 elections must be transparent and based on merit.

“Our next Flagbearer and Leader cannot be chosen by sentiment or faction. We must ask honestly, who can unite the Party, win the country, govern competently, and carry Sierra Leone forward?” he said.

He added that the next leader must be able to command national respect, build trust across regions and generations, and possess the moral authority to govern effectively.

Bio also reminded supporters that he remains the party’s leader until a successor is elected and that the immediate responsibility of the ruling party is governance.

“Our duty as the ruling Party remains clear, to serve the people of Sierra Leone diligently, selflessly, and without distraction,” he said.

The President used the occasion to encourage young people and undecided citizens to engage with the party’s values, stating that the country’s next chapter must be shaped by the younger generation.

He concluded by describing the SLPP as Sierra Leone’s “political diamond,” highlighting its resilience over time.

“To Sierra Leone: sixty-five years free. To the SLPP: seventy-five years strong,” he said, ending with the party’s slogan, “One Country. One People.”

SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the party’s commitment to unity, grassroots engagement and financial sustainability.

The anniversary event was attended by party elders, government officials, Members of Parliament, Paramount Chiefs, diplomats and supporters from across Sierra Leone.