Sierra Leone’s President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, Yesterday exchanged Pleasantries on Social Media, with The Leader of the National Grand Coalition(NGC) Party, Hon Kandeh Yumkella, after attending a Church Mass together at Sogbini Chiefdom on New Year’s Day.

President Bio took to twitter the wonderful experience he had with Hon Kandeh Yumkella and posted: “Today, I attended New Year’s Day Mass at the St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Tihun, Sogbini Chiefdom, with my dear brother Hon. Kandeh K. Yumkella (aka KKY). @KYumkella, thank you for honouring my invitation to celebrate the New Year with my family and me in my village.”

He continued that 2022 was a trying time for Hon Yumkella, his dearest daughter & family following the home calling of his beloved wife, Philomena.

He expressed empathy stating that his family and himself share in his pain. He prayed for God’s grace, comfort and guidance in 2023 and wished him and his family a Happy, Healthy and Blessed 2023.

President Bio added that himself and Hon Yumkella are both united in their love for their dear country.

“As a great example of professional excellence, we can all tap from your wealth of experience to advance our country for the good of all. Here is to more incredible things for #SierraLeone in 2023.” He concluded.

Hon Kandeh Yumkella in his response thanked President Bio for inviting him to join the mass at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Tihun for New Year’s mass.

He expressed how happy he felt for joining him to pray for our country as we begin the new year and to underscore that their common enemies are poverty, ignorance and corruption, not their political rivals.

He ended by saying “as we put Salon Fos, may the Almighty God answer our prayers for our nation, and grant our people peace, human security and social progress in 2023. Happy New Year.”

The act of the two politicians to reconcile,  according to comments of some set of Sierra Leoneans is seen as a great step to a better Sierra Leone. These Sierra Leoneans appreciated President Bio for making the move and thanked Hon Yumkella for accepting.

However the other set believes that it is just another strategy of the President  to get Yumkella on his side inorder to win the 2023 elections.