Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, a prominent member of the All People’s Congress (APC) and lawyer for former President Ernest Bai Koroma, has publicly reacted to President Julius Maada Bio’s recent national address. Kamara, known for his influential role within the APC, commended the President for adopting a more inclusive and unifying tone in his speech.

“President Bio seems to have listened to concerns about rhetoric of bullets for bullets. And for once has spoken to his people as one nation. That’s becoming of a Leader,” Kamara remarked, acknowledging a significant shift in the President’s approach. This statement reflects a cautious optimism among some opposition members who have previously been critical of Bio’s administration, especially concerning its handling of political dissent and national unity.

President Bio’s speech, delivered amid ongoing political tensions, was perceived as a conciliatory effort aimed at mending the frayed relations between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the APC. The President’s call for unity and collective progress marks a departure from his earlier, more combative rhetoric, which has been a point of contention among opposition leaders and civil society groups alike.

Kamara’s response, however, also hinted at a degree of skepticism regarding the long-term implications of Bio’s newfound tone. “On the sincerity level, time will be the best judge,” he stated, underscoring the cautious stance of the APC and other critics who are waiting to see if these words will translate into substantive actions and policies that promote genuine national cohesion.