One of the leading flagbearer aspirants of the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Alhaji Dr Kandeh Yumkella has appealed to party members and supporters to stop the perpetual intimidation and confusion in the party and instead focus on how to win the Local Council, Parliamentary and the Presidential elections in 2016/2018.

Dr Yumkella made this personate appeal past Monday at the Unity Hall; SLPP National Headquarters at Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown after he was allegedly blocked from entering the main gate to the party office by members of an opposing camp within the party.

Dr. Yumkella started his inspiring speech with the expression of appreciation and gratitude to past and present leaders of the party including the National Chairmen, members and supporters of the party noting that only unity, peace and tolerance will take SLPP to State House in 2017/18.

In a very reconciliatory mode he noted that bitter rivalry and recriminations will not take the party anywhere and appealed to all and sundry to exercise some amount of tolerance and listen to others in the same party to have their say and their way.

“In a football field not all players will score goals. There will be defenders, midfield players and then a trained goal poacher” the UN Diplomat noted and urged all party members to monitor the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census programme very well.

He added that SLPP’s first test will come in November’s Parliamentary Bye election at Constituency 107 and entreated all to work hard towards it.

Dr. Yumkella informed the mammoth gathering that he has come to organize and rebrand the party to ensure it becomes electable. From Freetown he said he will travel to London to meet with his brother, Brig. Rtd. Julius Maada Bio, go to lunch with him and they will talk about how SLPP will win the next election.

“In December me and my brothers; Maada Bio, John Benjamin, Andrew Keilli, Alpha Wurie, Ambassador Alie Bangura and other stakeholders will go to Tihun (Bio’s home) in Bonthe, take lunch there and hold meeting” he said. Then after that, he noted they will proceed to Benjamin’s home in Kailahun and do the same and then will move again straight to Gbinti to meet with Alpha Wurie, Amb. Ali Bangura and others. The team he added will also visit his own native home of Kychom in the Samu Chiefdom, Kambia district.

At the meeting, Dr Yumkella expressed the hope that by the time they end their nation-wide tour, peace and unity will surely reign supreme in the party. The general meeting was preceded by a closed door meeting with officers of the national executive.

Dr. Yumkella was accompanied by a large crowd of supporters from his campaign group, the Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY) Movement amidst lots of traditional fanfare.