The Western Region Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Hon Manso Dumbuya has said that President Julius Maada Bio is the most progressive leader Sierra Leone has had after late Sir Milton Margai.

Hon. Manso Dumbuya made this exaltation in gratification of the tremendous work done by the president six years into his two- term mandate.

The Chairman recently brought the regional executive and membership of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) together to say a big “Thank You Mr. President” and to renew their commitment and loyalty to the party.

The regional ‘thank you’ message was delivered in an auspicious occasion at the Unity Hall, National Party Headquarters in Freetown.

The West Region is the seat of power and the largest political region, with both Urban and Rural Districts accounting for over 30% of votes in national elections. It is also an informed region for a political party to command following, and on that day the membership thronged in their numbers to register their appreciation to the President and the SLPP for the national feat in securing the MCC Grant, and other remarkable, achievements made in the various sectors.

The occasion was graced by the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Prince Alex Harding and other dignitaries, among other stalwarts of the party.

In a brief comment on behalf of the National Executive Council, Dr. Harding thanked the regional chairman and his executive for organizing the programme. He said it was no surprise considering that Chairman Manso Dumbuya has always remained a committed party member and one person who has always believed in President Bio.

“This is no coincidence but a well- planned “thank you” gathering and I am impressed by the turn-out of the membership from across the western region. This is a testament to the embrace of the party in the region since President Bio assumed office in 2018, thanks to his remarkable performance,” Dr. Harding, known as the Machine said.

Chairman Harding thanked all present and assured that the party would always work to alleviate the condition of Sierra Leoneans by taking – development to every crook and cranny of the country. “We have one Sierra Leone and we will continue to pray for the government to succeed.” He – damned detractors and said they have been shamed because in spite of their attempts to paint the country badly, they have failed.

The agenda of the meeting, according to the regional chairman was simple: “to tell President Bio that the SLPP membership of the West Region, the seat of political power in the country, we highly appreciate him for taking the country from the “brink of economic collapse;” a situation that he said was unfavorably visited on the people in 2007 after the late Tejan Kabbah led SLPP government. He described the past-government of Ernest Bai Koroma as a failed APC regime that plunged the country into the underdevelopment rudder for eleven years.

But with President Bio, things have changed and the narrative no longer the same. He has taken Sierra Leone to national progress and position of enviable global recognition unmatched in the recent political history of the country,” he pronounced to a thunderous applause; as he asked for prayers. “Prayer is what is very important for the President and the party, against opposition enemies of state because the APC don’t want him to succeed,”

Hon. Manso Dumbuya premised his compliments on the President’s handling of state affairs; saying President Bio’s achievements within six years have surpassed all other Presidents’ tenures. “He can only be likened to late Sir Milton Margai, the father of Independence and the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.”

Chairman Dumbuya noted that what is worthy of consideration, and for which the Western Region have renewed their trust in President Bio, and their unflinching loyalty to the SLPP, is that all these remarkable feats, among several others, have come in very difficult circumstances. “Let us take the effects of the twin

global shocks on economies, especially emerging ones like Sierra . Leone, and the deliberator opposition APC disturbances. But within these challenging moments, President Bio has continued to deliver, so we in the Western Region of the Sierra Leone People’s Party hereby resolve as ever before that we will continue to unreservedly give our unwavering support to the party and His Excellency the President, Retired Brigadier Sr. Julius Maada Bio throughout his tenure.”

Among the achievements catalogued during the presentation were gains made in the education health, energy and infrastructure sectors, among others, since 2018.

The Chairman catalogued the growth indicators in the country since 2018, starting with education. Owning to the President’s commitment to the development of human capital, the government pegged the whooping 22% of the national budget in allocation annually to the Free Quality Education (FQE) Initiative.

“Now we have more kids in schools; more teaching and learning materials provided; government paying examination fees for school candidates for final examinations, the National Primary School Certificate, Basic Education and the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations,” the chairman informed.

He emphasized that President Bio’s SLPP-led government has done well in all the other areas. In the health sector, more hospitals have been built, great reduction in infant and maternal mortality.

From education to infrastructure, energy to reforming the laws like in the case of repealing the death penalty for replacement to life imprisonment, Gender and Mineral laws and the repeal of Part 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1961, among others, Chairman Dumbuya pronounced with fascination the wonderful works done by President Julius Maada Bio for which he likened him to late Sir Milton Margai.

“It is only Sir Milton Margai who was a very patriotic leader Sierra Leone had had. But now we have another Sir Milton Margai in the person of Julius Maada Bio. He has demonstrated his love for this country and for that, we the SLPP members in the Western Region have vowed to continue to support him and we remain SLPP.”