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The Executive members of the the National Grand Coalition [NGC] have endorsed the Alliance their leader Kandeh Yumkella recently forged with the ruling Sierra Leone people’s Party (SLPP) on Saturday 13 May 2023 at Dambala Road, Bo City.
The meeting attracted executive and registered members from various districts as the two leadership of the two political parties gave a final word of confirmation message.
According to State House communications Unit, the leader of the NGC, Dr Kandeh Kulleh Yumkela, recalled how he and President Julius Maada Bio worked together in the days of the NPRC regime with a clear focus on developing Sierra Leone.
His statement reads as follows:
“President Bio and I did not enter politics because we are happy. It is because we care about Sierra Leone. So, when President Bio told me to return to the SLPP party to join in the transformation of our country, that open invitation was genuine, even though other sectors of the public were thinking otherwise.
The only thing we have been talking about all this time is how we are going to consolidate our peace, increase hope and sustain national coherence in our beloved country. We are worried. We have lately seen division, where some people have started preaching hate, malice, and violence.
We are here today not because of politics but to discuss how to develop Sierra Leone. Politics is not about fighting but about how we can develop the country. Everything we have been working towards is the unification of this country. On that note, I am pleading publicly with all NGC members nationwide who have decided to run as independent candidates in the June elections to withdraw their candidature. Our focus now is to ensure President Bio wins the elections with no runoff.
I am not vying for president. Our alliance is one that is progressive and will transform this country. I only have one presidential candidate, which is President Julius Maada Bio, and his Vice-Presidential candidate, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. So, all NGC members nationwide, I am calling on you to put your support behind them and ensure the election is over with a massive vote for no-runoff.”
President Bio described the ceremony as a very beautiful occasion that was geared toward demonstrating what they had done in Freetown during the formation of the strategic alliance between the SLPP and the NGC parties.
“Leadership is about shaping the people. The sacrifices Dr Yumkela is making to let go of his own leadership ambitions are a result of the long-standing relationship that existed between us as far back as 1993/94. Any decision taken in the interest of national development rather than personal interest is what a good leader is made of.
“We agreed to come together to put our human resources together not only to win the elections but in order to govern and deliver what the people of Sierra Leone want. We are coming together to look at the enormity of the task and complexity of the situation of our national issues ahead and find solutions to addressing them as a team,” President Bio informed.
The President also called on all SLPP supporters to embrace the NGC supporters, assuring that, “I believe that most of them are not strange people. We know almost all the NGC supporters. Our focus now should be to put Sierra Leone first. We have realised that no single individual can develop the country.”
That’s a blessing. Forgetting about self and putting the country first is good for development and our children’s future. Running to western countries is not the answer. You will always be disrespected and not accepted. They build their country by putting their country first. We can do it
To Allah be the Glory Ameen. After the presidential election and Maada is elected to a second five years I urge him to invite DR Samura to join him and Dr Yumkella to work together . Please President Bio think about my opinion. You have done it and you guys performed beyond expectations and that’s why you are well Respected with in the international community and at large. I know you very well and I’m sure by Allah’s Grace you are going to be the next president to complete the The New Direction Agenda for Mama Sa lone. ( Maada, Kandeh and samura) one people one country..
Mr Yumkela so when you were in opposition what did you do when: all the malpractice with the Bio governance was taking place, The killings of citizens, members of parliament put a proposal for them to be paid $50 thousand when they leave parliament, teachers not getting paid, the extraordinary charges ay the airport? If I can go on and on.
After criticising the BIO administration and the negative slangs about him…hm so now is when you decide to put Salone first? I would like to receive an honest answer from you after deceiving some of us.