SLPP nomination and political tolerance in Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) painted the streets of Freetown with their usual green color on Monday 8 October with a large number of its supporters in a jubilant mood, singing songs of praise to their Presidential hopeful Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, his running mate Dr. Kadie Sesay, and would be Members of Parliament, displaying banners of different constituency aspirants contending for Parliamentary positions. It was the SLPP’s Nomination-Day and the morning saw people emerging from all four corners of Freetown to converge at the National Stadium for a procession that marched through their Party’s Headquarters on Lightfoot Boston Street, down town. (Photo: SLPP supporters in jubilation)
Political tolerance is one ingredient this writer was looking for while observing the march from the National Stadium to the SLPP’s Party Headquarters. Politically, some analysts are a bit skeptical over a violence free election come 17 November, but what was demonstrated by both the SLPP and APC members was quite the opposite as a lot of political tolerance was displayed in broad daylight.
These two political parties are undeniably the strongest political parties in Sierra Leone so if they are tolerating themselves this means good and positive signs lies ahead. This simply reveals that there is an unflinching increase in tolerating ourselves when it comes to elections.
APC supports and other political party members were obviously bystanders or onlookers while the SLPP’s nomination march was taking place with slogans like; no violence, political tolerance, election not war, etc.
SLPP Supporters at the National Stadium
The most amazing thing that met the eyes was at Siaka Stevens Street, opposite the LOTTO office when one male onlooker, in red t-shirt with APC boldly printed on it was hugging and dancing with one SLPP member in a green t-shirt with the portrait of Maada Bio. This brought about a frenzy of screaming and shouting from bystanders in support of the binding.
The APC party will be out on Thursday 11 October for their own party’s nomination of members of parliament and they are ready to demonstrate same for the love of mama Salone and its citizens.
By E. Awotelli-Cole
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