Sheriff stated that they (the aggrieved within the party) decided to take the party to court on the basis that they had noticed lots of irregularities in the peace process that was spare headed by Dr. Kabbah while adding that the self acclaimed committee robbed ten thousand eight hundred and seventy lower level executive positions from their legitimate owners; a situation he described as very much unfortunate.
“The injunction on the party by the court of law is a blessing in disguise” he said. He furthered that Dr. Kabbah and others in the peace committee did not understand the doctrines and culture of the SLPP, but yet they are pretending as if they knew everything. He stressed that they as plaintiffs will not work nor cooperate with the Alie Kabbah peace committee but rather would work with the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and other independent bodies such as civil society organizations, for the restoration of peace and tranquility in the SLPP.
“How can Abass Bundu who has openly taken sides be part of the peace committee? We will never work with that committee”. He ended.
Responding, Dr. Alie Kabbah ascertained that the injunction on the SLPP, made no difference in the activities of the party and that the SLPP are currently strategizing as well as preparing to win the next elections. He said that the injunction was just a consequence of choice while adding that there was a political option rather than a court action. He said that the action by the plaintiffs to take the party to court after it was agreed that all party problems should be addressed internally, was nothing but a ploy to distract them from maintaining sanity in their party.
He stressed that the SLPP happened to be the only hope for the people of Sierra Leone at the moment, and that peace at the SLPP will also register peace for Sierra Leoneans.
Dr. Alie Kabbah established that the peace committee did a very good job as it was able to identify the problems of the party and proffered solutions in resolving them. He said before the formation of the peace committee, certain members of the party were not allowed to access the party offices across the country but with the help of the peace committee, everyone had access to the party offices across the country.
“All suspensions and expulsions of members of the party were reversed and members reinstated to their normal executive positions with the exception of the then Secretary General who actually resigned from his position”. He added.
He further explained that the current brouhaha within the SLPP could not in any way result to the demise of the SLPP, but on the contrary everything could be settled.
He therefore concluded by calling on all Sierra Leoneans to have faith in the SLPP and give them their votes come 2018, next elections.
In his statement, the Leader and Chairman of the party, Chief Somano Kapen said that the injunction on the SLPP was indeed a divine intervention and that his party would now use the period of the injunction to settle its internal problems, in order for them to be in a formidable position to win the imminent elections. He confirmed the fact that the SLPP was currently divided and that they could not win the next elections if only they remain to be divided.
Responding to the accusation made by Victor Sheriff on the entire peace process of the party, Chief Kapen submitted that he was disappointed as a result of the statement uttered by Sheriff and therefore encouraged all members of the SLPP to stop the blame game and focus on uniting the party for a success in the next elections. “We cannot win an election through argument but through demonstration” He stressed.
He furthered that the 39 constituencies which happened to be the major problem of the party at the moment, had rules and regulations that guided their conduct and that the party spent five months with the PPRC, formulating those rules while he added that a committee of 10 man was also instituted to manage the conduct of the previous elections.
“Some people absolutely manipulated the entire situation just after the death of the then PPRC chairman”. He said.
The SLPP Leader and Chairman concluded by saying that the SLPP should stop blaming the APC government for failing the people of this country as they (SLPP) had also failed the people of this country by failing to provide a very vibrant opposition for them.
