“The (SLPP) Government needs to heal the nation and endeavor to build an inclusive, open and just society on a foundation of rule of law and respect for the provisions of the constitution. The (SLPP) Government must live up to its party slogan of “One Country, One People” and work towards creating a cohesive and just society based on respect for the protection of human rights of all its citizens. In this regard, we reject sporadic mass firing of people in various institutions without due process.

“In the same vein, the opposition APC has to come to terms with the fact that they lost power and they must understand, and accept, their new responsibility to be a formidable constructive opposition that can provide checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. Democracy works best when there are checks and balances on executive authority. The APC must return to its center-left core values to speak for the poor and promote social inclusion. Many would recall that I regularly campaigned against the accumulation of absolute power at State House, and the penchant for institutions to resort to “orders from above”, or, “supreme executive authority”.

These were some of the advices and cautionary messages contained in the New Year’s Day speech of the leader and chairman of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) party, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, otherwise known as KKY.