…Opposition Leader in Parliament speaks

AYV News, August 8, 2024

Opposition Leader in Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo has encouraged countrymen and women to be mindful that they are more of Sierra Leoneans than politics.

Hon. Kargbo in a short presser held in the House of Parliament said: “We all should be mindful that we are more of Sierra Leoneans than being members and supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) Party”.

He recommended that not all misunderstandings between the ruling and opposition parties should be taken to the Criminal Investigations Department for redress but that most problems can be solved indoors involving executives of the two political parties.

Speaking on the right to protest under a democratic dispensation and the responsibility of government in enhancing unity in Sierra Leone, Hon. Kargbo said under a democratic dispensation, protest is not a crime. He said people should just follow the procedures and processes by writing to the Inspector General of Police and follow the rules.

The lawmaker said true and lasting peace cannot be achieved without first ensuring harmony among political stakeholders and the public, while proposing that the country should seek the intervention of ECOWAS, the Commonwealth and the African Union (AU) to address its political issues.

Hon. Kargbo said: “Some challenges are beyond our ability to manage alone, and it is crucial that we seek external support to help navigate these difficulties.”

He congratulated the Government of Sierra Leone for receiving the MCC Compact grant, stating that a democratic government must be open to and withstand criticism.

The honorable emphasised that constructive criticism is essential, stating, “If the government performs well, we should commend them; if not, we must offer constructive feedback.”

Concluding, Hon. Kargbo acknowledged the role of the opposition, affirming the APC’s commitment to supporting sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

He said he himself believes in peaceful approaches to solving the problems of the country, while strongly denouncing chaos and said it was counter-productive and would not serve any good purpose.

He stressed his belief that only such peaceful and constructive engagements between the SLPP and the APC would resolve the country’s problems.