By Mustapha Sesay
The newly elected Chairman and Leader of the main opposition party Sierra Leone People’s Party says a 12-member committee will be set up by the party to resolve its ongoing internal dispute. Speaking at his maiden press conference held at the party’s headquarters, Chief Sebora Somanoh Kapen said modalities had been put in place already to select “important stakeholders” within the party from the four regions of the country to resolve its internal rift. He said that the role of the committee was to “restore social intercourse within the party,” adding that the necessary logistics would be provided to undertake the task “with speed and efficiency.” Secretary General of SLPP, Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie said that the newly-elected national executive of the party recognised the need for “reconciliation and dialogue instead of confrontation.” He said they would pledge their commitment to working as a team to achieve the goals of collective leadership. He also noted that the new executive of the SLPP consisted of 12 out of the country's 13 tribes, which he said proved wrong those who believed the party was owned by one dominant ethnic group, the Mendes. Meanwhile, the former flag-bearer of the SLPP, Rtd. Brig Julius Maada Bio officially handed over the keys to his office to the chairman and leader of the SLPP. Bio described his two-year tenure as an “honour” owning to the fact that he was the youngest ever to attain the position of flag-bearer in the party. He pointed out that a lot of misunderstanding had happened within the party, which he said was a part of any human organization. He called on all party members to “forgive one another” for the sake of unity within the party. © Politico 22/08/13
