Transcribed by Abubakarr BahThe two main candidates in the 17 November presidential election met on Monday for the first time in months. Facilitated by the group of Christian organisations, the meeting between President Ernest Bai Koroma and Julius Maada Bio has generated very positive reactions from the public with the two parties referring to it as “positive” and “fruitful”. So Politico spoke to the Minister of Information, Ibrahim Ben Kargbo and the Secretary-General of the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party, Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie about the meeting. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Minister of Information and Communication Politico: Mr. Minister how would you characterise the meeting between the President and Maada Bio? IB Kargbo: Well it was quite friendly and very frank. It gave an opportunity to the two leaderships of the two political parties to sit down and discuss those matters that are so important in a post-election country. What came out clearly is that the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma made it quite clear that he was quite prepared to continue talk to the opposition especially retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and [the] meeting was facilitated by a Christian organization called the Body of Christ and a representation from the SLPP and a representation from the APC were present. And after about 4 hours of frank discussion we came out with a join communiqué, agreeing that in future we should have more meetings of this nature and also agreeing that some of the grievances raised by the leader of the SLPP would be looked into. And of course the president also said that even the electoral process should be looked into to avoid the possibility of creating a situation whereby the country is polarized into political camps. Yes he said he would use this opportunity of his second term to take a second hard look of this new process to ensure that we have a cohesive country; one united nation. But of course that leader of the SLPP retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio also suggested a continued line of communication between the government and the opposition parties so that everybody feels part and parcel of the political process. Politico- Did Mr. Bio congratulate the President? Did he concede defeat? IB Kargbo: Well he said … that he recognized the fact that the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is the President of Sierra Leone and this was why he was addressing him as “Mr. President” and that he had great respect for the President himself. But of course apart from the fact that he recognized him as the President of Sierra Leone, he said “could you please give me an opportunity so that we make this thing more clear for even my supporters. Could we converge in a place like Bo or Kenema so that I would declare openly that everything is over and you will continue to be our President”. He made it quite clear even when a question was asked about whether he recognized him or not he said the question was most unnecessary and this was why he went to State House, on the invitation of the President. And he also said that he had always made it clear that he has a lot of respect for the President. But the legitimacy of the President is not in dispute because he himself if you look at the communiqué, made it very clear that the leadership of the President is not in contention and it is clear everybody now accepts the President as the legitimate President of Sierra Leone. Politico- Did he congratulate the President? IB Kargbo: Well of course accepting the President as the President of Sierra Leone is like congratulating him, this why he almost lost him temper when he was asked the question whether he recognizes the President as the President of Sierra Leone, he said “why would you ask this kind of question. You are taking us aback. he fact of the matter is I came here, I recognize him, I address him as my President and I know that all of us should begin to work together.” But he made very clear that as a respectable leader he would not just walk out of his party leaving his supporters in limbo. He would also want to be very certain that they are secured, there is security for them, and the President have his word that most of the issues raised by the leader of the SLPP would be looked into and he gave instructions to the Attorney General to begin to look into those matters. Politico- Does that include allowing in foreign experts to assess the results of the last elections as they [SLPP] have demanded? IB Kargbo: Well the issue of the audit was raised not only by Julius Maada Bio himself but also by the running mate and it is not in contention at all . The President has nothing against that because he feels that he won the elections in a very clean manner and this was recognized by almost everybody including the Security Council, including some of our very important development partners. So the legitimacy of the President is not in dispute and the President did not even decide to argue against an audit which was suggested by the SLPP. But the important thing about [the] meeting is that it gave respite to quite a number of Slierra Leoneans – bringing the two oldest parties together. After all these are the only two civilian parties that have ruled the country. It is their responsibility to ensure that there is peace and tranquillity in this country and this was what they demonstrated when the President and leader of the APC, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma and Maada Bio, flag bearer of the SLPP and this is a good sign for all Sierra Leoneans. Politico- There has been talk about a government of national unity that could include the SLPP. Is that something your government is countenancing? IB Kargbo: Well that was not raised yesterday but of course I have always said that issues of this nature also have a constitutional implication. But like I said it was not raised by the SLPP, it was not raised by the APC, so as far as I’m concerned, I cannot make any comment on that because it was not an issue. Politico- But is it being mooted somewhere else? IB Kargbo: Well I would not know. Quite a number of people talk about government of national unity but I think it is a semantic. Some people talk about a government with a national character, etc etc but I can easily say it was not an issue; it was not on the table. Politico: And do you think this is the last chapter, I mean are you all together working as parties? IB Kargbo: Well of course it is in the interest of everybody to work together. Don’t forget that the SLPP is part of the governance structure. They have 9 Local Council Council seats out of the 19 and the APC has 10 Local Council seats. So they are an effective part of the governance structure of the State and don’t also forget that they are copiously represented in Parliament and therefore they are going to be part and parcel of the structure of the State. So they simply cannot walk out,. But of course that also explains why the President believes that the SLPP and the APC must continue to see themselves as the people who must save this country and provide the necessary security for the people of this country. And to conclude the President said we must ensure that we continue to meet on a regular basis so that contentious issues are always solved before they get out of hand. Politico- Are you concerned about the future of your position as Information Minister in view of the imminent cabinet reshuffle? IB Kargbo: NO! I’m not worried at all. I have always said that I came from a profession, I always can go back to that profession. I always feel comfortable being a Journalist and since I came here I think I have done the little bit I can do as a minister and if I’m posted to some other ministry well and good. If I stay here, well and good. But if I must go back from whence I came, well and good. Politico- Any preferences for a shift or transfer? IB Kargbo: No I would not dictate for the President. He has the final say as the State Constitution gives him a lot of authority to take decisions as to who becomes minister... Politico- But if he [the president] were to ask you, what would you prefer, Foreign Ministry? IB Kargbo: No, well I will not even talk about foreign minister. I can easily say that I will serve anywhere including foreign ministry.
© Politico 06/12/2012SULAIMAN BANJA TEJAN-SIE, Secretary-General, SLPP Politico: Can you please tell us the outcome of the meeting between the president and your party's flag bearer in the recent elections, Julius Maada Bio? Tejan-Sie: Well, it was held in an atmosphere with brotherly love and it was born out of an innate sense of patriotism on both sides which was demonstrated during the course of the meeting. We had frank discussions about all the issues on the table including the just concluded elections. Then we came out with suggestions on the way forward. By and large it was fruitful in the sense that the concerns that the main opposition SLPP had were put on the table and there was that commitment on the part of the presidency to address them as soon as possible. Politico: Including bringing in foreign experts to assess the results of the last elections? Tejan-Sie: Well, we are still holding talks on that particular area and we have agreed in principle that at least something has to be done, that some of these institutions have to be revisited, they have to be restructured, and they have to be reformed. We are yet to agree on the framework and the way forward in that regard. Politico: Does this mean that your threatened boycott of parliament and councils is now off, and you are ready to play ball now? Tejan-Sie:Well, umm...let's say there is tremendous progress which we will take back to the party, especially the National Executive Council. And based on that we will decide on the way forward in terms of taking part in governance. Politico: But I understand that parliament is supposed to reconvene in the next few days, how long do you need to be able to come up with something more concrete? Tejan-Sie:Ummm… I can call an emergency meeting with NEC [National Executive Council of the SLPP] giving 48 hours notice and according to the schedule they will take their oath of office on Friday, I’m sure that NEC could have met before then. Politico: Is it true that you discussed power sharing in the meeting with the president? Tejan-Sie: Not yet… not yet that was not on the agenda. Politico: When you say “not yet” does that mean it’s on the cards? Tejan-Sie: Well, it was not on the cards in [Monday's] meeting but we decided that we continue to meet at the highest level between our flag bearer and himself [the president], as well as between us the leadership of the parties. So discussions will go on. The government has made an overture, it's yet to explain the details of that overture. Politico: What overture? Tejan-Sie: The overture of reconciliation, coming together to move the nation forward. Politico: So once again there was or there will be nothing like power sharing discussions Tejan-Sie: I cannot say. I cannot say…umm.. the talks are in progress, I cannot say where those talks will lead us. Politico: Is it something you’re countenancing? Tejan-Sie: We are not countenancing anything. We take it as it comes. We’ve started talks with government on the way forward in terms of building a cohesive and reconciled nation and we are working towards that. Politico: And your Supreme Court petition dropped? Tejan-Sie: Umm…Those are also issues for further discussions Politico: Thank you very much. Tejan-Sie:You are welcome Transcribed by Aminata Phidelia Alie
