The Government of Sierra Leone has promptly responded  to  intercepted e-mails from operatives of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP )  in the diaspora  who threaten to incite anarchy and mayhem in the country because provisional polls being announced by the radio stations show President Ernest Koroma  and the ruling All People’s Congress ( APC ) leading the race by a wide margin. The Government wants to assure all Sierra Leoneans and foreigners within our midst that the security situation is under control and Government will not allow anybody to undermine the peace and Rule of Law. Read the full statement :

 

GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

PRESS RELEASE ON THE NOVEMBER 17, 2012 ELECTIONS

FREETOWN, NOVEMBER 21, 2012

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT DR. ERNEST BAI KOROMA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE HEREBY HEARTILY CONGRATULATE THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION AND THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE FOR THE PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF THE JUST CONCLUDED NOVEMBER 17, 2012 PRESIDENTIAL, PARLIAMENTARY AND LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

AS THE NATION AWAITS THE OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS BY THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (NEC), THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. THAT IT WELCOMES THE GENERAL COMMENDATION OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS BY THE UNITED NATIONS, INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL OBSERVERS AS BEING PEACEFUL, FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND CREDIBLE THAT MET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS;

2. THAT HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF PEACE AND POLITICAL TOLERANCE AND THEREFORE CALLS ON ALL SIERRA LEONEANS TO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD SUCH VALUES AS THE CENTRE-PIECE OF OUR COUNTRY’S DEMOCRACY THAT CAN PROMOTE NATIONAL COHESION;

3. THAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLS ON ALL SIERA LEONEANS TO REMAIN CALM AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE PEACE AND NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AT ALL LEVELS SINCE THESE WOULD CONTINUE TO ATTRACT INVESTORS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR RAPIDLY GROWING ECONOMY AND OUR DEMOCRACY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LIVES OF ALL SIERRA LEONEANS;

4. THAT GOVERNMENT IS HOWEVER AWARE OF SOME THREATS FROM CERTAIN QUARTERS, ESPECIALLY STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO A CERTAIN MR. EDDIE NYALLAY, A FORMER NEC COMMISSIONER, WHO IS SUGGESTING THAT THE ONLY FINAL SOLUTION TO AN OTHERWISE PEACEFUL ELECTIONS CONTEST SHOULD BE PATTERNED TO THE POST-ELECTIONS VIOLENCE THAT ENGULFED KENYA IN THE WAKE OF THAT COUNTRY’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS;

5. THAT WHILST THE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS A STATEMENT BY EDDIE NYALLAY THAT “…I HAVE IN THE PAST SAID THAT THE PARTY SHOULD BE GEARING UP ITSELF FOR THE WORST WHICH IS APC’S BEST. THE KENYAN MODEL IS A GOOD ONE TO EMULATE. PLEASE FLASH ME AND I WILL CALL RIGHT BACK…” , IT ALSO VIEWS SUCH A STATEMENT ON THE PART OF EDDIE NYALLAY AS AN EFFORT BY HIM AND OTHERS TO DESTABILISE THE STATE;

6. THAT THE GOVERNMENT VIEWS THE ABOVE STATEMENT AS UNFORTUNATE AND MOST UNACCEPTABLE AND ASSURES THE PUBLIC THAT ANY EFFORT TO DESTABILISE THE PEACE OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE RESISTED BY THE STATE SECURITY APPARATUS;

7. THAT GOVERNMENT ALSO VIEWS ANOTHER STATEMENT BY ONE LANSANA KELFALA ON NOVEMBER 19, 2012 THAT “…ALL SLPP MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, COUNCILLORS AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD CONVERGE AT THE SLPP OFFICE IN BO TO CELEBRATE…”, AS VERY UNFORTUNATE SINCE THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, THE BODY CONSITUTIONALLY MANDATED TO ANNOUNCE THE NOVEMBER 17 POLL RESULTS IS YET TO DO SO;

8. THAT THE GOVERNMENT FROWNS AT ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PARTY OR GROUP OF PERSONS ATTEMPTING TO BYPASS THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND TO UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW AND STATE SECURITY;

9. THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESIST ANY ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF ANYONE ATTEMPTING TO INCITE VIOLENCE FOR THE DESTABILIZATION OF THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN ENJOYING SO FAR;

10. THAT THE GOVERNMENT ASSURES ALL SIERRA LEONEANS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SECURITY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF ALL;

11. THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLEADS FOR PEACE AND TRANQUILITY TO CONTINUE TO PREVAIL AND FOR THE ADHERENCE TO THE RULE OF LAW.

SIGNED:
OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
8th FLOOR, YOUYI BUILDING, BROOKFIELDS
FREETOWN.