Joint Press Statement

Freetown Monday 3^rd December 2012

The Leadership of the SLPP met at State House today to discuss issues of national interest including the conduct of future elections.

The meeting which was chaired by President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, also had in attendance the flagbearer of the SLPP Brig Julius Maada Bio, his running mate Dr Kadi Sesay, the Chairman and Leader Mr John Oponjo Benjamin and the National Secretary-General, Mr Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie.

The meeting was facilitated by the “Body of Christ”, a committee of Christian religious leaders led by Reverend D.M. Speck.

There were frank discussions in which Brigadier Julius Maada Bio reiterated his commitment to peace and security in the only country he knows and can call home, Sierra Leone.  Brigadier Bio further noted that “Sierra Leone can only develop when we have effective lines of communications between the leadership of the two parties”.  He concluded that the position of President Koroma as President of Sierra Leone is not in contention.

President Koroma on his part, emphasized that “we should continue to have dialogue of this nature in the interest of peace and the promotion of democracy”, as he reiterated the need to put in place a mechanism that will considerably reduce the influence of regionalism and tribalism in the nation’s body politic.

His Excellency directed that further meetings be held between the two parties with a view to concluding the several issues raised in the course of the meeting.

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Victor Bockarie Foh                                            Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie

National Secretary General                               National Secretary General APC                                                                        SLPP