Published on February 9, 2011 

The opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) today suffered another big loss as Hon.  J.B. Dauda announced his resignation from the troubled party. Mr. Dauda was recently appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by President Ernest Bai Koroma. The minister said today that he accepted the position  because of his desire to serve his country. The minister went on to say that throughout his life, it had been his guiding principle to put the nation above political party and since his suspension from  the SLPP  contradicts his principle, which he wants to continue to uphold, he has decided to reconsider his membership of the party.

Hon .Dauda’s resignation is a big blow to the SLPP because he was no doubt a bulwark of political astuteness and power . A veteran ,  experienced  and respected politician, Hon. Dauda has a significant following and a vital constituency .His resignation will be perceived as a sign that the SLPP ship is becoming marooned in the choppy waters of political naivety , mediocrity and lack of forward direction.

It is another major victory for the ruling APC, attesting  to the fact that the Red Sun has the  capacity to attract , capture  and hold the finest political minds  in the nation , another sign that when it comes to political savvy, the APC is streets ahead of the SLPP. With the SLPP’s March 5, 2011 Delegates’ Convention , where the party’s  presidential candidate for the 2012 elections will be voted in , expected to produce more cracks in the wall and more possible defections, Hon. Dauda’s decision today may be the dress rehearsal for  the greater act of more gloomy news for the SLPP .

READ MINISTER J.B. DAUDA’S RESIGNATION LETTER BELOW :

4 Hill Station

Freetown

Sierra Leone

8th February, 2011

Mr. John O. Benjamin

National Chairman and Leader

Sierra Leone People’s Party

National Headquarters

15 Wallace Johnson Street

Freetown

Dear National Chairman and Leader,

RESIGNATION FROM THE PARTY

I refer to your letter dater 4th December, 2010 addressed to me in which you conveyed to me the decision of the leadership of the SLPP to suspend me from the party for accepting an appointment from His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to serve my country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

I wish to inform you that my decision to accept the appointment was based purely and wholly on my desire to serve my country. Throughout my long career in politics I have always been guided by the principle that I put my country before party.

As the decision of the leadership of the SLPP clearly contradicts my principle which I intend to continue to uphold and practice I have decided to reconsider my membership of the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

Accordingly I hereby resign from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) with effect from the date hereof.

Yours faithfully

J.B. Dauda

CC: National Secretary General

SLPP