By Ragan M Conteh

These women are going in for the top post in the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) as flag bearers.

This comes as supporters are battling to have a hold on the party’s top seat, presidential aspirant.

The female stalwarts of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) are determined to grab the flagship of the party by 2028 when the  General Elections are expected.

This medium has been reliably informed by some party stalwarts and supporters about the need for the party to choose a woman as a flag bearer this time.

Some prominent names that are already in the public domain to succeed President Bio are: Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay, IJ Kabba, Barnadet Lahai and Fatmata Sawaneh respectively.

One of the women in the SLPP, Musu Francess Jalloh, has told Africa 24 newspaper that it has been long time when women of Sierra Leone are yearning to become Presidents of Sierra Leone.

She cited the President of Female Parliamentary Caucus for West Africa Parliament who was also the former Female President of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay, who has been and is instrumental in pursuing women’s courses such as women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone and in the subregion.

Jalloh pointed out that, “this is the time for women to rise up and take the mantle of leadership of Sierra Leone.”

“We have voted for men through and through but we still have not seen the  country better. We [women] form 52 per cent in Sierra Leone. We must ensure that women wake up for the development of Sierra Leone.”

She said Hon Veronica Kadie Sesay had worked government after government and she knows all the good all the bad and the ugly of all the rulers and she is able to correct the bad and work towards accountability and transparency in the country.

“For a woman that has been in Parliament for the fourth term must have a wealth of governance issues and must have the skills and knowledge how to navigate and work towards development wherein every Sierra Leonean will reap the benefits, ” she said.

One of the female MPs in Parliament has also opted for a female candidates for the SLPP in 2028.

“We have to take the bull by it horns to achieve our goals as a women. We have the full backing of President Julius Maada Bio who is a feminist. Indeed President Bio will back us and as well be our side, ” she said.

Many male MPs who sat at the canteen have also murmured to have female candidates to all political parties this time.

Ramatu Rogers, a staunch SLPP member and support, has also eye marked the former President Tejan Kabba’s who doubles as the current Gender Adviser of President Julius Maada Bio,  IJ Kabba for the SLPP Flagbearer in 2028.

Rogers said IJ Kabba’s late husband had worked for the SLPP party and most the legacies Sierra Leone is enjoying today is the proud legacies of former late President Kabba.

She said IJ Kabba had proved worthy to women and girls issues in Sierra Leone and will be a fine candidate to succeed President Julius Maada Bio.

“As adviser to President Bio as Gender issue must have attracted too much on President and his government big five changer priorities,” she asserted.

She called on the leadership and women in the SLPP to stand up and support a woman that will protect the legacies of President Julius Maada Bio when the president shall have left power in 2028.

In Makeni City, a strong woman of the SLPP, Memunatu Conteh, said the Sierra Leone People’s Party demand a female flagbear from the north which will give the APC  another woeful defeat in 2028.

She mentioned IJ Kabba whom she said is a woman with perfect integrity, substance and focus who only and always be SLPP.

Conteh has informed that giving IJ Kabba a flagship of the SLPP means victory for the party and development.

Dozens of those staunch supporters of the SLPP across Sierra Leone makes similar remarks regarding the 2028 SLPP flagship.

Angela Rahman Kamara who spoke to this medium regarding the SLPP flagship said one of the women she believe can be of help to take the mantle of leadership is the former Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon Barnadet Lahai who has been sideline by the party since President Julius Maada Bio came to power.

Barnadet Lahai, according to Angela is still a strong woman in the SLPP and has contributed immensely to the party’s development in Sierra Leone.

“For a woman to successfully lead men in Parliament means she can lead the nation with no problems. I believe on Hon Barnadet Lahai and she can deliver and lead,” Angela said.

Moses F Vandi told Africa 24 Newspaper that, Hon Barnadet Lahai is a fine candidate for the flagship of the SLPP.

He said Hon Lahai had been an adviser on how the party should grow and continue to stay in power for a decades go come.

One of the strong SLPP stalwarts whose name resurface for the SLPP is the former SLPP women’s Leader who is now the Deputy Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, HE Fatmata Sawaneh.

Fatmata Sawaneh is a respected and strong woman in the SLPP and has ruled and still determined to lead.

Mustapha Y Yambasu said Fatmata Sawaneh is among the suitable candidates who will foster development and work towards development of Sierra Leone.

Other prominent SLPP bigwigs expressed similar sentiments on wishing women to be the country’s next president.