By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura

With barely two days left to Sierra Leone’s multitier elections namely: Presidential, Parliamentary and Mayoral elections which are slated to happen on 24th of June (This Saturday), citizens around the Eastern and Western areas have called for a fair, free, transparent and credible elections on that day in order to maintain and continue the existing peace in the country since the demise of the senseless eleven years civil war which ended 2002 which is exactly 21 years back.

Citizens have attested that there is a warring tension been mounted between two big political parties presidential candidates, the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s party (SLPP) and the main opposition party flagbearer, Dr. Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress party (APC) over accusations and counter accusations towards the big day, June 24th. The political climate, according to these citizens is warm due to countless issues of concern that was sprang up by the APC Leader and standard bearer, Dr. Samura Kamara at his recently held press conference on 14th June at the New Brookfields Hotel calling for the resignation of the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone within 72hrs (three days).

A fraction of these citizens cited the concerns raised by the APC flagbearer as vital which they indicated that the authorities responsible should have redressed the address made by the APC Leader towards enhancing a peaceful pre- election and post- election environment and to see an amicable atmosphere during the polling day.  They stated that the legitimate bodies responsible should not have turned blind eyes to the issues and make legitimate responses to them. In order to allay the panic of the masses, these citizens indicated that the security sector should maintain neutral and independent if only they want to see the existential peace continues to reign.

However, these citizens intimated to this press that the election are not war and therefore called on the hierarchy of the APC to conduct their members and supporters to uphold democratic principles and maintain and bearing in mind we only have one Sierra Leone and conflict will not be the only way out to win elections, adding that they have seen and felt the pangs of war and do not want similar to happen. And these citizens continued that the tensions mounted by these political rivals are not good to write home about and a stain to the country’s international credibility.

Going further, these citizens urged that the two big party candidates must quell the seeming tension while calling on them to demonstrate peace ahead of the general elections because they believe that it is only they that can preach peace to their party members and supporters. They added that ECSL should continue to maintain their independence and create a level playing field for all the political parties on the ‘big day’.

In addition, these concerned and patriotic citizens admonished the ruling party, SLPP to bear in mind that the continuation of a peaceful co-existence of peace rests squarely on their hands and should not let bad blood within the party and country as whole to lead the nation to chaos for their selfish thoughts by disseminating false news leading to misinformation and disinformation towards a gullible population leading to incitement and civil unrests. Adding that, some citizens have called on both presidential candidates to maintain patriotism and accept the outcomes of the results in maintaining peace.

In conclusion, these citizens urged the CEC of ECSL to announce the actual and factual outcome of the presidential polls and whosoever loss to accept the result and to bear in mind that we only have one Sierra Leone and have nowhere to run and hide.

“Wudat loss mek e bia, na wan salone we get,” one of the citizens called on.