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APC: STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE SHOCK OF MAADA BIO'S UK VISIT

By Yusufy keketoma Sandi, Thursday, May 17, 2012

As I write this piece, the Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is in France and after, he heads to Holland as he continues his official tour of Europe in engaging Western diplomats, Strategic European Governments, International Investors, Business Community and his beloved SLPP members across Europe. Therefore, you would have expected the APC and their spin doctors to have been bowing their heads in a pool of shame as they see Maada Bio on the world stage – the “human man rights abuser” the APC once claimed would never travel to overseas. But, maybe I am wrong to expect an APC government, which presides over an economy where a bag of rice is around Le 200,000 and still look our hungry people in the eyes to tell them “di pa dae wok”, to show any sign of shame. Hence, in this article, I will attempt to respond to some of the responses from the APC spin doctors after Maada Bio’s Historic visit to London last week. Clisk here to read full article

Happy Birthday to Our Leader, SLPP Flag Bearer for 2012, Rtd. Brig. General Julius Maada Bio. May the Lord Wish You Many More.

May 12, 2012

Courtesy of Ruby Deen-Jalloh

MAADA BIO WORSHIPS WITH UK MUSLIMS ON FRIDAY

May 11, 2012

Courtesy of Sheku Kallon

Bio's Chatham House Address: "A NEW DIRECTION FOR A BETTER SIERRA LEONE"-PRESENTATION TO THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFAIRS AT CHATHAM HOUSE

May 10, 2012

Please permit me on behalf of my Party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), to first and foremost thank the United Kingdom (UK) Government for its continued support to Sierra Leone and for helping my country through our numerous difficulties, including support to re-establish peace after a devastating war and for our post-war reconstruction.

Photo of Bio at Chatham House

I would also like to say that I am very aware many of you would like to ask questions. Due to time constraints I will not be able to cover everything in specific detail. There is much to discuss about my policies on education, health and the mining sector. Or, indeed, the upcoming elections this November. I will be very happy to engage with you further on these issues after this speech. Click here to read full address

Maada Bio's BBC Focus on Africa Interview: "My Background Is Military But My Democratic Credentials Are Good" Says Maada Bio.

May 9, 2012

Bio and Alhaji Kanja Sesay after the former's BBC interview

PRESS RELEASE: Maada Bio visits London; Meets Journalists and UK Government Minister

May 8, 2012

Julius Maada Bio, presidential candidate for the Sierra Leone People's Party, completed a series of meetings with journalists as well as a minister of the UK government today in London. The meetings were part of a week long tour of the UK capital, which will include a speech at the Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House. In an interview with Reuters news agency, Mr Maada Bio expressed his eagerness to work closely with private investors in the country’s mining sector to make sure Sierra Leone got the best possible deal to help accelerate development and increase employment. Mr Maada Bio told Reuters: "What we want to do is to make sure that everybody investing in Sierra Leone has return on their investment, that they are able to repatriate it. We want to create a very conducive atmosphere for them. But we want to make sure that Sierra Leone has its own share in the process. Click here to read full story

“VOTING THE APC OUT OF POWER IS A NATIONAL SERVICE” SAYS MAADA BIO"

By Yusuf Perseverance Sandi on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Rtd. Julius Maada Bio continues to woo Sierra Leoneans in the UK and on Monday made this statement to hundreds of Sierra Leoneans in Reading as he was mobilising them for the November 2012 elections.

Photo of Bio Adressing the Audience, Courtesy of Yusuf Perseverance Sandi

In Reading, the Flag bearer launched two new SLPP chapters – Reading and Bristol - of the United Kingdom and Ireland branch. This latest political thriller by the potential Next President was also graced by two SLPP bigwigs, Alhaji kanja Sesay (Chairman, South Region) and Mr Andrew keilie (Head, SLPP Policy committee). Click here to read full story

Maada Bio Takes the Kickoff at a Football Match in his Honor in London

Click here for More Photos of Bio in London

Bio Addresses Supporters at the SLPP U.K. Fundraiser in London

May 5, 2012

SLPP Presidential Flag Bearer, Rtd. Brig. general Julius Maada Bio and Entourage land in UK. Bio Speaks at Chatham House tomorrow, May 5 , 2012

Photos of Rtd. Brig. General Julius Maada Bio and Dr. Kadi Sesay at OBBA

Click here to see more photos from the OBBA event

An Exposed Hidden Agenda: Is President Koroma Telling the Truth About The UN Envoy's Departure?

By The Economist Magazine, February 18, 2012

Under the Headline " Turning tables: A small west African country with a violent history browbeats the mighty UN", The Notable Magazine--The Economist's confirms that the Presiident Koroma did write to UN calling for the recall of Mr von der Schulenburg. The article further calls President Koroma's actions a move that "bolds ill for the coming election". The article added that Mr. Schulenburg also "acted as a valued mediator between political parties in an environment where disputes can still easily turn violent. He met opposition leaders but did not favour them. Yet his even-handedness alone seems to have been enough to incur the wrath of the president.".Click here to read the full article

Reuters News: UN Envoy Says Government Forced Him Out Because President Ernest Koroma Plans to Rig the Elections

February 13, 2012

"There can be little doubt, that the decision by the President to force my early departure will be seen - rightly or wrongly - by virtually every Sierra Leonean as an effort to remove a potential obstacle to his re-election and as opening the door to manipulating the election outcome in his favor," Schulenburg wrote in the letter. click here to read full article

Press Statement By Flag Bearer: RE-ARMAMENT, DEPLOYMENT AND REGISTRATION OF EX- COMBATANTS IN THE SOUTH AND EASTERN PROVINCES

By Rtd. Brig. General Julius Maada Bio

Freetown, February 5, 2012: It has come to the attention of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) that the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) has embarked on transporting ex-combatants from different parts of the country to register in towns in the South and the Eastern Provinces, the strongholds of the Opposition SLPP. Ex-combatants armed with weapons and other offensive instruments have already been ferried to Moyamba, Bo, Kenema, Pujehun, Kailahun and Zimmi.  In addition, foreign nationals and ex-combatants from neighbouring countries are also being transported by Sierra Leone’s Ambassadors accredited to those countries for the purpose of swelling APC votes in the elections. click here to read more

Maada Bio Responds to Political Violence: The Political Parties, the Police and Election-related Violence in the Run-up to the Elections in Sierra Leone in November 2012

By SLPP Flag Bearer, Rtd. Brig. General Julius Maada Bio

January 31, 2012

The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was 60 years old last April; indeed the oldest political party in Sierra Leone. For good measure, as early as 1951, the Founding Fathers consciously chose the path of non-violence. Consequently, unlike other parties in Africa, in 1961 the SLPP led Sierra Leone to freedom and independence from the United Kingdom by way of a constitutional agreement. In 1967 it lost power for the first time in a democratic election. Save for an unwarranted interference by the army, it handed over power to the Opposition without a murmur; the first ever in Africa. This scenario repeated itself for the second time in 2007 when again it yielded power to the Opposition after democratic elections without demur. On both occasions the SLPP demitted power to the Opposition All Peoples’ Congress (APC).  click here to read more

SLPP UK/Ireland Branch Sends Letter to British Foreign Office: Re: Political Violence in Sierra Leone

By Jimmy Batilo Songa, Chairman, SLPP UK/Ireland

January 22, 2012

I write to you as the Leader of the United Kingdom and Ireland Branch of the Opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP). Sir, you will recall that in 2007 Sierra Leone conducted both Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Those elections brought the current All Peoples Congress (APC) government of President Ernest Koroma to power. As the government party then, the SLPP ensured that the elections were conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, with all Opposition parties including the APC allowed to carry out their activities without any form of interference or harassment from the State.click here to read more

SLPP-NA Letter to State Department, Congress and Other International Organizations: "Elections Violence, Arbitrary Arrests, Detention, and Torture in Sierra Leone"

"Members of the Sierra Leone People’s party in North America (SLPPNA) who are United States citizens request your strong support for our call on the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) government of President Ernest Bai Koroma to immediately and unconditionally release from unlawful detention the Chairman of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in Constituency 104, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Mr. Aziz Carew, and other senior opposition leaders and journalists." click here to read more

Dr. Kadi Sesay Assures Women in MS. Blog Magazine:"Sierra Leone:Only a New Government Can Bring Equality for Women"

culled from www.msmagazine.com

January 17, 2012

"It was the great 19th century American social campaigner Lucretia Mott who stated: “The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation because in the degradation of women, the very foundations of life are poisoned at their source.” Since then, many nations and regions of the world have made great progress. Yet in Africa, the rights of women still need urgent attention, including in my own country Sierra Leone. And many women continue to be subjected to the same injustice and disenfranchisement Mott so abhorred 150 years ago."  Click here to read full story

SLPP Press Statement on Existing Challenges to Free, Fair and NonViolent Elections in Sierra leone

The Sierra Leone People’s Party wishes to express its appreciation to the electors and Party officials of Ward 369 in Constituency 104 for returning Mohamed Kanu Mansaray the SLPP Candidate, as the new Councillor of that ward. At the same time the Party wishes to express its utter disappointment and outrage at the level of intimidation and violence once again masterminded by the leadership of the ruling APC Party, particularly the Minister of Internal Affairs, Musa Tarawally, and the sitting Member of Parliament for Constituency 104, Hon. Tunde Lewally.Click here to read more

"NEWS ALERT: After being taken away by Police, SLPP Constituency chairman now in coma from beatings"

culled from www.thenewpeople.com

There has been a resurgence of the violence that errupted in the Fourah Bay community this evening. Eye winesses report that police have started using live rounds after failing to disperse a crowd of community people who have gathered to prevent armed OSD officers who have descended on the community to effect the arrest of Abdul Aziz Carew, Chairman of SLPP contituency 104. Click here to read full story

SLPP wins Freetown bye elections in Ward 369

As SLPP Wins Local Election in the heart of Freetown, APC supporters went on rampage. News reaching us states that certain individuals including Lasana Fadika and other SLPP members were injured. Results are as follows: SLPP = 423 APC= 407 UDM = 27 NDA = 14 . click here to read more.

Maada Bio's Exclusive Interview with the Golf News in Muscat: "Listen to people's voice, says former African military ruler"

Published: 18:10 January 8, 2012, By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief

"Muscat: A former West African military ruler thinks that the social media is a potent weapon in the hands of people and, rulers around the world must respect their wishes.

“In today’s age information spreads much faster through Internet and people are more aware of happenings around the world,” Brigadier (Ret.) Julius Maada Bio, who gave Sierra Leone a civilian government, after ending four-year rule of captain Valentine Strasser in 1996, told Gulf News in an exclusive interview in Muscat." Click here to read full story

Maada Bio Ends Holiday Visit To Home Town District

By John Caulker, Freelance Reporter

Between December 23, 2011 and January 2, 2012, the SLPP Flag bearer Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio completed a 10-day tour in villages and chiefdoms of his home district, Bonthe. Bio accompanied by party executives and descendants from Bonthe district entered the district through the imperil chiefdom where meetings were held in Moriba Town, Mogbewmo, Gbagbama, Yagoi and other villages along the road. The team then travelled to Bonthe was they were received by a huge crowd at the SLPP jetty. Maada and his team held series of consultations with several groups, worshipped with the communities at St. Patrick’s Church on Christmas Day, visited PMDC office, embarked on township walk and visited homes of people and patients in the district hospitals.Click here for full story

Photo of Bio in Bonthe. Click hereto be taken to photo gallery for more photos from the Bonthe Events

AS APC Toe-Line for Fuel Returns: As President, Maada Bio Vows to Implement a Sustainable Alternative Energy Policy

Courtesy of Jossef-Bilkisu Khamara

APC mismanagement did not only result in a banking crisis during the holiday season with not enough cash for account holders to withdraw their money, but now we've seen toe-line for fuel returning. The last time we saw this was in the 80s under APC.  As president, Maada Bio has vowed to implement a sustainable alternative energy policy to address the problem.

Corruption in High Places in APC Government Draws the Attention of U.S Congress as 19 Congress Members Call for Investigation into Timbergate

December 13, 2011

U.S. Representative Hank Johnson, colleagues disturbed by reports of high-level corruption in partner country

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nineteen members of the U.S. Congress today wrote U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging that the United States insist on a full investigation of credible reports that senior Sierra Leonean officials offered permission to conduct illegal and destructive logging operations in exchange for bribes. Read More at Congressional Website. Click here for the signed letter

News Headlines, Press Statements, Photos and Information Corner

Maada Bio's Appeal in The Guardian News Receives Worldwide Attention: "Britain Can Help Sierra Leone to Free and Fair Elections"

By Julius Maada Bio, December 12, 2011

Culled from www.guardian.co.uk

Democracy is under attack. All those with influence over the government must help ensure a peaceful political process. There have been many criticisms of British overseas intervention in recent years, but one truly altruistic engagement for which the UK can be proud was its military intervention in Sierra Leone in 2000. This event, where a renewed British presence brought stability to a nation in the throes of a devastating civil war, allowed Sierra Leone the hope that the cycle of power-hungry military rulers may finally end. Click here to read full story

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