POLITICS
Hearty Cheers and Hip Hoorays for the Sierra Leone People's Party in Maryland
Posted by on Dec 16, 2009, 20:53
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| Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma Chairman of the Washington, DC-Metropolitan Chapter of the Sierra Leone People's Party |
The inauguration of Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma as Chairman of the Washington, DC-Metropolitan Chapter of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) took place at the Grand Ball Room in the Prince Georges' County community of Riverdale, Maryland on Friday, November 27, 2009.
The event was punctuated by happy-hearty cheers and joyous hip-hoorays from hundreds of the Party's faithful and other sympathizers who came in from all over the North America region and beyond to witness the truly memorable event.
The SLPP National Committee Chairman, Honorable John Oponjo Benjamin, was expected to grace the occasion as Grand Chief Patron but was unable to travel away from Sierra Leone because, according to reports, he had to attend to certain urgent political matters at home. Standing in his shoes was the Chairman of the Party's North America region, Hon. Augustine (Boss) Fallay (Northern California Chapter). The Party's First Lady, Mrs. Agatha Benjamin, attended as a patron.
Visiting Regional and Chapter officials in attendance included:
- New Jersey Chapter: SLPP-NA Regional Vice-Chair, Brima Alpha; Abdulai Abu-Bakarr, Secretary-General; Rosemarie Blair, Member, Council of Advisers.
- Georgia Chapter: Jeneba Koroma, SLPP-NA Communication Committee Chair.
- Northern California Chapter: Mrs. Zainab Fallay, First Lady, SLPP-NA Region.
- Dallas-Texas Chapter: Solomon Gembeh, Regional Conference Chairman and Yaya Fofana, ranking member.
- Delaware Valley (Pennsylvania & Southern New Jersey) Chapter: Sam Saidu, Chairman; former SLPP-NA Vice-Chair, Sallu (Sparko) Saidu; Patrick Bull, Vice-Chair; Abdul N'Jie, Secretary General; Augustine Kebbe, ranking statesman; Frank Kpewa, Organizing Secretary; Isata Sowa, Women's Leader; and Vandi Moseray, Treasurer. Also in the delegation was Edward Nyallay, former Electoral Commissioner - Eastern Province.
- New York Chapter: Ishmail Taylor-Kamara, Secretary General; Beatrice Moigula, Women's Leader; Julia Conteh, President - Tegloma of New York; and Zainab Wai, ranking member.
- Boston Chapter: Dr. Lawrence Sandi, Secretary General and Young Generation Leader.
- North Carolina Chapter: Christiana Kamara and Tiange Kamara, ranking members.
Paddle: The highlight of the celebrations was the appearance, for almost an hour, of the traditional Western Area hunting society masque "debul", Paddle, to joyous acclaim from the frenzied crowd. The featuring of Paddle, which was the brain-child of the Assistant Organizing Secretary, Yusuf Deen, is an indication of the SLPP's determination to wrestle the nation's capital province from the grips of the ruling All People's Congress in the 2012 general and local elections.
Mr. Dauda Ibrahim, an SLPP executive member in the Columbus-Ohio Chapter offered the following explanation: "The Paddle tradition is the Sierra Leonean Mardi Gras. During the masquerade, songs were composed depicting the ills of the society. It was an avenue of free speech." During his welcoming remarks, Chairman Fallay introduced the SLPP-NA regional executive members in attendance and told the audience: "If anybody doubts whether the SLPP is all-inclusive, the executive lined up behind me is your answer."
Mr. Fallay also reminded all SLPPers about the need to be eternally responsible and disciplined. He said that no single member is capable of being more important than the whole Party, and that many times our Party's major problems tend not to be caused by the other parties that we are competing with but by ourselves. "We must do everything in our power to work together, or we shall perish together," he cautioned.
The successful event was a personal triumph for in-coming Chairman Askia, whose low-key reform leadership promises to be good for his Chapter, the SLPP in general, and for our country's multi-party democratic system. He has now been granted more political laxity to show off his positive qualities and to shoulder his full share of our Region's leadership.
Protocol: In breaking with the usual tradition in SLPP-NA transitions, Askia arranged for his oath of office rites to be performed by his Chapter's Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Francis Bundu. He later explained that because the Chapter structure is already accepted within the Region, it would have been inappropriate for another elected official (Regional Chairman Fallay or even National Chairman Benjamin) to swear him into office.
In all democratic institutions, protocol calls for the Chief Justice to swear-in an elected official, Askia explained further, but because our Party structure does not have a judiciary, the Electoral Commissioner would be the next most appropriate unelected but equally revered official to perform that task. The innovative arrangement had the added benefit of delegating a very sensitive role to an important and long-standing local Party elder who happened to have been a stunning opponent of the new Chairman during the recent election campaign. The goal was to gain his support in building up our Chapter.
In his acceptance address, Askia described his election as “a humbling moment” and expressed gratitude to his fellow Chapter members for the responsibilities that had been thrust upon him. He said that no honor and confidence was ever greater than “that trust upon one by one’s contemporaries.” He gave special thanks to out-going Chairman Allieu Dausie Wurie for his continued services to the Party and for his cooperation with the transition team.
Chairman Askia described his Chapter, which is made up of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia ,as “the largest Chapter in the North America region and foundation of the North America Regional federation, and he reminded his fellow Party members that the Chapter always plays "a vital role in ensuring the viability of this region." He thanked all of the Regional and Chapter officials for coming to grace the event and for all of the good work that they do in their various chapters. He told them:
"Yours is one reason why faith in our Party must never dwindle because the determination of the few can mobilize the forces of the majority." The Chairman reminded his audience that although the SLPP lost the 2007 presidential election, its chances of returning to power continued to get better. He said that the mood of the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans showed that "yesterday is far, far better than today."
Jaiah Cie Kallon
Publicity Secretary,
Washington, DC-Metro SLPP
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| Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma Chairman of the Washington, DC-Metropolitan Chapter of the Sierra Leone People's Party With Wife Mariama Samba-Koroma |
Inaugural Speech of the Newly Elected Chairman of the SLPP North America
My fellow Sierra Leoneans, Members of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Members of the All Peoples Congress, Members of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change, Members of our diplomatic staff, friends of Sierra Leone, Ladies and Gentlemen, all protocols observed…Good morning. When on September 27, 2009 I became Chairman-Elect of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter, it was an honor, a humbling moment that I am still experiencing.
I am grateful for the confidence that my fellow Sierra Leonean partisans in the Washington Metro area bestowed upon me on that day. There is no greater task for anyone than that trust upon one by one’s contemporaries. While recognizing the magnitude of this task, it is your confidence in reposing it on me that is most humbling. On behalf of my family, especially my wife who is here with me tonight, Mariama Samba-Koroma, I thank you. There are so many other people to thank if only time would allow. I thank my predecessor, Chairman Alieu Dausy Wurie for his service to the Sierra Leone Peoples Party in North America and for cooperating with the transition team. The Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter is the largest chapter in the North America regional federation. This chapter is made up of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. It is the foundation of the North America Regional federation and plays a vital role in ensuring the viability of this region.
Like all other organizations, it has experienced its own ups and downs and yet, those humble beginnings would never have been possible without a set of dedicated members like Mr. Edward Banister, Alhaji Mustapha Sillah, Mr. Francis Bundu, the current Chairman of the Bo District Council, Chairman Mathew Manah Margao. Gentlemen, if some of you are here tonight, please stand up and let the people see you. While most founding leaders might not be here tonight, I thank you who are here and those who for other reasons are unable to make it, for your service to our Party. No matter how I try, I cannot thank you enough for your service to the Sierra Leone Peoples Party. Thank you, you may now sit down.
Tonight we have representatives from other Chapters who are here to grace this inauguration. Thank you to SLPP North America Regional Chairman, Augustine “Boss” Fallay, Vice Chairman, Brima Alpha, Young Generation Leader, Lawrence Sandy, Whip Abu Saccoh. Thank you also to all Chapter Chairpersons and their representatives from the North America Region.
Ladies and gentlemen, yours is one reason why faith in our party must never dwindle because the determination of the few can mobilize the forces of the majority. Thank you for all the good work that you do in your various chapters and, especially thank you for gracing my inauguration. We stopped being the Party in power in 2007, but everyday, our chances of assuming that responsibility are getting better. It is not difficult to know why. 2012 is looking better and if we should go by the mood of the people, yesterday is far, far better than today.
Our task now is to assure our fellow citizens that we have learned our lessons well and are more than prepared to take back power and move with the agenda that we set for the nation in 2007 that is, and I quote, “creating an efficient system for Sierra Leone that will guarantee Peace, Development, Progress and Prosperity for all”
The Key here is SYSTEM.
We went far in building a system for Sierra Leone. We are the hope for Sierra Leone. As members and supporters of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, we should never, ever doubt our accomplishments when we were the rulers. While regrouping and re-strengthening after our electoral defeat in 2007, we must remember the great things we did for our nation. We reintroduced a workable law and order society which is falling apart under the current regime. Our scorecard on human rights cannot be disputed, even during the thick of a vicious rebel war; we ensured respect for public property. Our values are indisputable, always one country; one people. That commitment ushered in peace for our people.
A peaceful society is the foundation of development. Historical precedents have never been wrong on this.
A peaceful society is SLPP’s legacy to Sierra Leone. In 2012, our return to power will be partly determined by our legacy. In 2012, our package of ideas for giving our young people a clear and achievable better future will be another determinant. But getting the message to them in partnership with all the media outlets within and without will be equally crucial. Let those that doubted our commitment to making Sierra Leone a better nation than the current government, know that we are learning our lessons well and come 2012 – Sharp 12 - a victory to SLPP is a victory for Sierra Leone.
That is our covenant to the people of Sierra Leone.
Three times in the golden years of our nation, we have proved to the civilized world that we, as a political institution, are inherently a democratic institution. We must remain proud of this institutional culture and values. Twice in the history of our nation, historical circumstances have called upon us to salvage it from colonialism and scourge of war. We must remain proud of these achievements. We took on these monumental historical tasks with honesty, class and sense of national decency. We brought independence to Sierra Leone. We saved Sierra Leone from the worst civil war in Africa. Thanks to our Leaders, Sir Milton Margai and Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. Our desire to mold Sierra Leone into a strong and powerful nation may have been temporarily derailed, but I have no doubt that we will bounce back in 2012 and take Sierra Leone where it should be.
To bounce back in 2012, I need your help.
Within this Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter alone, we need to recruit at least fifteen hundred party members and supporters between now and December 2010. We also need to ask those of you with relatives in other states here in the United States and Canada to call them and ask them to join the SLPP Chapters in their states. If you are not yet a registered member, I would like you to register tonight. Until December 31st, registration is only $50.00. However, these rates are going to change beginning January 1, 2010. Your registration tonight will make you a registered party member. It will increase our numbers and assure us of money needed to win elections. Your registration tonight will give you an opportunity to have a say in the building and direction of our party both here in these United States and in Sierra Leone. Your registration tonight will make you a formidable partner in the rebuilding of Sierra Leone.
I need your help.
If you help me now to mobilize one thousand five hundred registered members, I would assure you that your contribution could be a strong pillar of support for our victory in 2012. Like William Makepeace Thackeray said, three things one must succeed in: Learning, piety and commonsense. If you lack learning, you go to college and use good books. If you lack piety, you pray earnestly to God for it. But if you lack commonsense, neither God nor man can help you. It is commonsense to rally our constituents and expand our base. Well, we need the people and we need the money to succeed. Your numbers count and we need you. Please take a registration form tonight and register to become a member of the SLPP Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter. Thank you, God bless you, God bless Sierra Leone and Long Live the Sierra Leone Peoples Party.
One Country; One People!
Abu-Hassan (Askia) Koroma
Chairman, SLPP North America - Washington, D.C. Metro Chapter
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