SLPP Chairman Tells Mayor to Return Office, Vehicle if Inactive

The Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Jimmy Batilo Songa, has called on Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki‑Sawyerr to return her official office and vehicle if she is not actively fulfilling her duties.

Speaking publicly, Songa acknowledged the Mayor’s legitimacy but stressed that holding office comes with responsibilities that cannot be abandoned. “If you have legitimacy and you abandon your duties, then another person will have to stand in,” he said.

He further highlighted that the Mayor has access to a motor vehicle, office space, and other resources intended to support her service to the city. “If she is not providing the expected service, then she should return the car and office key,” Songa added.

The statement comes amid ongoing political tensions linked to the All People’s Congress (APC), whose boycott has reportedly limited the Mayor’s engagement in some official council activities. Songa’s remarks underscore the SLPP’s emphasis on accountability and proper use of government resources by elected officials.

Mayor Aki‑Sawyerr, who has led the Freetown City Council since her election, is responsible for managing municipal resources and ensuring the effective delivery of public services. Songa’s comments reflect the party’s position that officeholders must remain actively engaged in serving citizens or return official tools and resources for the benefit of the city.

Through his statement, the SLPP chairman reinforced the principle that public office carries both legitimacy and responsibility, and that officials must prioritize service to the people above all.