SLPP Elders Broker Peace After Public Spat Between First Lady and Former Chairman

Attempting internal party reconciliation, national officers and the Council of Elders from the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) have met separately with First Lady Fatima Bio and Dr. Prince Alex Harding, following a period of public discord stemming from internal party elections and parliamentary events.

First Lady Fatima Bio confirmed a meeting at her Goderich office, expressing her appreciation for the timely visit, which she said reaffirmed the party's values of dialogue and unity. 

Discussions reportedly focused on internal party politics, with the First Lady asserting that healthy competition signifies the party's democratic strength. 

She stressed the ongoing need to listen to the people, deliver on promises, and protect the party's legacy.

Separately, the SLPP Reconciliation Committee also paid a visit to Dr. Prince Alex Harding. 

The committee reportedly urged all members to avoid actions, including those on social media, that could undermine internal cohesion, stressing the paramount need for every member to prioritize unity.

These visits come in the wake of a public altercation between the two prominent party figures, who had accused each other of meddling and causing discord within party activities. 

The disagreements are alleged to have originated during campaigns for elective positions within the SLPP, reportedly marred by personal attacks. 

The tensions seemingly escalated, culminating in the heckling of the First Lady during the final day of elections and at the President’s address at the state opening of parliament. 

The First Lady and her supporters publicly named the Former Chairman of the SLPP as the orchestrator of the chants, which were deemed to transcend typical parliamentary undertones.

The debate surrounding these events had been divisive, with many on one side denouncing the act as disgraceful and damaging to the country's international image. 

Conversely, others viewed the act as typical of the reception politicians often receive in the house of parliament, a domain the First Lady had publicly embraced as one of her roles.

This series of meetings with both parties is widely perceived as a crucial step towards resolving a sour turn of internal political events that had spilled into the national limelight.