The main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has received thunderous welcomes from residents of Rokula, Sanda Tendaren, Sanda Magbolonto and Gbanti Kamaranka Chiefdoms in the Bombali District, ahead of the March 20 parliamentary bye election that will be conducted to replace All People’s Congress (APC) Eddie Turay.

Residents in the heart of the Bombali District came out in their numbers to welcome the SLPP entourage that stormed the area on March 8 and 9 to present their candidate, Lama Bangura, to the people of Constituency 33, Bombali District.

SLPP’s Lama Bangura was presented to the northern populace by a high powered SLPP delegation including Alpha Timbo, Assistant Secretary General of the SLPP, Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Kadie Sesay, SLPP’s National Organizing Secretary, Alex Kargbo, and the party’s Northern Regional Chairman Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay.

SLPP’s Alpha Timbo told the constituents that the SLPP candidate was choosen by the people of Bombali District, whilst calling on them to support their own brother who knows their problems.

He said its time for the people of Bombali to appreciate the SLPP for the numerous development projects the party had instituted in the district.

Mr. Timbo assured residents that the SLPP will not relent in providing the basic needs of the people of the north.

"This is the time for the people of Bombali to prove to the world that they can take wise decisions when the time is ripe, irrespective of party affiliation" he said.

SLPP’s Northern Regional Chairman, Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay, reminded the people of Bombali of the numerous development projects undertaken by the SLPP when it was in power. He also spoke of the need to vote in the SLPP in the forthcoming bye-election in order for them to continue to benefit from the SLPP. "Lama Bangura, as you all know, has spent his entire life in the district and knows what you need" he said, adding that its time to punish the APC for its failure to develop the area.

He called on residents to fully support their own son, irrespective of intimidation or inducement.

One Abdul Kamara of Sanda Tendaren Chiefdom assured the SLPP delegation that they are ready to prove that they are not fanatics who support a single party without any benefit.

He said one of the reasons why they refuse to vote the SLPP in the 2007 parliamentary election was because the party failed to give the symbol to a son of the soil, adding that they will now vote the SLPP because the candidate is born and bred of Bombali.

He alleged that they never set eyes on Eddie Turay in his entire tenure, adding that the APC is yet to do anything for them as compared to what the SLPP has done.

He used the forum as an opportunity to appeal to the SLPP to forgive them for what he described as their past mistake, whilst assuring that they will undertake a house-to-house campaign for the SLPP candidate.

Similar statements were made by various people in all the four chiefdoms visited.