Dr. Sama Banya – Puawui
7 August 2012
Over a period of thirty-three years, the ingredients of a future conflagration that engulfed this country were gradually being laid. Very noticeable strides from the previous SLPP government were continuing to the admiration of all.
Then Siaka Stevens assumed the leadership of the country in 1968 and continued first as Prime Minister and then as executive President.
Violence at elections against the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) became the order of the day. And in 1973, the opposition was forced to pull out of the Parliamentary elections.
The University students had had enough, and staged embarrassing demonstrations against Stevens and his APC.
That apparently was not enough and a one party government was introduced five years later in 1978. Some of us applauded and embraced it, because we believed that it would put an end to political violence, ethnic divide and nepotism. We were wrong.