This message was delivered by Mohammed Adikalie Bangura, a political activist of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) in Sierra Leone, to his fellow Sierra Leoneans on behalf of President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone.
Mr Bangura, who is currently in The Gambia on a special mission, delivered this message of goodwill from President Koroma at a massive APC meeting held at the weekend at the former residence of the Sierra Leone ambassador to The Gambia in Fajara.
In delivering his presidential message at a crowded meeting of Sierra Leoneans resident in The Gambia, Mr Bangura first and foremost expressed delight and appreciation on behalf of President Koroma to the community of Sierra Leoneans living in The Gambia.
He said President Koroma has high regards for the leadership, government and people of The Gambia.
“I am sent by President Koroma to come and deliver a special message that The Gambia and Sierra Leone are one family, especially as regards peace and security.Peace in Gambia is peace in Sierra Leone; and peace in Sierra Leone is peace in Gambia,” he said.
“We are asking every Sierra Leonean and Gambian to be the watchful eye of the government of the day,” he said.
“If somebody wants to change the government of the day it can be done through the ballot boxnot by the gun; so everywhere you see any subversiveactivities whether for Sierra Leone or Gambiayou should report that activityimmediately to the appropriate authorities, because when they execute the plan whether direct or indirectit will affect you, and what affects The Gambia, affects Sierra Leone and what affects Sierra Leone affects The Gambia; hence His Excellency President Koromais highly concerned about peace and security in The Gambia. He, therefore, sends me to deliver this message that you should be the watchful eye of both the Gambian and Sierra Leonean governments against any subversive activity.”
Mr Bangura further advised his fellow Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia to respect the law of the land and be law-abiding in whatever they do.
“President Koroma emphasised that every Sierra Leonean in The Gambia should obey the law of the country,” he added.
On The Gambia- Sierra Leone relations, Mr Bangura commended President Yahya Jammeh and his government for being the first country to come to the aid of Sierra Leoneans during the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease in Sierra Leone.
“When Sierra Leone was in trouble with the deadly Ebola disease, the President of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Dr Alhaji Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh responded immediately by sending a lot of money to complement our government’s effort in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus,” he said.
“That shows the two countries have a cordial relationship, which is exhibited in many other events observed by each of the countries.”
Regarding the situation of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Mr Bangura said people have had a lot of misconception about the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, but President Koroma and his government have continued to fight very hard to bring the deadly disease to an end.
The APC political activist advised Sierra Leoneans living in The Gambia to adhere to the rules and prevention mechanisms put in place by the Gambian health authorities.
“All of us should observe the rules and health control mechanisms put in place until we have total eradication of Ebola in our region,” Mr Bangura said.
He thanked President Yahya Jammeh, his government and the people of The Gambia for their support to Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia, saying “God would richly reward the Gambian nation for that”.
