By Staff Writer
Former spokesperson of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and former Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema, has declared that he will not accept any appointment to serve in President Julius Maada Bio’s government during what he described as the “evening hours” of the administration.
Leema made the startling declaration while speaking about his political future, insisting that he would rather refuse an offer from President Bio than risk damaging his reputation.
“I am not going to serve in this government in these evening hours and get a bad name,” Leema reportedly stated.
According to Leema, should President Bio approach him with an offer to serve in the government, he would respectfully decline and openly tell the President his reasons.
The former minister further revealed that he has deliberately kept his membership of the ruling SLPP dormant and no longer wishes to actively participate in the affairs of the party.
“I don’t want to be an active participant in the SLPP anymore,” he said.
In what could further fuel speculation about his political future, Leema openly expressed his ambition to become the next President of Sierra Leone, signalling a possible new chapter in his political journey outside active participation in the ruling party.
Leema also disclosed that he holds the position of Grand Chief Patron within the SLPP and had reportedly set aside money in the party’s treasury to upgrade his status. However, he said he has now changed his mind and intends to retrieve the money.
His comments are likely to generate intense political debate within the SLPP, particularly at a time when discussions surrounding the future leadership of the party and the country’s next presidential election continue to dominate the political landscape.
Leema’s declaration raises several critical questions: Has one of the SLPP’s former prominent voices finally turned his back on active party politics? Is he preparing to chart an independent political path? And could his presidential ambition eventually place him on a collision course with the party he once vigorously defended?
For now, one thing appears clear: Lahai Lawrence Leema is distancing himself from the current administration and appears determined to pursue his own political future.
