Elections critical to stability in Africa – S’Leonean President

President Ernest Bai Karoma

Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

President Ernest Bai Karoma of the Republic of Sierra Leone on Wednesday in Kaduna said elections remained the only guarantee to stability in Africa.

The President, through his Adviser on Youth Development, Dr Sheikhu Kamara, spoke to journalists shortly after his facility tour of the National Youth Service Corps Permanent Orientation Camp, Kilometre 16, Kaduna -Abuja Expressway, Kaduna.

He noted that elections on the continent would be fairer and more credible when independent-minded corps members actively participated without ethnic or religious inclinations.

He said, “Its (NYSC) structure has evolved into national unity. I’m aware that corps members are involved in elections and national census. To us, that is a great achievement. Elections are the keys to stability on this continent.

“But when you can have independent corps members taking part without any ethnic interest or affiliation, definitely, success will be the ultimate outcome.”

On his assessment of the NYSC camp, Kamara said his team was not disappointed at what they saw, noting that before the team came to the country, it had done an extended research and was not disappointed with what was on the ground.

“We have learnt a lot about the organisational structure of the NYSC and the activities of collaborating agencies like the Army, police, NSCDC, DSS, Man ‘O’ War and CSOs. So, we are very impressed by all we have seen here,” he said.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, had on Tuesday promised the Sierra Leonean study team the Federal Government’s support on the growth and sustenance of the one-year-old Sierra Leone National Youth Service Scheme.