October 19, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie
Patrick O’Dwyer, NPD presidential candidate
The National Progressive Democrat (NPD) yesterday presented their presidential candidate for the March 7, 2018 presidential elections to the public, at the conference hall of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ).
Patrick O’Dwyer was chosen by the party after a tense meeting with key stakeholders, including party members, because the other two aspirants who had applied to lead the party into the elections failed to meet the set criteria.
The NPD has been embroiled in infighting over the past few months over who should head the affairs of the party, with some of the supporters expressing dissatisfaction with regards the state of affairs as national elections draw to a close.
The party, over the weekend, elected its national officers to run the affairs of the party under the supervision of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), with Wadi Williams emerging as the new Chairman and Leader.
In a joyous mood after his presentation to newsmen, Mr. O’Dwyer congratulated members of his party for given him the opportunity to lead them to victory in the elections.
He vowed to be accountable to the people of Sierra Leone if given the chance to govern the country, adding, “We don’t want to think solutions for the people but rather we want it to come from them. This is because we will use that to help chat the way forward for Sierra Leone.”
He described NPD as a party with ideologies and zest of capturing the true aspirations of the people, adding that they also believe in innovative ideas to promote the interest and wellbeing of all and sundry.
“I am very happy to be elected by the executive and members of the party across the country as their standard bearer for the 2018 elections. We have toured almost every parts of this country to talk to people on issues,” he said and added that they are not like the SLPP and the APC who he claimed have been providing the people with fake pronouncements but little results.
Even though he was unable to provide details about what he intends to do if he wins the presidential election, Mr. O’Dwyer spoke about plans to transform the education and health sectors, among others in the country for betterment of everyone.
“Honestly we have seen little progress over the years but we believe we can do better after we would have won the election. We will be accountable hundred percent to the people of Sierra Leone. We will ask the judiciary to help us table a bill in parliament to take away the seditious libel law and replaced it with a law that protects the citizens,” he promised.