The life term of the Presidency and Parliament need to be extended, if for no other reason than the fact that all political parties should be given a fair chance to operate on even playing field. You cannot conduct elections when one whole region still remains inaccessible, and under the control of gun totting rebels who have no regard for constitutionality. The people have not agitated or complained about the extension of the life-span of the Government not because of any constitutional provision, which can be legally changed by parliament. The people have not agitated because they are reasonable enough to understand that elections cannot be conducted in a state whereby many political parties have no access to the areas that are their political strong holds. There is nothing wrong for people to suggest the idea of National Unity if they think that is one of the surest ways of achieving lasting peace.
Government has a right to accept the idea or reject it.
It should not be misconstrued that the idea of National Unity Government is to unseat ministers from their seats, the idea is to give president Kabbah an opportunity to muster all shades of political opinion for a smooth transition to another elected Government, now that the people have accepted the extension of the term of government beyond the mandatory five years. Nobody wants to unnecessarily include himself in a government that he is not wanted, but surely it is not a crime to suggest a political idea, be it in the constitution or not. It cannot be a crime to suggest a government that will seek to bring everlasting peace in Sierra Leone, eventhough the government has the constitutional authority to reject such an idea, but surely it is not a crime. The Anti-Corruption Commission, which we at first thought was duplicating the efforts other state institutions, has become a necessary and vital arm of government, by our new understanding. The implication is that if no steps are taken to make it clear that corruption is not part of Government policy, there is the great possibility that Sierra Leone will lose sympathy among members of the international community.