President Dr Julius Maada Bio has paid a moving tribute to the late Hon. Dr Bu-Buakei Jabbie Esq., remembering him as a disciplined legal scholar, steadfast party stalwart, and pivotal figure in Sierra Leone’s democratic evolution. The solemn laying-out ceremony at the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Headquarters drew party leaders, elders, family members, friends, and supporters to honour a man who has dedicated his adult life to public service, the rule of law, and the advancement of the SLPP.
Dr Jabbie, born on May 7, 1945, in Bunumbu Moama Village, Kailahun District, has had a distinguished academic and legal career. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language from Fourah Bay College, followed by a Master’s degree from a university in southern England, and later a PhD and a Law degree from Sheffield University in England. His academic achievements served as the foundation for a lifetime of legal practice and counsel, which left an indelible mark on his party and the country.
Dr Jabbie was a Member of Parliament for Constituency 008, Kailahun District, from 2012 to 2017. Aside from his parliamentary term, he was the SLPP’s longest-serving Legal Advisor, providing institutional memory and legal guidance during some of the party’s most difficult times. President Bio bestowed the country’s highest civilian honour, Commander of the Order of the Rokel (COR), on him on April 27, 2021, an honour that family and party members have repeatedly stated meant a lot to him and those who knew him best.
President Bio described Dr Jabbie as a man of principle who believed in justice, discipline, and the supremacy of the law while speaking at the laying-out ceremony. “This is a huge loss, not only to the family, but also to the SLPP and the nation,” the President said, emphasising Dr Jabbie’s insistence that political struggles be based on legal processes. “He was strict, principled, and fiercely committed to the rule of law.” He taught us that even political battles must be fought within the law,” President Bio said, recalling how Dr Jabbie frequently urged the party to seek judicial remedies and uphold constitutional governance.
The President reflected on the late man’s many roles in both private and public life: “To many he was ‘Keke,’ to his children a loving father, but to me he was a disciplinarian who helped guide the party.” We’ll miss him terribly.” He ended his tribute with a prayer for God’s mercy and Dr Jabbie’s eternal rest.
Voices from across the SLPP expressed their admiration for Dr Jabbie’s commitment. Rev. Hindolo Butcher, Chairman of the SLPP Council of Elders, remembered Dr Jabbie’s and others’ sacrifices during the late President Siaka Stevens’ repressive regime. Reverend Butcher described him as a “warrior of the party,” saying they had been imprisoned together and that Dr Jabbie “suffered for the SLPP, remained faithful, and never compromised his principles.” He urged members to honour Dr Jabbie’s legacy by remaining loyal to the party he cherished.
Former SLPP Chairman Dr Prince Harding echoed the theme of sacrifice and resilience, praising Dr Jabbie’s refusal to give up in the face of humiliation or imprisonment. “Giving up was never an option,” Dr Harding said, commemorating a life that strengthened the party’s resolve and set a precedent for future generations of political activists and legal minds.
Dr Jabbie’s daughter, Madam Tuma Jabbie Esq., spoke on behalf of the family, emphasising her father’s dual roles as a disciplined leader and devoted parent. She thanked President Bio and the SLPP for their recognition and support, saying the COR award “meant everything to our family.” “My father believed deeply in the SLPP and supported President Bio even in opposition,” she said, thanking the party for the honour and farewell.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasised not only Dr Jabbie’s professional accomplishments, but also the moral standards he embodied: unwavering adherence to the rule of law, respect for constitutionalism, and insistence on political engagement conducted within legal bounds. These themes were woven into calls for the SLPP and its members to follow in his footsteps by adhering to discipline and legal propriety.
President Bio concluded the laying-out ceremony by reaffirming that the SLPP is a family whose ties will last beyond individual lives. “We have gathered here as a grateful party to express our gratitude. “His contribution will never be forgotten,” he said, praying for God’s mercy on the departed. As party elders, colleagues, and family members reflected on a life of profound public service, the message was clear: Hon. Dr Bu-Buakei Jabbie’s legacy of legal excellence, unwavering principle, and party loyalty will continue to guide both the SLPP and the nation for many years.
