After Makeni Convention…
APC Leaves Samura Kamara To Paddle His Canoe
By David Johnson
After the National Delegates Conference (NDC) held in Makeni to elect National Executive, during which Dr Samura Kamara emerged as winner for the Flag -bearer of the APC, beating 19 other aspirants , the euphoria was short -lived, as landing in Freetown took away all the stream. Today, the party seemed satisfied with that victorious entry to Freetown, and have forgotten that this is a race for State House and the Presidency. The party and all those aspirants for the Flag – Bearer position have relaxed and some gone into a cocoon, leaving Samura Kamara to paddle his canoe.
Many Sierra Leoneans believe that if the APC is serious about winning the election in June, more efforts should be seen by all members, including those who lost in the convention, as after all they had all expressed the desire to lead the party to election and had sworn unflinching loyalty to the party. As things stand now, these people have reneged on their commitment to serve the party and ensure victory. This brings us to the question of the loyalty of those aspirants to the party and the nation. It seems that since they were not fortunate to be elected to lead the party to election, they have simply relaxed and are keeping a low profile, leaving Samura Kamara to paddle his canoe. It is like saying “enti na ihn wan be President, leh e try dae”. A rather nonchalant attitude.
It should also be noted that as Presidential candidate of the party, it is the obligation of the party to provide a campaign team for the aspirant, and should be strategizing to embark on the campaign, after all Samura Kamara is attending Court and has little time to go on a thank you tour across the country to express appreciation to citizens for the confidence they have in him in electing him as the Presidential candidate for the June 24th election through their respective delegates. Other Executive members were also elected, and they too have failed to show appreciation to the voters for electing them.
Had it been the case that a flag -bearer should form his own campaign team, Samura Kamara would have his team visiting the voters and expressing appreciation on his behalf, especially as the entire country and the world know that he is attending Court. Unfortunately for the APC, the ruling party (SLPP) is making use of the inactivity of the APC to woo support for a second term, spewing all sorts of allegations against them. Strongholds like Tonkolili, Port Loko, Kambia are being infiltrated, whilst the APC is busy sleeping.
Some concerned party supporters are wondering why Chericoco, who is the running mate, has not taken the initiative to embark on a thank you tour across the country on his behalf as well as on Samura Kamara’s behalf. Why have the other Executive members not done same? Is it that they want Samura Kamara to fail? These supporters say that it is very clear that Bio was simply chosen and not elected by the majority of the party members, but since they want to hold the Presidency, they are rallying behind him, as if they all approve him. This is what they call unity, unlike the situation in the APC, where the divisions still exist, even after the convention.
If the APC is serious about winning the elections in June, it should wake up and start working.
