Nomination for Samura Kamara and Chernor Maju Bah has ended. The duo have gone through nomination successfully as objection came from no one. The nomination means Kamara and Bah are the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively for the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC). The two candidates are set to contest with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party in an election that will be the hottest in the country.
Many in the ruling SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) were stunned and shocked at the nomination of the APC flag-bearer. They had expected a knock-out of the APC flag-bearer through the court. Kamara alongside four accused persons is standing trial at a high court in Freetown for corruption-related offences. He battles with two counts indicating that he deceived the principal while he was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The trial took a different turn when the presiding judge, Justice Adrian Fisher adjourned the matter to July 14, this year. It means the case will come up again when the election shall have been conducted. The dust has settled as it stands at the moment. Speculations that Samura Kamara would not go through his nomination has been laid to rest, and the ball is now in his court. As he carries the baton of leadership, questions about what next Kamara will embark on to strengthen the party’s chances to win June 24 election remains.
As of now, the APC presidential candidate cannot be reached for comments, but a senior APC member who preferred anonymity told this press that Kamara has to popularise and sell the party at home and and abroad. The APC presidential candidate would leave Sierra Leone for the United States, and spend days there in party and country’s interest.
During the trip, he would talk to APC supporters in the diaspora to garner support for the party ahead of elections. In the talks that would follow, issues of fund raising is expected to be topical. APC has been in the opposition for the past five years, and men with the means are needed in the party. Kamara is sure to return home the coming Monday to continue work here.
The APC flag-bearer has been to the United States and other parts of the world before now to showcase the party’s potential to win the election. Back home, Kamara has put together his manifesto which would guide his service delivery to the people if he won the election. It will be launched soon.
Plans are now underway to popularise the manifesto so that it can be read, analysed and compared to those of other political parties for people to make their choices. Owing to his rich experience, the manifesto would be watertight.
He is said to have played great role in the authoring of the Agenda for Change (AfC) and Prosperity. The AfC which was implemented in the first five years of former President Ernest Bai Koroma looked at such areas as infrastructure, energy, health, education and agriculture. Koroma was highly successful in his first term under the AfP, and that success translated into his hands down election victory in 2012. Koroma, in his second term, won without a run off.
This government also implemented the AfP overcoming challenges along the way. The APC presidential candidate, Kamara partly takes credit for much of praises ascribed to former President Koroma. Kamara’s turn has come, and there is hope that it would not be torn. A sound manifesto is now in place.
The APC members also have been urged to play great role in supporting the party by taking the manifesto to the people. For many APC members, one of the greatest challenges facing Samura Kamara is putting the house in order. APC Members must hold themselves in unity if the party is to bounce back to power in June 24.
Recent internal elections have left several cleavages or divisions in the party.
Those who lost the elections say they have been unfairly treated, and must go their own way. Although it was reported that Kamara has met with the losers to unify them with the winners, more effort must be made to engage them so that they all see themselves as one, and work for the common good. The aim is to see that APC comes to power in the near future.
Attention also must be paid to swing districts in the country. Kono and Kambia are still swinging on the pendulum. Several stakeholders in Kono district have declared for the ruling party to which they pledge their loyalty and support to ensure that SLPP continues in power. Few however have switched over to APC from the Coalition For Change (CFC), party founded by Chief Samuel Sam Sumana.
Kambia too is still showing signs of a swing district. Supporters of Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella are still there, and form a large number. Although PortLoko is not a swing district, it is slowly and steadily falling in the hands of the ruling party. SLPP has taken several development projects there, and it is now up to Kamara to turn the political tide to his favour.
But, strong steps have to be taken to increase APC’s relevance at this crucial time. APC must not afford to lose, it must win at all cost as Sierra Leoneans repose their confidence in Samura Kamara for redemption.