The disappearance of the once-dominant Minkailu Mansaray from the stage of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) has caused doubt among many members of the party.
Mansaray is the substantive APC Chairman, who for close to two years now, is out of the political scene with any excuse made to the grassroots members who elect him to represent their interest.
Many APC supporters say the Chairman is hardly seen in public these days as the people look up to him to run the party at a difficult moment.
As the doubt filters through the public, credible sources say he is critically ill and currently admitted in a health facility in India.
However, other sources have intimated this press that he is now responding to treatment in a health facility in Ghana as his health situation worsens day by day.
Several grassroots members who spoke to this press minced no word saying that Minkailu Mansaray has run away from the current political like his boss former President Ernest Koroma who is currently seeking asylum in Nigeria owing to his alleged role in the November, 2023 attempted coup.
According to a vast majority of APC members, the beleaguered Chairman cannot handle the political stalemate within the party and the country as they have lost the people’s trust.
Mansaray and others have rebuffed, on several occasions, overtures made by the seemingly trusted flag-bearer and leader of the party, Samura Kamara to join him in his campaign for “electoral justice.” One of the most difficult moments, according to insider sources, was the day the Development Partners who are key members of the Tripartite Committee visited the APC office to assess the extent of the implementation of the 84 recommendations.
The story told by those who were there said none of the APC officials came out to address their supporters for fear of attacks and reprisals.
The people were taken aback by the action of a Chairman who was overwhelmingly voted for under the Team-A mantra said to have been coined by former President Ernest Koroma.
Initially, widely reported sick Chairman was there for the people especially during the immediate post-election period of 2018.
He got the admiration of APC members when he succeeded in keeping away APC members and supporters from the Bintumani-3 conference called by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to discuss issues of peace and national cohesion. Those were the hay days of Minkailu Mansaray, but such praise has turned into taunts against him owing to allegations of betraying the APC with many questioning his loyalty to the party. Even before the ailment struck him, the Chairman has lost a common touch with the people as they see him doing homework for the ruling party and undermining Samura Kamara.
At the moment many say his absence from the party is better than his presence since maybe things would work well for the party if he is out of the scene.
As Minkailu allegedly battles it out with his health, his deputy, Foday Osman Yansaaneh is acting as the party’s Chairman till Minkailu Mansaray recovers and returns to his seat. Like his boss, Mr Yansaneh, according to the views of several APC members, is not faring well with the grassroots members as the fight to take the people’s votes is lukewarm and low-key as it was before this time.
Many see him as one who has not done enough to fight for the party’s supposed victory acquired in the 2023 polls despite seeming serious effort from the start.
The APC’s second gentleman was on record to have said “we will not get it right in the future if the 2023 election error is not rectified.” This statement initially turned Osman Yansaneh into a national icon, and would have remained an icon had he stocked to the plan. Now, many say he is weak and tired about the party’s supposed winning although many say his gallant men have deserted him, and he alone cannot fight a dozen, but criticisms against him still continue.
Little wonder that an active APC politician, Thomas Babadi who saw the party’s strides in the 1970’s and 80s was quick to say in an interview that “this is not the APC we used to know.”
For him, the APC won the elections despite contrary views, and therefore wonders why the APC politicians say the victory should be let go and people should prepare for 2028 elections. Although the statement landed him into a scuffle that left him with bodily injuries, his zeal to get back the back’s victory is not watered down.
No gainsaying that the absence of the substantive Chairman and criticism of the man acting seems to have weakened the party’s leadership as shown by some resignations if not defections.
Some top-notch APC officials are leaving the party while others are on a go-slow.
Recently, APC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Osman Timbo gave up his seat and joined the race for the party’s flag as he embarks on trips to canvass the people for votes in the party’s next National Delegates Conference.
At the moment, it is not clear whether there is a suitable replacement to assist the Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya, who many see as one sleeping in his wing. He is not molded like of Umar Paran Tarawally who zest and zeal to protect his party remains alive at all times.
As the race becomes tough and intense, the portraits of the erstwhile deputy APC scribe are all over the country fighting for the top seat although many say there will be no way for him. In several APC circles, he is accused of running away from the party at a time their support is heavily needed.
Like Osman Timbo, the Organizing Secretary too, Bai Mahmoud Bangura has left his seat to contest for the party’s flag touring several districts including his home district, Kambia to canvass for votes. Those who have remained seem weak as they drag their feet in respect of the party affairs, and such weakness could not be divorced from the seeming mass exodus the party is witnessing today.
Even the APC youth who used to spend precious time at APC ‘ATAYA’ bases particularly in the east of Freetown have stopped going there owing to feelings of disappointment and betrayal. One of them who spoke felt betrayed by the APC’s top men who assured them of a resounding victory in the 2023 polls.
One of them, Mohamed Bangura told this press that even when it is clear that the APC won the elections, the party’s leadership is still not ready to fight for the people’s votes making them vulnerable to allegations of votes selling.
As disappointed and frustrated with actions of big guys in the party, Bangura sees no future staying in Freetown, but to go back to the provinces to start life fresh.
“For now, I consider returning to Lunsar where I come from to seek job and build my future. APC politicians have disappointed us,” he vented out his frustrations.