APC Set To Win 2023 Elections
Samura Kamara has again demonstrated that he is not easily moved by wealth, but one’s ability to deliver. This brings one to the view expressed by Kabs Kanu, when he said that many do not know the Real Samura Kamara, and his action today, 13th March, in announcing Hon Chericoco as his running mate lends credence to Kabs Kanu’s assertion.
After a long wait for who will be the running mate of the Presidential candidate of the main opposition party, Dr. Samura Kamara, especially as several names emerged, the ice was finally broken when Samura Kamara arrived at the party’s Old Railway Line offices. He wasted no time to announce his running mate, telling the public and the world that Chericoco is his choice. This puts to rest all the camps in the party and should ginger the party to embrace each other and work for the much anticipated victory of the party.
An understanding of who Samura Kamara is would give a wider understanding of the reason for his choice of Chericoco. According to people who have worked with Samura Kamara, he is someone who believes in delivery, and has no qualms about giving his support to such individuals, irrespective of their ethnicity. They maintained that this Development Economist is not moved by one’s status in society or wealth, but believes in the equality of all mankind, and is determined to fight for any course that he believes in. Many believe that under his watch Sierra Leoneans are in for a shock, as he will not blink to do what is right for the people, and will not be moved by sentiments, but by one’s ability to perform.
But why did he choose Hon Chericoco?
Hon. Chericoco has been an example of a relentless fighter, and throughout the trials of the APC, he has been very active in pushing the agenda of the party. In Parliament, Chericoco has been a gem, opposing issues brought before the House that, in his opinion, were not in the interest of the masses, and would support those that are in the interest of the masses. Chericoco, like Ex-President Koroma, has a wealth of experience in governance by virtue of his stay in Parliament as Leader of Opposition, Deputy Speaker, as well as membership of the ECOWAS Parliament. Furthermore, Chericoco has the support of the grassroots in the country, and as Fullah, the third ethnic group in the country, he is expected to bag their support.
In the elections of 2018, the Fullah community voted overwhelmingly for Juldeh Jalloh, mainly because he is the elder of the two candidates, but Juldeh seemed to have betrayed their trust. Today, coincidentally, a verdict of guilty was slammed on one of the icons of the entertainment industry and a popular son of the Fullah community, who has taken the fullahs to the limelight, with a very huge fan base. Fullah elders were hopeful that with the presence of Juldeh in the top position in government, their interests will be sought after. First Lady Fatima Bio, whilst attending a ceremony abroad, told the audience that if it had been left to her, LAJ would not be in jail.
What the government failed to understand is the popularity of LAJ among the fullah community, as well as the APC. It is an open secret that the likes of ‘ARATA’ and team have caused atrocities in the country, which could not be compared to what LAJ was accused of, but he has gone scot-free, whilst LAJ has now been imprisoned. Is it because he leans to the APC? To make matters worse, his father, an influential figure among the fullah community, and brother, were also arrested on allegation of interfering with witness.
Samsumana’s test case
Whilst Chief Samsumana was not chosen as running mate of Samura Kamara, it is left to be seen if he could show his loyalty to the party by campaigning for the party that he has returned to, which he wanted to lead. His loyalty is yet to be seen. Will Samsumana prove to the APC and the nation that his commitment to return to the APC was not because of becoming flag-bearer or running mate, but a genuine desire to serve a party that he so dearly loves? Will he prove to the party that his intentions are genuine and that Samura Kamara was wrong not to have chosen him, and that this will not stop him from luring his ‘Kono crowd’ behind him? Samsumana’s reliability hangs on the next steps he will take in the coming days.
Some political analysts are of the view that the Samura Kamara and Chericoco team is the winning team, especially as there is a lot of disgruntlement among citizens over the cost of living and the economy under the Bio administration. They believe that President Bio and team could do all they can to convince people to vote for them, but they lacked the evidence to show the people that under their leadership, the lives of the people have been made better, and this is going to be among the top priorities for consideration among voters.