He called on the SLPP government to be seen running the country “as a government, and not as a political party.”
He spoke about his C4C party and why they did not win the 2018 elections, though they won eight parliamentary seats.
According to Sam Sumana, the Coalition for Change came into being as a result of our enthusiasm to bring positive change in the political landscape of our country.
“When we received our certification less than two months to the 2018 general elections, we indeed were able to show to the general public that it was a force to reckon with. Our expectation was to win the elections but we accepted the outcome. We are today carrying parliamentary seats, eight in total and two local councils – the district and city councils of Kono.”
He went on to say: “C4C is a national party as we are entrenched in other parts of the country in terms of party establishment. We were not fortunate to win seats but we were very close, in some areas, to have won seats. We were almost going to win a seat in Bonthe and Moyamba districts.
“We did not have enough time as a party to establish ourselves strongly but we made sure that our presence was felt as the third most populous party in terms of representation and in terms of candidates. So, we continue to sustain that as a party. We believe that change would come positively for the people.”
On his C4C party’s relationship with the All People’s Congress of which he was running mate for the 2007 elections, Sam Sumana stated that he believes in destiny and that by providence that is the path his Maker had paved for him. “There is no issue of animosity. We should accept destiny. Having been privileged to be given the opportunity by President Koroma and the APC to take me from my little corner in Kono and come out to be a national figure, I am very grateful for that.
I am not an ingrate. I served my country diligently during my first term and also the second term. Like you said, some issues happened but we have gone past that. There is no reason for us to be spending time on those issues that had put us apart. We should dwell on those issues that would bring us together, and that is my drive.
On how he asses the current government, Chief Sam Sumana replied that he doesn’t feel very comfortable talking about the current dispensation. “My advice though is for them to lead the country as a government and not as a political party. We have to look at the bigger picture, Sierra Leone. We should not be seen dividing our country. There were issues in Port Loko following my arrival; there are issues with my pension and benefit; paying everybody and then refusing to pay me. To be honest enough it is immaturity. I cannot be intimidated. If you deprive me, so be it. Maybe one day somebody would pay me. Don’t forget, this is the same party-the SLPP that used the verdict of my case five times to campaign; in 2015 they came out with a press release against it; when I won the case they came out with a release; in their manifesto they mentioned it; in their Government Transition Team report they mentioned it and when the President had his inaugural address in parliament, he mentioned it. So, having done all of that and then they reneged on those statements, to me it is pettiness.
