It can be recalled that a day after the selection of Dr. Samura and Hon. Chericoco by National Chairman and Leader of the APC at the party’s delegate convention recently held in Makeni, residents of Port Loko took to the street in violent demonstration that their sons of the soil, Alpha Kanu and Kemoh Sesay among others were not considered.
The ugly event which lasted for days saw angry residents destroying and burning down red coloured T-shirts (Polos), posters and wall bills bearing the face and name of the APC National Chairman and Leader Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
Many of these protesters felt betrayed by the APC National Advisory Council (NAC) at the Makeni Convention for not electing their own preferred candidates whom they think – as ridiculous as it seems – are more indigenous than other Port Loko descendants.
The development was really disturbing for many APC supporters but party stakeholders made unprecedented moves by rallying all the former flagbearer aspirants, with special focus on these from Port Loko calling on them to calm the waters and to remind angry supporters to put the APC party first.
Samura Kamara’s acceptance speech said it all. It was a classical reconciliatory speech which is appealingly welcomed by majority APC members in and outside the country. Even the defeated APC flagbearers did not waste time in sending warmest felicitating messages to Samura/Chericoco team and promised them of their fullest cooperation.
Senior statesmen from Port Loko including Abu Bakarr “Boxx” Konteh (The Fixer), a bonafide son of Port Loko, called on the people of Port Loko to look beyond today and the challenges of yesterday to unite towards making our home great.
APC District Chairman of Port Loko also appeals for calm by calling on his people to remain in unity and strengthen the APC because it is theirs.
He reminded the people of Port Loko that flagbearer Dr. Samura Kamara is the nephew of their late father, Pa Maliki (Ormaleh) of Port Loko town, and the late Pa Alhaji Sorsor Kamara of Montague Street, Freetown, who was the Chairman of Jamiul Jalil Temne Central Mosque, Oldfield Street, Freetown.
Over the weekend, a team of very senior APC stalwarts visited the anger township preached messages of peace, oneness and togetherness under the one ‘APV Tolongbo’ umbrella.
AYV’s Port Loko source confirmed that all meetings held over the weekend were very much successful as residents who were angry with the party were seen dancing and hugging each other and vowing to support the selected team of presidential aspirants and ensure the party remains in governance.
