These were the words of Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, 2018 Presidential Candidate for the now main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the March 2018 elections.
He was speaking yesterday October 30, 2018 at one of AYV’s multiple studios on Wesley Street in Freetown where he responded to an array of questions bordering on his post-election life and what he intends to do politically in the future.
Dr. Samura Kamara explained “rise of identity politics and extremism” as meaning “we are not building true nationalism as whatever you do one or two people will always complain, but we need an orderly society and the oneness we are preaching should be clearly seen.”
He maintained, however, that he is totally against people who say that since Independence nothing has happened in Sierra Leone because according to him, such a statement is simply untrue.
On the issue about alleged disunity within the APC and the rise of a reformist group made up of APC youth, Dr. Samura Kamara said “there is no sense of disunity in the APC; after the elections everyone had their own view of the results.” He added that once in a while, it is necessary for people to make their views felt which according to Dr. Samura, is a necessary recipe “to strengthen” the party.
On the 9-Man Committee Report, Dr. Samura Kamara maintained that the report was a way to look at what went wrong within the APC leading to the March 2018 elections. He was quick to note, however, that he did not lose the elections, but accepted the results in the interest of peace and sanity going forward.
Personally, Dr. Samura Kamara said he is currently concentrating on taking care of his 90-year old mother who he said has been traumatized since the election results were announced. He added that he loves taking care of his mother and at the same time is concentrating on farming as a hobby and a way of boosting food security in the country.
He said he is looking forward to running for president again under the APC if he is given the mandate or endorsement to do so, adding that he is very grateful to the APC and to former president Koroma for the confidence reposed in him and for nominating him as flag bearer of the APC in the 2018 elections and that in the meantime, he is working with the APC to strengthen the party for the 2023 elections to bring the party back to power.
