The president also introduced former aspirants Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray, John Bornor Sisay, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara and Ambassador Alimamy P. Koroma to President Obasanjo.

It can be recalled that since the aftermath of the APC national delegates’ conference in Makeni which selected Dr. Samura Kamara and Hon. Chernor Bah as presidential candidate and running mate respectively, President Ernest Bai Koroma as Chairman and Leader of the APC has been receiving congratulatory messages for a successful process.

It could be recalled that in 2007, Obasanjo endorsed Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) presidential candidate then, Solomon Ekuma Berewa, even though the former was still president of Nigeria.

In 2012, Obasanjo openly campaigned for President Koroma’s re-election bid, saying that former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah “laid some foundations and President Koroma has built a worthwhile edifice on that foundation”.

APC authorities say Obasanjo’s visit was not only timely following on the heels of the APC convention and the outpouring of support and emotions for the good work of President Koroma during the paddle street carnival, but also a pointer to the mood of the West African region considering the fact that Obasanjo is being regarded as a political heavyweight in West Africa. The visit according to them could be likened to an endorsement of the candidature of Dr. Samura Kamara as their apparent to the presidency.

From an opposition view, many say the visit of Obansanjo could not be unconnected with rumors that there have been several secret infights between regional factions in the party, especially among former flagbearer aspirants for the 2018 presidency who were rejected by President Koroma in favour of Dr. Samura Kamara.

This faction of people believed that the former Nigerian president could have been invited by his Sierra Leonean friend, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to come help him reunite the party and its members before some of them start defecting to alternative political parties.