By Abu Shaw in London
Congratulations to the newly appointed APC party running mate for 2023 Honourable Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah popularly known as Chericoco.
The appointment of Chericoco as the 2023 running mate has ushered both delight and disappointment. Supporters are happy while the critics are unhappy. Chericoco’s appointment yesterday at the head office of the APC party in Freetown was made official by the APC Flag-bearer and 2023 presidential candidate Dr Samura Kamara with the full blessing of the APC National Advisory Committee NAC, the highest advisory body of the party. Present during the announcement made by Dr Samura Kamara were the APC National Chairman Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray, the Deputy Chairman Alhaji Osman Yansaneh, APC Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya, and all the APC hierarchy. (Photo: Chericoco, 3rd left, taking the oath of office with Quran).
Hundreds of APC supporters and members also thronged the party office to hear the announcement. It was a deafening atmosphere when Chericoco’s name was pronounced as the running mate. APC Grassroots supporters and members celebrated by singing and dancing in the hall. The message was clear. Chericoco is the chosen one. Chericoco is the people’s choice, the choice of the APC Grassroots supporters, and the choice of the APC Delegates. Dr Samura Kamara and NAC would have made a fundamental error had they failed to choose Chericoco. “We want our leader Dr Samura Kamara to choose our obvious running mate. And the only candidate we want is our Chericoco,” the APC Grassroots and women supporters have reiterated for days on end.
The Grassroots had also reminded Dr Samura Kamara to remember that it was the APC Grassroots that elected him as APC flag bearer. “During the dark days, we stood by you. We supported the APC delegates who in turn elected you as our presidential candidate in Makeni. Please do not disappoint us,” the APC Grassroots in and outside the country warned Dr Samura Kamara. Speaking to the Organiser newspaper over the weekend, the APC Grassroots noted that even though they welcome all APC Comrades to vie for the running mate position but they still believe Chericoco is the right candidate for now.
“Jagaban or no Jagaban, Diana or no Diana, Madina or no Madina, Dr Samura Kamara, and the NAC must use their wise heads and choose Chericoco to avoid any confrontation with us. We want the same winning team of 2018 elections i.e. Samura and Chericoco Ticket for 2023,” the APC Grassroots supporters continue to admonish the APC leader. That dream was realised yesterday when Dr Samura Kamara made the announcement. As a consequence, the APC Grassroot supporters and the wider APC membership have thanked the NAC and Dr Samura Kamara for appointing their man Chericoco, the Dream Team. Even though other party critics are unhappy yet, everyone has been advised to let bygones be bygones to unite behind the party.
After Chericoco’s appointment, congratulatory messages poured in. Here is one from Political I. Barrie, APC PRO Diaspora Region: “Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah aka Chericoco has been approved by the APC National Advisory Committee to join APC Presidential candidate Dr. Samura Kamara as the Running mate for the 2023 elections and VP in waiting. On behalf of the APC Diaspora 6th region, congratulations Hon. Chericoco.”
