By Donstance Koroma
Dr. Kaifala Marrah, the leading aspirant for the Presidential candidacy (flag bearership) of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, has on Sunday 9th February 2025 staged a football match between motor bike (OKADA) riders of the east-end of the capital and tricycle (KEKEH) riders of the west – end of Freetown at the SS Camp community field- IMATT / Hill Stations, Freetown.
This historic match between the two commercial rider groups further demonstrates Dr. Kaifala Marrah’s commitment to strengthen peace between and among commercial bike riders nationally following years of bitter dispute sbetween the two.
During the first half of play, bike riders took the lead in the 35 minutes and maintained the lead till the end of the first half.
Unfortunately for the Kekeh riders, the score line reads the same until the 90th minute of play coupled with injury time added.
The Padi football match was organized by the Kailafa Marrah Padi Movement mainly for okada and Kekeh riders.
Speaking during the distribution of trophy to the winners and runners up, Dr.Kaifala Marrah described the event as special because the football match was geared towards peace.
He continued that the football match brought together commercial riders from the east end and the west end of Freetown without any fighting, lauding the executives of both rider associations for exhibiting peace; and he called on other sectors to emulate the same.
“If you are seeking leadership, you must rub-skin with the grassroots. You can rule with perfection when you are aware about issues affecting marginalized groups” Dr. Marrah said.
He noted that problems of marginalized groups do not require a bookish approach.
He emphasized that the new drug in town, Kush, is seriously disturbing the country, and as such, it is impossible to sit at offices to address such.
Kaifala Marrah assured the grassroots of a new hope so that citizens can benefit from the God-given resources Sierra Leone is blessed with.
The president of Bike Riders Association, Salieu Turay, appreciated Dr. Marrah for deeming it necessary to strengthen the existing peace between Okada and Kekeh riders.
Turay disclosed that Dr. Marrah is the only Presidential aspirant with a clear-cut vision for the youth of the country, hence the reason both Okada and Kekeh riders are deeply in love with him.
He further revealed that Dr. Marrah also contributed towards the ongoing construction of the bike riders’ national secretariat.
The president of the Kekeh Riders Association, Abubakarr Timbo, described Dr. Marrah as the only political figure that distances himself from tribe and regions, and as such, makes him the redeemer and the new hope of the nation, also stating that it is the first time to organize such a football match.
Timbo acknowledged the fact that tricycle riders come from motor bike riders, yet they were not in harmony before now. He congratulated okada riders for winning the game
The Chairman Koinadugu District, S. S. Marrah, who identified himself as some security personnel, explained how he places premium on safety and protection of youth. ‘‘Apart from our minerals, the youth are the future’’, he said. He reiterated the need to make Sierra Leone a drug-free country.
To further demonstrate the unity and peace currently existing between the two, Dr. Marrah requested that the president of the Kekeh riders hand over the trophy to the President of the bike riders.
Fifteen Thousand New Leones was handed over to the winners while ten thousand New Leones to the runners up.
