By: Nelson Adebayo Johnson
Veteran All People’s Congress [APC] elder Ambassador Hon. Ibrahim Sorie has called on the party’s current leadership to urgently seek advice from senior APC members and convene a meeting “to discuss the way forward in the interest of the APC party.”
Amb. Sorie, who served as Member of Parliament for 30 years from 1982 to 2012, Minister of State II under former President Siaka Stevens, and APC Chairman for Kambia District for 12 years, said the party must acknowledge past errors.
“We made a lot of mistakes by sacking the former Vice President,” he said. “And also the selection of the 2018 flagbearer created an easy victory for the SLPP government. Even though APC is a very liberal party, there was a mistake.”
He cited the dispute between the former President and the former Vice President as a key factor in the party’s challenges after losing the 2018 elections.
“APC was known as a very developmental political party under Siaka Stevens. We have challenges as a party after losing 2018 due to the mistakes that were made,” Amb. Sorie stated.
“Respect Term Limits, Consult Elders”
“As a very senior member who has served as MP, Deputy Minister, and Minister, we need to sit as members of the party. We also have to respect our party constitution — the two-term limit for any position should be respected. Not to continue holding position after two terms, that is a violation of our party constitution.”
He urged the current executive to be guided by older members: “We need as a party to call on the older people to figure out the way forward. The party needs to be guided by the old party members through consultation on the running of our party. Being an executive doesn’t give you the right to ride over others. They need to consult the elders for better recommendations. You can have all the guidelines, but when implementation is not done, it is worrying.”
23 Aspirants, Parliament Boycott “A Disaster”
Amb. Sorie described the over 23 aspirants contesting for the APC flagbearer position as “one of the fundamental issues we have as a party.”
“Even though it is their right, they need to be guided. And let us as a party give space to the younger folks, but also they need to be guided,” he said.
He condemned recent parliamentary boycotts: “Boycotting sittings in Parliament is a disaster for our party. When we were in Parliament, we walked out but did not leave the premises. But now boycotting is a disaster because the ruling government takes that as an advantage to rush and pass certain bills because the main opposition were not in Parliament — preparing the ground for our defeat. Parliament will not stop its operation because APC is not in Parliament. Parliament goes on.”
2028: “Back Dr. Ibrahim Bangura”
On the 2028 elections, Amb. Sorie said APC “should present a leader who is well recognised, respected, with clean character, no allegations of corruption, who knows administration.”
“The APC doesn’t lack people who are grounded. They are here, so the party should consult them. We also need to sit with the former Vice President and the former party leader and all those who have served the party to have a better discussion on the foundation.”
He called for a meeting with all aspiring flagbearers: “You can have the money, but contesting for the leadership you must have the understanding and the knowledge. You should have gone through the ranks before contesting for such a position.”
“For me, I think like Mohamed Orman Kamara, popularly known as ‘Jagaban’, and other potential candidates, the party should call them into a meeting including Dr. Ibrahim Bangura. Tell them: this is not the time for us to be fighting. Let us allow Dr. Ibrahim Bangura represent the party in the 2028 national elections. Dr. Bangura has all what it takes. He is exposed and has worked for the party and international institutions.”
