By Umaru Jah – Germany
In a stirring address that blended personal vulnerability, political reflection, and a steadfast call for unity, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, fondly known as DIB, delivered a message that deeply connected with members of the APC UK and Ireland district, supporters, and onlookers alike. With humility and clarity, he reminded them what leadership truly means through consistent dedication and service over time.
He began by apologizing for a late start. It wasn’t due to carelessness but because he had been ensuring a stable connection. That moment reflected his broader message: begin only when the ground is solid. “I am your son, your brother, your comrade,” he introduced himself, choosing a tone of closeness rather than formality. For Dr. Bangura, the APC isn’t just a political affiliation. It is family, history, and identity. He thanked the APC UK/Ireland executive for their openness, noting that leaders must create bridges, not walls. Leadership, he said, is about enduring criticism, making sacrifices, and still choosing to serve.
He expressed deep gratitude to the audience, especially the women who often go unrecognized in political narratives. But most poignantly, he acknowledged the friends of DIB, those who sustain him in the quiet battles: the self-doubt, the pressure, the temptation to walk away. “The biggest thing in this world,” he said, “is love.” In a world riddled with division, he has chosen love as his weapon.
Dr. Bangura’s story is rooted in hardship, loss, and resilience. From Mambolo, Kambia to the global stage, his journey is steeped in authenticity. His late mother, Fatmata Binta Baldeh, a brilliant Fulani woman, died young, leaving him with an ache that still lingers. His father, an uncompromising APC loyalist, once told him, “I’ve never enjoyed life, but I gave everything to the APC.” His father was even expelled from the party for standing up for his principles but never left. This fierce loyalty now lives in his son.
At just 15, Ibrahim began his political activism, launching the Rising Sun at Fourah Bay College when APC was all but invisible there. Since then, his trajectory has been a masterclass in purpose-driven achievement. From human rights work, to founding Transition International, a global peace and security firm, to earning a PhD in economics, all self-funded.
Dr. Bangura is a practitioner who builds through action. “Put my CV next to ten others, you’ll see the difference,” he said with quiet confidence. He has taught at FBC for ten years without pay, worked with ECOWAS, the AU, the UN, and the EU, authored national justice strategies, and trained thousands in peacebuilding. Governance, he argues, isn’t just about formal titles. It is shaped by those doing the real work behind the scenes.
And now, he feels ready to lead. But his goal isn’t personal gain. Running for office, he said, is the most uncomfortable thing anyone can do. “If I wanted an easy life, I would have taken it. But I chose service.” With his characteristic humility, he added, “I may not have all the answers, but I have the skills, experience, and the will.”
Yet this isn’t just about him. It is about APC. He called out the toxic culture of online insults and internal sabotage. “This party has too much history to be dragged down by division,” he declared. From 2018 to 2023, he noted, we’ve wasted energy fighting each other instead of building. “If we unite, we win. If we divide, we fall. Even if we win, we struggle to govern.”
Unity, discipline, and respect for structures. These are his pillars. “Let’s build a party people can believe in again.” He emphasized his respect for party elders, especially Dr. Samura Kamara, whom he still consults and considers a father figure.
Dr. Bangura isn’t deluded about the complexity of governance in Sierra Leone. “No single party can fix this country alone,” he stated boldly. The nation’s challenges — economic decline, marginalization of women, youth unemployment, and growing public distrust — require more than politics as usual. They demand inclusion, humility, and continuity.
He condemned how women are treated in politics. “We make laws for women without involving them,” he said. “Many women are scared to even run.” As for the youth, “Half the population is on the edge, forgotten, unemployed. That must change.”
In the end, DIB’s message was this. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest or most known. It is about being ready, being consistent, and being driven by love. If he wins, he will unify. If he loses, he will still serve. Either way, his mission is unchanged. To restore pride, unity, and purpose in the APC and to offer Sierra Leone a politics of peace, humility, and service.
This wasn’t just a political speech. It was a call for something higher: dignity in politics, love over hate, and unity over ego. In that moment, in that room, many felt hope again.
