D-Unifier Media Team
Kenema which has undoubtedly been the strong hold of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party-SLPP has recently described Dr. Richard Konteh as a brave and gallant soldier who has given new life to the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party supporters in the southern and eastern regions.
According to them (APC party supporters in Kenema) they feel totally abandoned and rejected after the 2018 general elections and were left to be grossly maltreated and mucked by the ruling SLPP supporters. It was during that state of despair and helplessness they said Dr. Richard Konteh as a senior party official paid a visit to the two regions to restore hopes to party supporters. Amidst serious threat and intimidation they said Dr. Richard still moved on to visit them in the Southeast and gave them words of courage and hopes.
During his last visit to grace the occasion of the fortieth day memorial service of the late Alhaji Chief Benson Ahmed Suwu in Kenema, Dr. Richard Konteh told mourners that ‘the APC does not only care for the living but also the dead’, he said and added that ‘for as long as you remain committed and supportive of the party when alive be rest assured of proper care even in your absence’. The APC he said is a grassroot party and a party that is inclusive of all irrespective of region or tribe.
As usual, Dr. Richard Konteh used the opportunity of his last visit to Kenema to spend two sleepless nights in healing wounds and mending fences amongst party supporters who one way or the other felt marginalized; an action which greatly amazed and moved party supporters who vowed to reawaken their spirits once again and fully commit their support to the APC party. One of the aggrieved supporters who was denied symbol for Kenema in the last elections Mr. Sattie Kamara said, even though he had decided to keep off from the party but would now make a comeback and fully throw his support behind the APC party in the interest of Dr. Richard Konteh. Similar sentiments were expressed by other supporters who went further to say that the continued visits of Dr. Richard Konteh to the Southeast has emboldened them to putting on APC t-shirts and also sing the party’s victory song in public.
Before he left Kenema yesterday, Dr. Richard Konteh visited the homes of old APC party stalwarts which included Hon. Francis Musa, Hon. Makaya Kaikai and Madam Hawa Bah. Hon. Makaya Kaikai profoundly thanked Dr. Richard for the thought of paying him what he described as a surprised visit. He lamented that after the 2018 elections, marauding youths of the SLPP had wanted to burn down his house but they met with strong resistance from the youths around.
But with all these ugly experiences he said, nobody within the APC ranks and file has ever visited Kenema and attempted to pay him a visit except Dr. Richard Konteh. In the same vein Hon. Francis Musa said from the time he retired from active politics, owing to old age and poor health, no APC member has visited him except Dr. Richard Konteh.
‘This is the second time of visit to my place’ he said, adding that ‘you are a true son of APC and that your success will surely bring happiness to all APCians’. He concluded that Dr. Richard Konteh is endowed with APC character and that may God help him to achieve his goal.
