By: Alie Mozart – USA

The June 2023 presidential aspirant for the main opposition All People’s Congress party (APC) has in his first town hall meeting held in the US, observed a minute silence for the dead, by way of gratitude for their sacrifice and contributions to national development.

Wishing the dead a perfect rest especially those who passed away through political lines, “once we recall the past, let us also cherish the future,” Dr. Kamara told a curious and jampacked crowd, many of whom were opportune to meet him for the first time from various walks of life and from their busy schedules to grace the historic occasion at the Metro Points Hotel conference hall in Maryland, USA.

Dr Kamara was quick to note that Sierra Leoneans no longer need leaders who lie and broke vows. “Being a leader requires humility and listening attentively to your people, thus living in truth is the only way to make one’s soul rest in peace for eternity. Leaders must learn to be humble and not be recalcitrant and intolerant to revert to apologize after they break vows and they must always try to listen to their people’s grievances to correct their mistakes or fake promises to avoid the people’s violent reactions when provoked as against their welfare and livelihood, by way of moving forward,” he tipped the applauding crowd.

According to Dr. Samura Kamara, winning an election or occupying world positions is no child’s play, taking into cognizance what it takes to get there, especially in rogue dispensations. The softspoken presidential hopeful described himself as a “techno-politician who has transformed from a technocrat.” In his words: “I am not a confrontational or violent politician, and my being a politician does not make me a manner from heaven, further urging all to work as one, to enjoy a better Sierra Leone.

Salient issues he mentioned include election rigging, protection of votes, strength in diversity, diaspora’s critical role in pushing and developing national peace and economic development, observing one’s limitations in meritocracy  and competency, placing the right people in the right places devoid political leaning and affiliation, nonviolence, working on how to finish APC and SLPP initiated projects for national interest without bias, being more Sierra Leonean than tribal or regionally affiliated (nationalism), his vision 1961 – a non-free ride – but reflecting the good, the bad and the ugly,  aiming to work so hard in 5yrs to achieving a seeming 25yr development goal (intergenerational development), working on a national development plan that will be legally binding among others.

Structural heads present at the meeting include APC National Deputy Chairman – Ambassador Dr. Osman F. Yansanneh, a battery of APC legal team including Legal 1 – Africanus Sorie Sesay, Western Area Deputy Manager and Deputy – Lansana Fadika Esq., and Ade Macauley Esq., Melron Nicole Esq. Ibrahim Sorie Esq., Brima Koroma Esq., former but youngest Independent Media Commissioner – Alhaji Dauda Musa Bangura aka Galaxy, We Yone Newspaper Editor – in – Chief – Gunther A. Daramy, USA – APC Chapter, headed by Suffian Kargbo, who doubled as chairman of the occasion, among others.