By Amoz – USA
Distinguished members of the All People’s Congress (APC) gathered in Maryland, USA, over the weekend, as part of the chapter’s general monthly meetings where they hosted their comrade from Sierra Leone, to discuss pertinent issues around the progress of their party.
The three-hour long meeting was held at 4801 Forbes Blvd, Laham, Maryland, USA, Saturday, January 26, 2025. Issues around the reunification, solidarity, diversity, restructuring of the party, peace, and liberal democracy were discussed.
Welcoming the hosted comrade in the person of Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, the first elected president of the Washington Metropolitan Chapter, comrade Abubakarr ‘Ball Yaiye’ Koroma began by noting the harsh winter season that impeded the usual attendance turnout. In a form of a disclaimer, President Koroma remarked that it is not the chapter’s duty to endorse any candidature, rather to have an open dialogue with anyone for deliberations. “But we also have the responsibility of respecting anyone who played a role in the party with admiration and encouragement, as we interact with them because it is a big venture and no one of us knows in whose hands will the leadership end,” he reminded the gathering with a plea of always being respectful when asking questions, even though the answers might not be the expected ones from the guests.
The Chapter’s vice president, comrade Esther Abibatu Daramy, who served as a member of the tripartite subcommittee in Freetown, said she is unhesitant to disclose anywhere that the June 2023 presidential elections were stolen from the APC. She recalled her six months representation of the Chapter, describing it as “a tedious engagement and commitment”. Expressing hope for a positive outcome of the ongoing fight for electoral justice, comrade Daramy affirmed that by the might of God, the people of Sierra Leone will soon feel the positive change of the trajectory, urging that “it makes no sense to forgo what has been stolen from us, to engage in fighting over the unseen.” During an open mic session, Mrs. Daramy pleaded with comrade Bangura that the party needs highly determined members who can stand their grounds to ensure that the other side respects and fully implements the recommendations borne out of the tripartite agreement.
The guest speaker Dr. Ibrahim Bangura highlighted several issues including his role in the party, ranging from ignoring to have vied for the national secretary position of the party to becoming a peacemaker during the heated legal matter between the National Reformation Movement (NRM) and the then national executive of the APC party; his actively small but significant contribution to the June 2023 multi-tier elections as head of the national strategic development committee; head of the second phase in the development of the party manifesto among others.
He described Sierra Leone as a beautiful country with amazing promises, “but it requires a leadership that can unify the APC and the country,” comrade Bangura remarked, adding that no country can develop without peace and love as well as having institutions that can upkeep the nation’s peace and stability – referencing the United States. Vowing to serve the APC in his entire life and never to seeing anyone as an enemy, comrade Ibrahim Bangura emphasized on what he referred to as the so much hate, divide and tensions currently in the party, the need for political consensus, constructive engagement and dialogue to breach gaps, the need to have a united country, building bridges and not walls, the rotation of power, placing country over party for a desired economy and better employment opportunities, the availability of social services, how to get the boys and girls off the ‘kush’ syndrome, how to have a proper healthcare delivery system, proper care and services for pregnant women, seeking constructive engagement with the youths for solutions to the transformation of their lives – having them to think better for themselves, openness to criticism and sharing of perspectives, better ideas and diversity. Dr. Ibrahim Bangura briefed on what he called “negative peace,” noting that “denying the people of their identity, recognition, place and voice have since after civil war led the youths to look for places like the ‘Attaya Base’ to vent out, and they would gradually begin to think about going into gangsterism, drug addiction, cliques and addicted to stealing.”
Comrade Bangura believes that “the process is as important as the outcome, and that the worst APC is better than the best SLPP.” He reiterated that the APC is for all and not for some. He urged both the young and old generations of the party to work together, referring to such a move as “two generations – one future.” Comrade Ibrahim Bangura, in response to a specific question about what he can do to unify the APC party lamented that at least in a day, he does one or two things to bring the party together. “I sometimes reach out to the other aspirants – all of whom I regard as my brothers and sisters. I wish to see whoever emerges the flag-bearer be magnanimous enough through conscious effort, to work with all those he contested with,” he maintained.
Comrade Ibrahim Bangura acknowledged the indignation and disagreement over the June 2023 elections, but reminded the gathering that the party will continue to face challenges in the absence of unity. “Sometimes we let our opponents to become stronger not because they are, but because of our internal weakness and the so much divide, causing us to faint and exhaust by the time we face our opponents,” he disclosed. Despite his belief that power is delusion and a perception, Comrade Bangura said he keeps praying for God to choose for the APC and the country someone who can best serve the interest of the people and deny the selfish ones. Dr. Ibrahim Bangura was former Program Manager – Building Global Cooperations, Wittenberg Center for Global Ethics based in Germany, from 2010 to 2013. He promised to make a political visit to the USA, a date that he is yet to announce. The open mic session provided room for question-and-answer and interactions. The meeting was chaired by the Chapter’s Secretary General Mohammad Dumbuya.
L-R is Comrade Dr. Ibrahim Bangura & WMC President – Comrade AbuBakarr Koroma (Ball Yaiye)
