Sierra Leone’s Vice President makes case for another term
Whilst lashing at the candidate that has been presented by the main opposition SLPP for the November 17th Presidential and Parliamentary elections, as having nothing to show in terms of experience, Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Chief Samuel Sam Sumana (in photo) has also told this writer, during an exclusive interview that, taking a look at what the government of President Koroma has done in terms of meeting the campaign promises made, as contained in the APC party manifesto, they have all reason to feel satisfied that they have made an impact and as such, they will be reelected for another term in governance.
Speaking on the 6th June during an exclusive telephone interview with this writer, Chief Sam Sumana stated that even though his party is sure of winning the pending November 17th elections, they will never be complacent, but rather, will continue to work in line with the promises they made in their party’s manifesto, especially in terms of ensuring sustainable development for the average Sierra Leonean.
The APC has often been referred to as a grass root political party that caters for the common man. It was on this platform, coupled with other factors, that the party was elected in 2007.
Speaking with confidence, Veep Sam said, the APC is not jittery in terms of who is presented by any other political party for the coming elections. Speaking on the presidential candidate of the main opposition party SLPP, Vice President Sam Sumana said, there is not much that the SLPP candidate has got to show to Sierra Leoneans “Unlike him (Julius Bio) we (APC) have got someone that has brought dignity and development to Sierra Leone, in the person of President Ernest Bai Koroma…”saying, Sierra Leone does not need any form of military dictatorship again in her history. “It is unfortunate that a party like that (SLPP) could have somebody of his caliber as a candidate” he maintained.
Even though his party is not worried, he said they “will also not be complacent until the last ballot. Elections will be peaceful, free and fair,” he said, it is their determination to win “since we want to continue with the development that we have started and we especially want to continue with what we had promised our people as contained in our party manifesto.”
Asked whether he thinks they have been able to make inroads in the south-east of the country, Vice President Sam Sumana started by assuring that, “Kono district is purely APC but however stressed, that, it is unfortunate some people want the public to believe the south is their stronghold. Kono is absolutely APC, the people in the south-east have realized that color is not relevant in present day Sierra Leone rather, they are looking for development and this is what President Koroma has been giving them.” He said the south-east in particular and the country generally was neglected and not considered but that when President Koroma came to power, he ensured, development is decentralized and taken to all parts of the country.
When questioned what his views are, regarding the recent cross-carpeting of prominent politicians from the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Vice President Samuel Sam Sumana said, “as a party, we are aware that politics is an issue of numbers… elections are about numbers. Today, people have seen that the party under the leadership of President Koroma has attracted development for the country. They are part of us because they also want to see development in the country and they are happy with what has been happening and there is need for them to be part of the country’s development process…” Sam Sumana further revealed that majority of those coming “are coming back home to support the agenda of President Koroma. Within the rank and file of the party (APC) we need the numbers,” even as the party is optimistic of winning the November elections.
On why he thinks his party should be reelected, Vice President Samuel Sumana stated that, “with all the progress we have made within these four years and taking into account the promises made in the manifesto of the party, we have the satisfaction that we have made a difference and the people will give President Koroma another term in office.”
Sierra Leoneans, he went on, are looking out for a continuation, in terms of the development efforts of President Koroma. “Sierra Leone is now being admired today. We therefore should sustain the gains we have made, we need to sustain the peace we have been enjoying and the development we are undertaking at present.” Sierra Leoneans, he said, are cognizant of the fact that development is the way forward and “for us to sustain such developments, we need to give the President another term in office.”
Chief Samuel Sam Sumana, a native Kono, has been Vice President for Sierra Leone since 2007. Since he was selected by President Koroma as his running mate, he has always proved to be loyal to his party and government. He has had some challenging moments during this his tenure, but he has also again, being most often referred to as the proverbial ‘cat with seven lives’, following his ability to survive some stormy challenges he has been going through. In October 2011, he told this writer, also during an exclusive interview in his office in Sierra Leone, that he was “not worried… it is the prerogative of my Boss, His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to name his running mate for the 2012 general elections… but I tell you, I have always enjoyed a good working relationship with my Boss…”
Meanwhile, the determination on the part of Vice President Sam Sumana is in line with the desire and commitment of President Koroma to move Sierra Lone to the apex of development, since also during an interview with him in April of this year, President Koroma also revealed that taking a closer look at the performance of his government in the last five years, he is sure of not only winning the November 17th elections, but that his party “is going for the first ballot victory.’
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