PV at 10
Going down Memory Lane.
This article was first published May 19, 2006.
Two prominent stalwarts of the main opposition party in Sierra Leone, the All People’s Congress(APC) have condemned the stance taken by a group of APC dissidents in London with regards to the leadership of the party.
From California, in the US, Dr. Alieu Iscandari(photo) wrote that he was not aware of any schism within the APC’s London chapter and that the California chapter, to which he belongs, and the North America chapter as a whole is "vibrant and fully endorses the candidacy of Ernest Koroma for president".
Iscandari said with regards to the present spate of court cases against the APC and its leadership, he is at least aware of one case brought by Dr. Bubuakei Jabie whom he described as "a former APC minister, now firmly SLPP".
Alieu said that particular case "has no merits and it was filed unethically and merely used as a ploy to derail the APC and its elected leadership from focusing on the forthcoming elections".
Dr. Iscandari, a lawyer by profession, said the other court case by Serry Kamal and Eddie Turay has been dismissed by the courts and that "the present rancor is over the leadership of the party".
He further explained that the plaintiffs in that action filed an injunction in court to prevent the APC from holding a convention and that a temporary restraining order was granted by the court pending a hearing from Justice Abel Stronge.
"It is my understanding that after listening to all the evidence proferred by all parties, the Honourable judge rescinded the TRO and ordered that the party may carry on with its convention."
Iscandari hoped that any "odd feelings" within the party could now be setteled through dialogue.
" The party has spoken and it is important that all should come aboard. Ernest Koroma was chosen because he reflects the best in all of us".
Continuing, Isacandari said the APC leader is "a good listener and an effective champion of a more just society to which we all as Sierra Leoneans aspire" and that he has a record which is so far devoid of any political chicanery and that he was not imposed on the party.
" His popularity comes from the fact that he is widely seen as a man of principles and one who puts God and country before himself".
In his reaction, Mr. Bockarie Stevens who wrote from the United Kingdom, said as far as he knew, the APC UK branch is fully behind Ernest Koroma and that this was demonstrated by the huge turn out to welcome him plus "the huge party turn out at all the events organised for the leader and his delegation whilst on visit here".
Stevens however conceded that there is a small group of people in London who "do not want Ernest as a person to lead the party which clearly reflects a microcosm of what is happening in Freetown".
He observed that the whole idea centres on the supremacy of the majority and suitable guarantees for minority rights.
"These people could hate Ernest Koroma for any reason, some trivial and personal, but I believe their loyalty should be to the APC party and if that is the case, they should support the party".
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