By Sekou Dauda Bangura, New Jersey, USA.
“We’re here today to support our brother, friend and colleague in his bid for parliament in the 2012 General Election in our beloved country Sierra Leone,” says Sidi Sheriff, a longtime resident of Virginia and Old Kolenten Students Association secretary general, who was master of ceremonies at the fundraising dinner for famous Sierra Leonean soccer superstar Abdul Muckni in Maryland a week ago.
“Though I am from Kambia, I am very much interested in the development and progress of Port Loko because of the strong link existing between the two towns. This is why I am here today, and I believe, that is why most of you are also here.”
At the Vansville Recreation Building, 11733 Old Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland, where family and friends gathered on Saturday, February 11, 2012, for a fundraising dinner for Abdul Muckni in his bid for that coveted parliamentary seat in the 2012 election, the legendary soccer maestro was described as a man who has what it takes to revitalize Port Loko - a town in the northern region of Sierra Leone which has seriously fallen on hard times since the passing away of former vice president Sorie Ibrahim Koroma.
In his welcoming and opening remarks, Sidi Sheriff (the youthful and vibrant MC of the occasion) recounted the soccer rivalry between the two formidable districts - Port Loko and Kambia; a rivalry that started from secondary school soccer competition to district level soccer competition, pointing out that Abdul Muckni was at the center stage of all those competitions. “He was admired and well-liked by all those who knew him at the time,” he said. He then went on to invite Alhaji Jamal Antar, a friend and brother of Abdul Muckhni, to lead all those present in a Muslim prayer.
The program proper commenced with speeches. First to address all those gathered was Mr. Mahdi Gassama, one of the organizers of the fundraising event, who has been a very close friend of Abdul Muckni over the years. “I happen to know Muckni while here in the US, and I can say without doubt that he is a man with a very good character; a man who can show great courage in the face of adversity. A man of his stature can make an outstanding leader.” He urged all those gathered to support Mucknki in his bid for parliament.
In his contribution, Mr. Brima Fofanah, a Sierra Leonean lawyer in the Washington Metropolitan area, who has been a very close friend, said “I’ve known Abdul for over 30 years - from his secondary school days at Schlenker, Port Loko, to his meteoric rise as one of the best players in Sierra Leone soccer history.” He described the legendary soccer superstar as a man with integrity; a selfless and dedicated man with a deep commitment to contribute not only to the development of Port Loko but the entire country. He implored all those present to give their support to Muckni to help him realize his dream of making a contribution in the development of Sierra Leone.
Junior Rhoda, one of the organizers of the fundraising event, and a nephew of Abdul Muckhni, said that he was very close to his uncle (Abdul Muckhn) more than his father. “I constantly talk with him and I can tell from the way he sounded that he is determined to make a difference in the lives of the people of Port Loko. “Let’s give him all the support he needs to get to parliament,” he appealed.
Sekou Dauda Bangura, who traveled from New Jersey to lend his support to an elder brother from Port Loko, recalled growing up in Port Loko and knowing Abdul Muckni. “His fame in soccer started way back in elementary school,” he revealed. “What has endeared him to most of us, who knew him then and up to this time, is his abiding humility and simplicity.” He described Abdul Muckni as a wonderful team player and a dedicated civil servant who has what is needed in actualizing president Koroma’s agenda for change.
In his address to friends and relatives that graced the event, Abdul Muckhni expressed his profound thanks and deep appreciation for the impressive outpouring of support despite the short notice and the inclement weather. He solemnly made a pledge to those present that if elected to parliament he will not only serve his people in Port Loko but all the people of Sierra Leone. He reflected on his boyhood days in Port Loko when things were great. “But today Port Loko is in ruins,” he lamented. He condemned the lack of care for our resources and infrastructure; the recklessness and carelessness that has led the country to stagnation instead of rapid economic development. “I stand here today for the truth. I want to make a difference in my country,” he declared amid a long and sustained round of applause.
Abdul Muckni (photo), who is one of the eight candidates in the race for parliament in the 2012 election for Port Loko Central One Constituency, was born in Port Loko. He received his early education at the Sierra Leone Church School, Port Loko, and proceeded to the Schlenker Secondary School, Port Loko. After completing his high school education, he landed his first job at the Ministry of Works, Port Loko. He went on to work at the Marampa Mines in Lunsar as a stock verifier for three years before returning to his hometown to work in the Ministry of works. He was employed as a store clerk. In the mid 80s, with the prompting and advice of the then Area Engineer Ahmed Taylor Kamara, he took the Civil Service Exam and passed it. He was one of the two candidates in the entire Northern Province that passed the civil service examination that year. With his name on the Sierra Leone Gazette, he was elevated to the position of Civil Servant Grade III. In less than two years, he was promoted to Grade II level.
While gradually rising in the Civil Service, he was also becoming a super star at district level soccer competition. It was while the national team was touring the provinces to recruit players, he was spotted as a great soccer player. With the urging of Bai Kabia, who was then national coach, Muckhni joined the national team in the late 70s. Prior to joining the national team, he led the Bai Bureh Warriors to victory, emerging as champions of the FA Cup. He played for the Northern Province Combined team and the roaring East End Lions. He also served as a coach and as secretary of the Bai Bureh Warriors.
In 1986, he left Sierra Leone for the United States. Determined to improve his socio-economic wellbeing, he enrolled at two Colleges in Maryland simultaneously. At the Prince George’s County College, he enrolled in the Building Technology Program, while he took a course in Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning at Montgomery County College. After completion of a course in Building Maintenance, he registered with the National Association of Power Engineers. A licensed stationary Engineer, III Grade, in the State of Mary land, he currently works as an Independent Contractor for Jet Logistics, an established transportation company in Maryland.
In explaining why he has decided to run for parliament when there is already a plethora of candidates for Port Loko Central One Constituency, he said, among other things, “I am a son of Port Loko. My heart bleeds when I saw the deplorable infrastructure in my home town: the unrepaired roads, the broken bridges and the scarcity of water in a town with rivers and streams. I believe with the knowledge and experience I have acquired, I would make a big difference in Port Loko.” This was followed by a thunderous round of applause.
According to reliable sources from Port Loko, the following individuals publicly declared in early January, that they would run for parliament: Elizabeth Bangura from London, Alhaji Dumbuya from the US, Zainab Ya Pate, Isatu Koroma, the incumbent, Marie Sonko Kanu, wife of the late Paramount Chief Bai Forki Sonko, Abu Bakarr Zozo Kamara, and a fellow fondly referred to as “Speaker.” In declaring their intention, each pledged the sum of one million Leones toward the voter registration process.
Among the Port Loko political heavy weights present at the Bai Bureh Memorial Hall for the official announcement to run for parliament were: Hon Alpha Sahid Kanu, Minister of Political Affairs, Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, Special Adviser to President Koroma, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu, Hon. Buya Kamara, APC Chairman, Northern Province, Hon. Algasimu Jah, Raymond Kabia, Bash Kamara, and ministry of health deputy minister, Tarawalli. While Hon. Alpha Kanu donated 25 million Leones toward the registration of voters, Hon. Kemoh Sesay donated twenty million Leones. Raymond Kabia contributed 12 million Leones, Tarawallie contributed 10 million Leones and all the MPs from Port Loko District contributed 5 million Leones each. An amount of over 200 million Leones was contributed in all toward the voter registration exercise.
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