By Lans Omar, Winnipeg.
As tension mounts within the Sierra Leonean community in Winnipeg, Canada, with opinion polls changing almost every single moment, presidential aspirants vying for the highest office in the community are meeting together for the very first time.
The three men contesting to lead the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM) met recently in Winnipeg with the visiting President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Umaru Fofana (pictured right with PV’s Lans Omar).
Addressing the three – Mohamed Sesay, Alie Sesay and Moses Shyllon – Fofana entreated them to remember their home country and behave themselves well during the electioneering campaign.
He said he felt disturbed that the issue of tribalism and regionalism was being used in the campaign, stressing that no-one was responsible for their being born into a tribe or ethnic group. Fofana urged the candidates to be civil in their campaigns and to always know that any wrong they do would reflect adversely on Sierra Leone.
In the presence of outgoing president David Mahdi Koroma, the three contestants promised that they would work in the interest of the country and the organisation, saying they would stay and contribute towards the development of the association regardless of the outcome of the result.
Elections for leadership of SALNAM executive take place on 31 October and the stakes are high and the contest keen.
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