Press Release

15th August, 2009

It all started in 2005 after the SLPP Makeni convention. We the supporters of Charles Francis Margai then, were pregnant with dissatisfaction because of the way the convention was conducted. About few months later on January 19th 2006 to be exact, a child was born named PMDC. And on April 11th of that same year, this child was christened and the name PMDC became a household name. This child PMDC, caused panic amongst its political rivals because of what it stood for …not only to serve as a third force, but to change the political dynamics of Sierra Leone by bringing about “POSITIVE CHANGE”.

The line up then was a vibrant and serious minded founding members, who made it possible to see people come together globally to nurse and nurture this child. People like Chief Benson Suwu the very first chairman eastern region, Lamin Vonjo Ngobeh the fearless and first Kailahun district chairman, Jusu Ngobeh the first eastern region secretary general, Lamin J. Ngobeh the hilarious Kailahun district constituency 1 chairman, his secretary Alfred Sesay, his PRO Sao Lansana and Akiba Jusu his young democrat leader; Pa Momoh Fofanah the honest and knowledgeable former legal adviser, David Kekura Sama the reliable and first eastern region organizing secretary, Borbor Sesay the hard working first Kailahun district organizing secretary and current district chairman, his district financial secretary James B. S. Bockarie, his PRO Sao L Ngobeh, his young democrat leader Aruna Massaqui and his organizing secretary Dominique S Kendoh ; Ansu Lansana, the first Secretary General of the party, Femi Boyle Hebron, the first and meticulous National Treasurer, Emmanuel O Grant alias “Tossman” , the most experienced Western region politician, Janet Tot-Thomas, the first hard working women’s leader of the Western region, Festus Kpukumu the first and most knowledgeable and honest secretary for the Western region, who was suspended for standing up to deceit, Malam Janneh, the quiet and first National young democrat leader, Theophilius S. Gbanda – my press secretary, the very first and experienced Editor-In-Chief of the POSITIVE CHANGE newspaper, Pa Joseph K. Tucker, the ever going strong and first Co-Chairman for the Western region, Abu Bakarr Kamara, founding member and former co-financier of the Northern region, Madam Rebecca M’balu Conteh, the most reliable, trustworthy and fearless first and former National Women’s Leader, Dr Sesay in Tonkolili, Fatmata Kamara, Northern region first chairlady, and Dr. Kargbo from Tonkolili.

Dr. I. I. Tejan Jalloh, Running Mate for the 2007 presidential election, Abdul Sidiyanke Kanu, the hard working and reliable current Northern region organizing secretary, Fasalie K Marrah, the quiet but organized current Northern region financial secretary, Alie Nat Kanu, my Personal Assistant and current Northern region publicity secretary, Amid Bailor Kamara my confidant and former organizing secretary constituency 101, Paul Yamba Sesay, the fearless current Northern region young democrat leader , the hard working late Martin Turay, Abdul S. Kalokoh of Bombali district, the first Northern region secretary, Karo M. Turay, the very serious and consistent former secretary Tonkolili District (who was robbed of victory in the Northern Region Chairmanship election), iron lady Madam Yapate Sankoh, former Port Loko District women’s leader and former aspirant in the 2007 parliamentary election for Mafocki Chiefdom constituency 49 (who was robbed of victory in the Northern region women’s leadership contest), Moseray Sawaneh, the “say it as he sees it” first chairman for Koinadugu District, the soft spoken Pa Roke Morlia Sesay, the current Port Loko District chairman together with his district executive, A.S.M Turay, former Tonkolili District chairman, Bangali Kamara, the reliable former Kambia District chairman, the ever committed Pa Issa Munu Koroma, Northern region trustee, Pa Karim Thurlah the trustworthy Northern region elder , who hosted the Charles Margai team during the SLPP 2005 Makeni convention and Mr. S.K Foyoh, the “getting things done” dynamic former Southern region chairman.

Rev. Momoh Foh, the “crowd getter” former Bo District chairman, Tejan Savage, the ever committed relentless hard working first United States of America secretary, Sidique Janneh, first National financial secretary, Abu Fofanah alias Strongman, the fearless and current young democrat leader USA, Lord MO, former activist and financial contributor, Dr. Osaio Kamara, founding member and former financial contributor, Arrow Bockarie, one of the people that made it happened in the South and former legal adviser and financial contributor Rev S. Johnson, former financial contributor, Mrs. Mamie Bockarie, the iron lady of the South and former Southern region women’s leader, Agrey Aruna, legal adviser, Mrs. Agnes Kumba Dugba Macauley, the committed and respectful first Chairlady UK Chapter, Cllr Charlie Ernest Ojukutu-Macauley, the “be there when I need him” husband of Agnes and founding member UK chapter, Dr Baimba Kamara, first chairman USA and the reliable chief of Pujehun district, Rtd. Captain Gbondo, the reliable, experienced and wise Cilaty Dabor the first PMDC USA organizing secretary and current Georgia chapter secretary born in Bo district, Rtd. Captain Sylvester Boima the dynamic former parliamentary aspirant constituency 82, Moyamba district.

Dr. Kapu, the man who with the help of the Bonthe indigenes delivered Bonthe to PMDC, Rtd. Captain Kelly Kargbo, Rtd. Captain Benjamin Davis - former Secretary Georgia chapter USA, Rtd. Captain Sarmer another strong man, Rtd. Major John Alpha Mansaray a hard working man who was robbed in the Western region East district chairmanship election, Mr. Alie M. Sesay alias Charlie – chairman mountain rural district, Madam Ramatulie Jalloh – chairlady constituency 93, Mr. Daniel Bangura – chairman constituency 112, Elfreda Conteh – Waterloo Rural district women’s leader, Rtd. Chief Superintendent Osman Kamara of Kambia District, Haja Yabom Mansaray (who was robbed of victory in the Western Region Women’s Leadership contest), Lamin Bangura, Sherriff Koroma of Waterloo, Martin Kamara, Taylor Idris Best, Mohamed Rashid Kamara, former parliamentary candidate, Haja Issata Massaquoi the Pujehun District iron lady , Moijue Kaikai son of Pujehun District and current Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security, former Hon. Roland Fofanah, Alhaji Kamara alias Alhaji Sobeh, the vibrant current chairman constituency 54, Buyah Sesay, current chairman constituency 56, Osman D. Fornah, current Tonkolili District chairman, Tommy Tucker honest, hilarious and meticulous founding member Georgia chapter, the soft spoken and Sidi Yayah Tunis, first secretary and first young democrat leader in the United States of America a descendent of Pujehun district.

Dr. S.I. Kamara who succeeded me and became the second chairman of the Movement in the United States of America and also the first USA Trustee, Murray Mustapha in New Jersey, Allisious Wayi, Madam Aminata Nabie, first and former financial secretary USA, Dr. Harry Will, Dr Henrietta Will, Abdul Wahab Wann, former Kenema District Council chairmanship aspirant in the last local council elections, Musa Unisa, former Kenema District PMDC chairman, Ishmael Bongailor, Sylvester Suaray – my spokesman, the always reliable founding member and current secretary of the UK Chapter a Pujehun district descendent, Mrs. Evelyn Nyandemoh, the first women’s leader UK chapter also a founding member and David Nyandemoh her husband, the upright and impartial Paul Johnny alias Shugu D of the UK chapter who joined the Movement because of the very Charles Margai. The reliable Sonny John, first treasurer Georgia chapter and his hard working wife, Mr. Sao Jusu of Georgia, former financial contributor a strong partner of Bonthe district, Cecil Koroma a devoted member in the Washington DC chapter, Madam Sonia Bright - former chairperson Washington DC chapter, the late Dauda Bureh who travelled to Sierra Leone from the United States purposely to promote the PMDC in Pujehun where he was born, but ended dying out of neglect, Dr. Jarret the abandoned policy strategist and the electoral commissioner during the first conference, Madam Susan Bona, current organizing secretary USA, and Abdul Hassim Dabor, first man to resign from the PMDC, first to detect the weakness and dictatorial tendency of the leadership and first chairman Pennsylvania/Delaware Valley Chapter in the United States.

Where is Rev. Hunter? A generous financial contributor to the Movement, late Sam Tucker, Ibrahim Sheriff - the first assistant secretary in the United States, a vibrant member of the Tech Team and master of the PMDC website, Karamoh Kabbah, first communication chairman, Mohamed Sesay, founding member in Pennsylvania, Mohamed Mansaray, former chairman Pennsylvania /Delaware Chapter of the United States of America, Mr. David Rogers, first chairman of the New Jersey Chapter, Fred Laggah, former UK vice chair; Mamie Joseph, chairlady, Boima Foday young democrat leader, Lamin J. Kallon organizing secretary, Momoh Koroma secretary, Yatta Adu treasurer and Abdul K Conteh PRO all from constituency 8 Kailahun district; Charles Keisa organizing secretary, Akiba Ngobeh young democrat leader, Bockarie Balley chiefdom vice chair, Mamie Saffa chairlady, Lansana Kamara Imam and Janga Sello PRO all of constituency 5 Kailahun District; Haruna Lansana chiefdom chairman, Satta Vandi chiefdom chairlady and Mohamed Jusu Imam all of constituency 7 Kailahun District; Emmanuel C Kendoh chairman, Christopher Alie secretary, Sia Samba chiefdom chairlady, Lansana Samba, young democrat leader all of Kailahun district constituency 4.

Boickarie Moriba chairman, James Lansana secretary, Sao Mansaray chairlady, Vandi Alpha chiefdom chairman and Karimu Momoh young democrat leader all of constituency 2 Kailahun District; Mr. Momoh Bockarie chairman, Amie Saffa chiefdom chairlady, Hawa Ansu chairlady, Brima Kallon Imam and Abu B.S. Conteh young democrat leader all of Kailahun district constituency 6; the eloquent Madam Teresa Ofong women’s leader USA and Washington DC chapter, the fearless. controversial but reliable Felix Dauda Fofoh of Kono district, Wiatta Nannoh – chairlady Kono district, Sahr Ngaujah Sondayama secretary Kono district, Mohamed Gbindi former young democrat leader Bo district, Ahmed Kai Kai young democrat secretary Bo district, the focused and detailed oriented Mumini Kallon of Kenema district, the policy oriented Professor Jimmy Kandeh of Richmond Virginia, the reliable, almost indispensable and trustworthy Adeyemi George - first treasurer Washington DC chapter my wife Juliet and my humble self, just to name a few; have either, resigned, dead, become dormant or about to resign from the PMDC.

During this period, I came to know many people. I made new friends and most of them I will ever remain to respect and cherish. It was not a smooth ride all the way. In politics, even within the same political party, you will be in disagreement with certain people. They are sometimes hurt or you are sometimes hurt in the process but you reconcile at the end of the day. For those that I hurt during this process unintentionally or otherwise, I say to them ’I am sorry’, and for those times that I have felt hurt by anyone either intentionally or otherwise, there is no need for apologies; I bear no indignation; I have reconciled.

To this end, let me extend gratitude first to those who helped me to reach this far. To my supporters in the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Regions, and not forgetting the various Chapters in the Diaspora, To my advisers, my spokesman, my press secretary and the men and women that guided me through this trying times, I hereby express profound thanks and appreciation to all of you for backing my candidature and to encourage you with the words that all is not lost. Life obviously has to go on.

To my mother, sisters, brother, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, neighbours, in-laws and organization affiliates, I salute you. To my wife, kids and grandkids who were always there for me when I was checking in and out of the country, I say thank you and I love you all.

We have used technology to our utmost in building a global village of the PMDC family. We were in touch with our compatriots in the Diaspora as though we smell the sweet morning breeze that blows over the Lion Mountain at dawn together. We were the most organized and the fastest growing political party in Africa.

We worked hard together to make sure that the prosperity we were charged to bring to our party enriches not just a few, but all hard working people of this party and at the same time help other less fortunate ones through social programs to jumpstart their lives ... but all that hard work was reduced to naught by one person, whose desperation to be at the top at all times cannot be over exaggerated.

The just concluded PMDC convention in Kenema, demonstrated the most grievous manipulation in the political history of Sierra Leone. No election can be so flawed than the just ended PMDC National Delegate’s Conference, in which the delegates list was not only kept from public view, but also heartlessly changed from time to time, even after the elections had long commenced. What happened at the SLPP convention that saw us resigning with Margai from the party and establishing the PMDC was a mere joke as compared to what happened in Kenema. The rigging left some of us with the impression that the very existence of the party has been compromise and has therefore entered a critical moment with more disaffections expected in the near future. There were evidences of Margai’s supporters with ‘observer’ status turning into delegates. Evidences are also there to show that a particular teenager was branded as Founding Member and therefore given a delegate status, and so too were Dr. Habib Sesay (no disrespect meant) who joined the party few months ago and Dr. Denis Sandy, who joined the party shortly after the 2007 presidential run-off election. See attached founding members delegates’ list given to me halfway during the election after thousands of requests. There are also evidences that non party members were made delegates because the delegates that were elected by the constituencies were suspected to be non supporters of Mr. Charles Margai and therefore refused delegate status.

It is also good to note that at an NC meeting held in Bo in November 2007, Charles Francis Margai put forward a motion seeking my expulsion from the Party. He could not give a satisfactory reason to back his motion, so NC suggested to hear my own side of the story. Attached is the email that was sent to me on November 5, 2007. I responded to the e-mail and sent two reminders as a follow-up but up to this moment, I have not received any reply. This is just to show how Charles Margai has been trying to get me out of the PMDC. Margai and I are at crossroads because I don’t compromise the truth and I always stood tall to defend the party’s constitution. Margai however represents the direct opposite when it comes to fair play within the party.

It is worth informing you that during the 2007 pre campaign period, a client of mine invited Charles Margai and I to Nigeria so that we can meet with possible financiers for the party. We presented a $750,000 budget for the presidential and parliamentary campaigns. During that meeting, the financiers made it clear to us that if we want to win the elections, we must come up with at least $5,000,000 [ five million US dollars] budget. Seeing the excitement in Charle’s face, my client warned that no party should circumvent the other. Meaning that if Charles wants to contact these rich people we met in Nigeria, he has to go through me and then through my client. Upon return from Nigeria, Charles Margai started making contact directly with my client. When he called my client the first time, my client told him that although he appreciated receiving a call from a potential Sierra Leonean president, he advised that Charles Margai should stay presidential and have people like me doing the fund raising for him. Charles Margai asked him this question “if I am the president, do I have to go through Dauda Tombo Bangura before talking to you?” My client’s response was “but you are not yet the president” Thank God he is not. That is one of the best things that happened for Sierra Leone. God directed the people of Sierra Leone to choose the best out of the lot.

However one important achievement I have made over the years is that through my candidature for the leadership, I successfully exposed how undemocratic and unprogressive the party that was formed on the basis of democracy and fair play has become under its current failed leadership

Look at what is happening currently with the land issue; the leadership of the party is exposing himself not only to be a novice in parliamentary procedures, but also to show that he has no knowledge of the Sierra Leone 1991 constitution.

To every Sierra Leonean, I must advise that the current PMDC train is bound for the wrong direction, and I therefore have to jump out before it crash with me being onboard. I HAVE RESIGNED.

In PMDC, the motto was One for All, All for One. But now, it is One for One, All for One.

Based on the above, and after series of consultations with my supporters within Sierra Leone and in the Diaspora, I have no choice but to bid farewell to PMDC the party I loved with passion.

You will hear from me very shortly about the way forward on my future political participation.

Signed:

Dauda Tombo Bangura

Former PMDC Leadership Candidate and former Ambassador at Large for the PMDC.

I thank you and God bless Sierra Leone.