A group of Sierra Leoneans bearing the nomenclature ‘APC Support Group’ who are allegedly poised to popularize the development initiatives of President Ernest Bai Koroma has held a meeting past weekend at Ferry Junction with the aim of forming a formidable nationwide youth branches in every part of the country to propagate the APC Government flagship development agenda, the “Agenda for Change”.
The meeting was like a festival, full of pageantry as ardent supporters clad in their APC red colour outfits shouted the party’s rallying slogan, “Owai!,” Osai!” in a hall of a building located adjacent to the Door Christian Fellowship Church at Ferry Junction, east of Freetown.
Eminent personalities of the All People’s Congress party majestically thronged the unfinished building in a bid to give the meeting the required solemnity. Among them were: Hassan Gbessay Kanu; former Minister of Finance, Mohamed Sampha Bangura; founder and Chairman of the APC Support Group, Rev. Gazaley, Mammy Haja Tebba; one of the founding members of the APC among others.
The meeting was tensed and apparently discordant as participants strained themselves to make their contributions on the way forward with regards how to popularize President Koroma’s “good works”.
Hassan Gbessay Kanu welcomed the proposals that had been developed by the executive of the support group and further made recommendations on how they can achieve their objectives.
The Youth Chairman of the Group, Mahmoud Kargbo explained that “the essence of the formation of the group is to complement the positive efforts of the party was doing in governance. He noted, “We have established presence in every nook and cranny of the country. What is our primary aim now is to form a nationwide youth group. This is what today’s meeting is all about,” Mr. Kargbo stated.
He explained that the youth branch will consist of young people who have appreciated President Koroma’s social development strides in his effort at transforming the country. “Ours is non -regional and non-tribal. We welcome everybody on board. This is about development of our Motherland,” Mr. Kargbo mentioned.
It is only hoped that the meeting was a mere talking shop for opportunists and favour-seekers, noted one of the participants, Alkhaji Sankoh. According to him, several support groups of President Koroma have sprung up, but most have ended in smoke screen. “As we have seen this huge crowd of people, my hope is that it does not end like many of the so-call support groups of the President whose aim is merely to reap money. I hope this is not another banya fakie (being fake),” Alhaji Kargbo admonished.
A woman who was not part of the audience in the unfinished building remarked, “Oh Salone! Politics has taken over everything. Especially now, everything that is aimed at making money is centered around the President…We have what they call, ‘De pa en yai’, ‘Friends of Ernest Koroma’,’Nesto Babies’ ‘National Union of APC Students’ etc.,” the woman observed and in a pessimistic mode, said, “We are watching. We will surely know the outcome. God bless Salone,” she prayed.
By Poindexter Sama
ADVERTISEMENT