Sierra Leone Telegraph: 8 January 2020:
Following yesterday’s euphoric celebration at the opposition APC head office in Freetown, welcoming the former vice president Sam Sumana back to the party, today there are reports that Sam Sumana was not after all accepted into the membership of the party by its governing body – the National Advisory Council (NAC).
Yesterday’s report from the APC party office, showed Sam Sumana speaking after his meeting with the party’s NAC, where he thanked the party for re-admitting him back into the party’s membership. But it seems today, there is complete denial of his re-admission yesterday.
A senior APC party grandee this morning said to the editor of the Sierra Leone Telegraph:
“The story of NAC accepting Sam back to the APC is completely untrue. Nothing like that happened yesterday. Oh my God! I just watched the video on your website. I wonder why Sam did this? Yes, he was at the party office to hand over his resignation letter to us at the NAC meeting held yesterday to discuss issues around the Convention.
“It is just a coincidence that he went there when we had a NAC meeting. What NAC has now instructed Secretary General Yansaneh to do is to write to Sam and ask him what does he envisage his next step to be? To say he has been welcomed back in to the APC without any application or procedure followed, is patently untrue. Nobody is against him coming back. We want him back. But the process of him coming back has to be legitimate.”
What is being suggested is that because Sam Sumana was expelled from the party in 2015, he cannot simply reappear at the party’s office with an entourage and present himself as a re-joining member.
The APC party grandee, speaking to the Sierra Leone Telegraph said that the APC Constitution must be followed, before Sam Sumana can be accepted as a registered member of the APC party, by sending his application for membership to the Secretary General of the party – Alhaji Dr. Osman Yansaneh, which will then be discussed by the party’s National Advisory Council; and if successful, Chief Sam Sumana will then be accepted into the membership of the party.
But a close confidante of Chief Sam Sumana also told the Sierra Leone Telegraph this morning that Sam does not have to reapply to become a member of the APC of which he was a Grand Chief Patron. This was his argument:
“The ruling of the ECOWAS Court on the dismissal of Sam Sumana as vice president of Sierra Leone and his expulsion from the APC party is clear; the APC party did not follow due process, nor did it follow its own rules for expelling members from the party; therefore, the decision to expel Sam from the party was null and void. So, Sam has the right to re-join the party at any time without the need to re-register as a new member; and that is what he did yesterday at the party office where he was welcomed by the NAC.”
There has so far been no official response from Chief Sam Sumana himself about this new controversy, nor has the APC party Secretary General made any statement about the status of Sam Sumana’s membership as of yesterday.
In another related development, the APC party is preparing to hold its national convention in Port Loko this weekend, starting on Friday. The main agenda item this weekend is the passing of a motion to approve the newly revised Constitution of the party, after discussions by the national delegates of the party. Over 600 delegates are expected at the convention.
But the legitimacy of this weekend’s convention is being called into question by some members of the party, who believe that the party membership are being undemocratically railroaded into maintaining the status quo, despite calls for root and branch restructuring and change to the way the party is governed and functions.
The National Reformation Movement (NRM- APC) – a pressure group within the APC, that is leading the call for change, says it will be holding an emergency press conference this afternoon, Wednesday 8th January, 2020, at the offices of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists to discuss its position.
This is what the NRM-APC said:
“The National Reformation Movement wish to inform those who are committed to the idea of a democratic regime in the APC that the movement will come up with an emergency press conference to inform our membership about the current unfolding episode in the APC and the steps we have taken thus far to correct the odds. The Press Conference also intends to energize our membership and give vision to the democratic future we want in our party, the APC.
“The NRM will not sit with folded arms and watch this relentless march toward dictatorship drags on interminably. We know by our party’s standard, it is a brave endeavour to challenge these excesses. But, like we have always maintained, enough is enough.
“As we continue to devote our energy to the democratization of our party’s internal politics, the movement’s structures across the globe are hereby requested to attend the Press Conference as scheduled.”
Also today, the APC Diaspora Coordinator – Mr. Logus Koroma (Photo) is “calling on all members of the APC Diaspora Region currently in Freetown to a very important meeting schedule for today, Wednesday January 8 2020, at the APC Diaspora Regional Office in Freetown.”
The meeting he said “will discuss – the future of the Diaspora as a 6th Region of the APC party; delegate Status in relation to the forthcoming APC National Convention in Port Loko; APC Diaspora Region Financial Contributions towards the Convention; and Delegates and Observer Passes, and Diaspora Representation at the said Convention.”
Few days ago, the APC party Secretary General – Osman Yansaneh spoke to The Associates Global Media Network about this weekend’s convention and rumours of violence and disruption by some members of the party.
Take a listen:
And what makes you think that you are better than Thugs and Rarray boys? (lol). Everyone has been given one life to live,and we all breathe the same,filthy polluted air…So if the Master of Creation has predetermined,sealed and settled it that all men will forever remain equal in his eternal eyes – Who are you to ask the naked homeless beggar where is your coat, and the uneducated,confused,and unable to scribble a line, why didn’t you go to school? (lol).
This is exactly the reason why the SLPP cannot and will not be able to govern our beloved nation effectively. They all arrogantly believe that most people from poorer and disadvantaged backgrounds are totally inferior to them. And trust me, Heaven knows that I know Rarray Boys and Thugs who are way smarter than your Professors with photographic memories that never developed into anything credible,or tangible (lol).
The umbrella of the APC was designed to protect EVERYONE, and it has never failed to fulfill that promise through storms and scorching sunny days…in good times and bad, everyone without bias enjoys its comforting,reassuring covering in utmost tranquillity and peace…Rising Sun Will Rise Again.
Mr. Sahr Matturi, if taking a pot shot at me greases your big fat ego, so be it. But everyone in Sierra Leone knows that your trbal chief and demi-God, Samuel Samsumana has no moral platform to campaign on. He is as disgusting as they come. As for your invitation to me to join the APC, let me state that I do not share space with thugs and rarray boys.
I know you you will not answer to my question, and will not agree with me for now Mr Bilal Coleman. No problem. Let’s forget and move on. Thank you very much Mr Bilal Coleman for your contribution on this glorious platform and may God bless you.
Beware the Ides of March. Who may know the intention of Sam, this time around.
Where ever Samuel Samsumana shows up, controversy follows. Who is telling the truth here? The violent and thuggish APC or the perpetually lying Samsumana? I have no respect for the APC as an organization. But if APC grandees were to solicit my advice about Samsumana, I would advice that the party reject his application.
He does not add value to an already discredited organization. In fact should the APC want to gain any credibility in Salone’s political environment, the party should distance itself from Samsumana and Ernest Koroma. They are corrupt spent forces who are in the cross hairs of the Anti Corruption Commission.
Oh, is that Mr. Bilal Coleman? How are you? How can one talk of credibility, when as far as I know, the credibility of the person himself is on the line and continues to promote fake news. Remember Mr. Bilal Coleman that, this is not a platform where you can just come and say anything. Forumites hold people into account, fact check them and make them behave responsibly.
Mr. Bilal Coleman, will you please reply to the question I asked you a few days/weeks ago? I know you were busy searching for answers on Google. Right? That’s why, you were absent from the platform, I reckon. I am still waiting for the video and your findings after making comparison with the information on the link I sent you. Is that OK? Please reply as soon as possible?
Mr. Bilal Coleman somewhere there, talking sometime ago about the C4C, the APC, the Kono voters and also confused about the relationship between Chief Sam Sumana, the C4C, the APC and the KONO voters without a clue about any of them. Can you imagine? God bless Mr. Bilal Coleman and may God help him join the APC for complete reformation and help bring change to Sierra Leone. God help “get SALONE sorted”.
Indeed. “The most important thing is the man is back”. All the rest of the protocols doesn’t matter. What matters is for the APC to come together with the leader that will create that election earthquake, which will trigger an election tsunami that will create a political disaster for the SLPP come 2023. Now that Chief Sam Sumana has been accepted by the APC Party, I will return to base but, will continue to support him till he becomes LEADER when the APC decides. Our initial mission has been accomplished and it’s time to move on and prepare for phase 2.
The APC has proved to be a party of tolerance. Bottom line, “Kombra party”. Denny. I will come again in full force to back Chief Sam Sumana when the second phase begins. Finally, I believe that Sierra Leoneans must defeat BARBARITY come 2023 at the ballot box. The paradise of Africa is on its way. God bless APC and God help “get SALONE sorted”.
For those in the APC, interested in putting our country FOS, it’s time to join hands with NRM to bring democratic reforms in the APC party. As the largest opposition party it is in all our interests to have a democratic and progressive opposition that is free from dictatorship! One man one vote, and please no SELECTION!!
Agree with the ECOWAS ruling, Sam Sumana doesn’t need to re-apply as a new registered member. He has always been what he was – a bona fide member of the APC. The National Advisory Council can do the necessary paper work behind the scenes, if there’s any, and not make trivialities and frivolities into a big issue. The most important thing is the man is back, safe and sound where he belongs…now run along with your mates and embrace him, and say; “WELCOME BACK BROTHER” Rising Sun Will Rise Again.