By Abdulaziz Samura
Speaking with calm and composure in articulating his vision for Sierra Leone on Monday 26th May 2025, the people’s choice, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura has clarified rumours surrounding his closeness with former president Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and involvement with the National Reform Movement (NRM).
The National Reform Movement is a surrogate faction within the All People’s Congress (APC) that claimed to fostering reform, inclusivity, and transparency within the party.
According to Dr. Bangura at Liberty Online TV “Breakfast Show”, most of the people who participated in the peace process between the NRM and the All People’s Congress (APC) party are alive, thus, will be able to speak the truth concerning the issue of his involvement with the NRM. ” I was
Invited by the party as a facilitator for peace after the loss of the 2018 presidential election, for which I carried myself very well during the process.”
He went on that the reason why some people are linking him with the NRM is because of the respect he earned from both the executive of the party and the NRM during the peace process. “My campaign is a campaign that requires the involvement of everybody. My campaign or ideology is not ‘Some People Congress’, but All People’s Congress. Thus, the coinage, Heal, Unit and Build; as we want a system where people will have their voice, identity, recognition and place they truly deserve in the party and Sierra Leone as a whole. This is politics. People have the right to say what they want to say, as there would be diverse views on you and your campaign. I am a peacebuilder, and I want to open my hands to each and every member of the APC. I am not NRM and was never part of it; I respect the NRM’s views, though,” he said.
The charismatic aspirant further spoke on the issue of his “handpicked” rumours from former president Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, adding that the party has a constitution that guides the conducts and operations of the party. It is clear in it that the process of acquiring leadership is through democratic means and not the other way round. “I am going to win the flag bearer ticket through my merit. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has clearly stated that he is not supporting any candidate. I want his support. Everybody in this race wants the support of the former president, the chairman, deputy chairman etc. However, I believe in my campaign strategies, and that is why each and every moment I am reaching out to places far and wide to engage supporters, members, and well-wishers of the APC. I have teams across the country campaigning for the flag bearer ticket.”
He concluded by calling on colleague aspirants to refrain from campaign rhetorics that would divide the party further.