-APC’s Bai Mahmoud tells party supporters in London
By Abdul Karim Mansaray (MCIPS)
(The Ambassador)
In a warm and friendly atmosphere at Crawfort Tenant Hall in London, the Hon. Bai Mahmoud Bangura (BMB) made his ambitions clear, declaring his aspiration to become the next Leader and Flag-bearer of Sierra Leone’s main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC). The event was a strategic APC Diaspora stakeholder engagement, where he also declared his flag-bearer ambition. The event was a meticulously crafted presentation of BMB as the party’s most resilient and necessary choice for the 2028 elections.
BMB’s narrative was one of sacrifice and survival. Introduced by a documentary chronicling his journey and preceded by a welcome address detailing his four imprisonments for the party, BMB framed himself as the ultimate APC loyalist. “He who says I am not, don’t judge people by perception, judge them by the law,” he declared, a cryptic challenge to rivals questioning his qualification, dedication, and resolve. He openly apologized for the “tough decisions” made during his tenure as the party’s longest-serving Youth Leader, Presidential Adviser, and Youth Minister, a move simultaneously showcasing humility and an unwavering commitment to the APC’s survival above all else.
The keynote address was a masterclass in political positioning. BMB did not merely seek support; he issued a stark warning against “experimenting with the APC leadership” in 2028, implying that the party can’t risk candidates with no prior history of winning elections, a dangerous gamble by all means, looking at what is at stake in 2028. He boldly claimed to be “the most qualified, trained, battle-tested and certified son of the APC,” directly attributing his repeated targeting and persecution by the ruling party to his unique capability to defeat them. This persecution, he argued, is a back-handed compliment from opponents.
Addressing the painful party rift following the disputed 2023 elections, BMB navigated a delicate line. When questioned about the party’s abrupt shift from claiming victory to preparing for 2028, he provided a constitutional justification, urging forward momentum. More telling was his response concerning a former subordinate now supporting a rival: he expressed no malice, framing internal competition as healthy, so long as the ultimate opposition opponent remains the SLPP and not the APC.
In answering a question from a comrade, he declared his vision for Sierra Leone would be aligned with the APC manifesto, promised an energy revolution, technological modernization, and a bridge-building governance model. The event’s climax saw him receive symbolic gifts from the Women’s Congress and Youth League, a powerful visual endorsement from the party’s vital base.
BMB’s engagement with London stakeholders and continued Flag-bearer declaration were a potent mix of contrition, conviction, and a calculated appeal to party fear and pride. He is not just asking for unity; he is presenting himself as the only safe bet to resurrect a wounded party and return it to power.
Never underestimate the power of the rising Sun!