October 5, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura
As the journey to the 2018 presidential elections draws closer and interest to succeed President Ernest Bai Koroma intensifies, Dr. Kaifala Marah has assured the All Peoples Congress (APC) party and supporters that if overlooked, he would support the candidate that the party elects or select as standard bearer for the March 7, 2018 presidential election.
“As a peaceful and law-abiding Sierra Leonean and a humble member of the ruling APC party, I am willing to support whosoever is made flag-bearer of the party and to work for the development of the country,” he assured the party’s executive.
Dr. Marah made the above statement yesterday while officially tendering his letter of declaration for the position of standard bearer to a cross-section of executive members at the party’s headquarters at Brookfields in Freetown.
He said he was humbly and respectfully applying for the position of presidential candidate for consideration at the National Delegates’ Conference slated for 14th and 15th October, adding that he holds a strong sway of influence and appeal nationwide, with mammoth support in Koinadugu, Kono and Moyamba districts, and the western Area.
The former Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone and Minister Finance is among over 20 other aspirants that have submitted their letter of declaration and application for the position of standard bearer of the ruling APC.
At the well-attended event, he expressed confidence that he would be given the opportunity to serve as flag-bearer of the party, which has being in governance since November 2007, stating that he has the essential credentials to take the country’s economy and other sectors to another level.
According to him, the party is ready to work with anyone of the flag-bearer aspirants bidding to succeed President Ernest Koroma as a way of continuing the president’s legacy, adding that the APC-led government succeeded in the implementation of the ‘Agenda for Change’ while work is still in progress with the ‘Agenda for Prosperity.’
He recalled that he was appointed by President Koroma to serve as Chief of Staff at State House and senior economic advisor from 2010 until December 2012 when he was moved to the Ministry of Finance where he served as Minister and later Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone.
“My experiences in all the offices I have served provides me with a wealth of understanding about the challenges facing the economic sector of the country, which I will improve on considerably, if I am given the opportunity,” he said.
Dr. Marah further recalled that on 6 March, 2017 he tendered his resignation as Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone to President Koroma, in accordance with certain sections in the country’s constitution.
He claimed that President Koroma has developed the country more than any other president, for which reason the ruling should be given another mandate to govern.
Receiving the letter on behalf of the party’s chairman and leader, National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Mohamed Dondodo Bangura, said the party believes in tolerance and implored all the aspirants for the position of flag-bearer to accept and support whosoever would be given the opportunity to have their name on the ballot paper on 7 March, 2018.