February 16, 2018
Six presidential candidates including the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC)- Dr.Samura Kamara, National Grand Coalition(NGC) -Dr.Kandeh Yumkella, Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP)- Julius Maada Bio, Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) -Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray,Citizen’s Democratic Party (CDP)- Musa Tarawally,and Coalition for Change(C4C)- Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana,were yesterday given the opportunity to showcase their aspirations to the nation in a widely publicized and broadcast presidential debate.
The Sierra Leone Presidential Debate 2018 was organized by the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Sierra Leone Decide 2018 Series from Africa Young Voices (AYV), among others.
All six presidential candidates were given the opportunity to make snappy introductory statements and Dr.Samura Kamara of the ruling APC described the event as a great day for them, thus expressing hope that they would enjoy the debate. He told the gathering that the experience he has had in his campaign tour gave him the confidence that he would emerge the winner on March 7th, 2018.
He noted that: “I am here to let you know that I want to lead this country as a result of the 40 year experience I have in governance.”
For retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio of the main opposition SLPP,the event was as an opportunity for those that are sitting on the fence to make decisions, adding that the day was a great day for Sierra Leoneans in which everybody would definitely choose who is the “fittest’ candidate.
Mohamed Kamarainba of the ADP noted that everyone contesting in the election has once worked and failed the nation and that the ADP has an agenda to change the narratives
He noted that the change he has been canvassing would surely come after March 7, 2018.
Dr.Kandeh Yumkella of the NGC noted that: “I join politics to create a diverse economy that would take our country from where it is to higher height. I am here to relieve the common man. That is why am here.”
Alhaji Musa Tarawally of CDP told the gathering that he developed vision to lead the country at age 16, noting that: “We have to accept the Almighty God as the foundation. There is no way we should develop without the inclusion of the people.”
Alhaji Samuel sam-sumana of C4C told the gathering that: “I stand as a symbol of injustice of this great nation, but I have come here to fight back for the emancipation of this nation.”
All six presidential candidates dilated on areas including health, education, sport, corruption, women’s empowerment, water, housing, among a host of other issues.