By Abubakarr Bah
The former founding member of the People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) Dr. Soccoh Kabia has dismissed as untrue” media speculation that he resigned from the party to join the ruling All People's Congress party, “to secure his ministerial position”. Dr. Kabia told Politico that “it is inaccurate for anyone to speculate that I resigned from the PMDC to satisfy my political interest”. He said that it would be bizarre for him as “a highly educated medical practitioner that has achieved to support President Koroma for ministerial position”. He said he resigned from the party to support the President’s bid for a second term because President Koroma is “a visionary leader that has transformed the country during the past five years”. Dr. Kabia also dismissed allegations that it was his former party that had brought him into the political limelight, noting that he was part of the formation of the party and was chosen to serve as Minister of Health based on his qualifications. “I left the United States of America to serve the people of Sierra Leone” he said, adding that as Minister of Health, he made effective reforms such as the establishment of the Reproductive and Child Strategic Plan which “led to the introduction of the Free Health Care Scheme and the establishment of the Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons Act among others. As to why he didn’t resign during the impasse in the PMDC, Kabia said he “did not resign because the party’s leadership had promised to address all its constitutional issues“ but “sadly the Party reverted to cosmetic change that is not in the good interest of the party and the country.”
The PMDC media chief, Bamidele-Thompson had referred to Dr Kabia's resignation from the party as “insignificant” calling him “a deadwood.”
