By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change, Charles Francis Margai has launched his campaign in the eastern district of Kono with a tirade against the two political parties to rule the country since independence – APC and SLPP. He was speaking at the Community field in Koidu, where he thanked his supporters hundreds of whom had turned out to welcome him.
The PMDC leader said that his was the only party that was ready to take Kono district and the country from “its present deplorable condition” to a better status after the November polls. He said it was his father, Sir Albert Magai who served as Prime Minister of Sierra Leone “that put Sierra Leone on the international map and he was therefore called the Big Magai of Africa”. He said that if elected as a president of Sierra Leone in this year’s polls, he would replicate “the same developmental stride of my father by making this country a batter place to live”.
Margai said that this year’s political race did not dicsount his party which he referred to as one of the top three in the country alongside the ruling APC and the SLPP, referring to the other parties are “praise singers” in the race. He described as “a surrogate of the APC” the United Democratic Movement of Mohamed Bangura, the man who served his party as spokesman and National Chairman just a few years ago. Bangura has in the past dismised Margai's accusations insisting the UDM is more relevant today than the PMDC.
Magai promised to give a face lift to the diamond-rich district by ensuring good roads especially in its headquarters of Koidu and constructing the much talked-about Matotoka/Kono Road. He also promised jobs for youth, quality education, pipe-borne water system and electricity should he win.
He expressed regret over the five years of the APC administration which he said had not benefited Kono “in any way“ regardless of Sam-Sumana being the Vice President and hailing from the district. He also cited the First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma. He said that president Koroma had not brought any laurels to Kono and must not be allowed another term. “They should have been ashamed of themselves to ply through the inassessable Matotoka road to Kono asking for your votes” Margai thundered. He said that after winning the 2007 general elections, President Koroma went to his home town, five miles from Makeni, demolished all the mud houses and constructed modern standard structures while he converted the only primary school in the village into a campus of the University of Makeni “leaving the masses in the vicious cycle and abject poverty”.
He also said that the five years of APC rule had been characterised by “massive corruption“ which he said explained why current “ministers are millionaires” and alleged that President Koroma is the fifth richest president in Africa. “Where did he get that money from?”Hhe rhetorically asked.
He also lashed out at the main opposition SLPP party whose eleven years in power between 1996 and 2007 he said was also full of corruption and fake promises to the people of Sierra Leone. He described the SLPP and APC as “children of the same mother” who he said would never stop deceiving Seirra Leoneans.
Margai also asked the youth to stay away from violence.
