By Mohamed T Massaquoi
The longest serving Member of Parliament from Pujehun district in the south of the country has told his party's executive in the district that he would be a candidate in the coming leadership contest for the main opposition SLPP.
Hon. Ansumana Kaikai called on the district to support his bid saying, "I believe it is time for me to become president of this nation as I have worked tremendously even at the time of president Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah to ensure democracy and development especially in Pujehun district."
The MP who was first elected in 1996 said, "until and unless we are united as a party we cannot win the presidential seat in this country," and described himself as the "best person to bring this glory to the party."
He said, "since the general elections in 2012 the party has never met at district level to discuss issues that have to do with the development of the party," and pledged to pay two hundred and fifty thousand (Le 250,000) each month, towards the development of the party in the district.
Eddie Massallay, chairman of the SLPP in Pujehun welcomed the MP's intention to run for the party leadership at the national level and noted that, "we are equally in place to accept other party members who are also interested in the position to prove that we are a unified force."
Massallay accused MPs from the district of doing very little for the development of the party in Pujehun district because "on several occasions I have asked them to help refurbish our party office but they have always failed to help." He noted that the current work done on the party office so far was as a result of two thousand dollars (US$ 2,000.00) he received from party members in the diaspora.
Adama Sengeh, SLPP women's leader in Malen chiefdom in Pujehun welcomed Hon. Kaikai's declaration but noted that the MP had made "several promises without fulfilling them and now you are here again with another plan are you really ready for the fight?
Meanwhile Ambrose Fabai, chairman of constituency 87 called on all other party members to support his MP for the flagbearer position adding that "he has worked very hard for us and we need to support him and be proud that a Pujehun person gets elected to State House."
Hon. Ansumana Kaikai joins about half a dozen other candidates seeking the same office.
© Politico 02/06/15
