By Nasratu Kargbo
The much-anticipated Presidential Students Union Election of Fourah Bay College (FBC) will take place today, Wednesday 2 June 2021. The election has attracted a lot of public attention because two of the six contenders are female and are clearly front runners. It will be the first time British West Africa’s first university will elect a woman as the president of the students union.
One of the aspirants, Adama Sillah an honors one student at the Law department told Politico that she was inspired by the message rooted in her campaign “we move we conquer” to take a shot at the presidential race. She explained that students at FBC have been faced with so many challenges over the years that needed to be addressed. “Some of the challenges we face at FBC are not new issues, talking of transportation, inadequate classrooms, grade issues, etc,” Sillah said. She spoke of her many plans including embarking on projects that will look into the welfare of students and promised to continue from the legacies of outgoing President Augustine Bona.
She started her long and short-term goals but laid emphasis on the short-term goal of transportation that she described as a pressing issue. She said there are presently three buses plying the route of FBC and are not enough and promised that if she assumes office, she will work towards formulating an agreement between her administration and the country’s Ministry of Transport and Aviation for buses to be provided for FBC that will be placed along with strategic places such as Jui, Wilberforce etc. for students to access.
The aspirant stated that she has never felt intimidated at any point of the process because whatever she sets her heart to do she does with all her heart and might. “Besides I have been part of the students union government supporting projects behind the scene, so I am more than ready to lead”, she pointed out.
“Of course, I’ve failed before; failure is not new to me but I’ve learned my lessons. So, if I do not win I will consider the result as the decision of the students of FBC”. She said if she does not win, and the winner needs her support in any way she can, she will help because she is a student of FBC and believes that one will only make a change when one is in power.
“I want every student to maintain peace, we need to go into this election with the right mindset and hope for a win. So I want every student to stay calm, not to engage in any form of violence and not to campaign in an unhealthy atmosphere”, Sillah advised.
Few days to the election, the other woman candidate, Fatmata Binta Jalloh wrote a letter where she raised some issues including allegations that Sillah did not register until after the deadline. The letter also states: “Frustratingly and most surprisingly, she had her name included in the voters’ list that was supposed to comprise students who had completed their registrations as against the 20th May 2021, according to the administration”.
The letter claimed that Sillah did not register until the 22nd May 2021 when the stipulated deadline was 19th May 2021. “By all indications, Adama Sillah having completed her registration after the 19th May deadline, is not qualified to contest in this election”, it continued.
Politico tried to get Sillah’s reaction with regards to the claims contained in the letter but could not get any response. Politico could not get interview Fatmata Binta Jalloh for an interview despite promises of getting back to us.
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