By Alpha Abu
Two senior figures of two of Sierra Leone’s prominent opposition political parties, the National Grand Coalition (NGC) and All Peoples Congress (APC) have criticised the Chairman of the All Political Parties Association (APPA), Prince Coker for what they claimed to be his corrupt tendencies.
National Grand Coalition (NGC) Chairman, Dr. Dennis Bright confirmed to Politico that his party was no longer a member of APPA, as a result of what he claimed were the actions of Coker that had created a negative image about APPA.
He said APPA was heading in a direction that NGC party was not happy about, hence the decision of the party to leave. He made reference to a leaked audio in which he alleged Coker could be heard boasting of having personally benefitted from the previous government and was hoping of the same this time around from the present regime.
Dr. Bright said Coker in the audio had stated the building of his house which he started during the reign of APC will be completed during the present SLPP administration and allegedly made very corruptive statements that could also be attributed to selfishness and self-aggrandisement.
Asked how he knew it was the voice of Coker, he emphatically stated that it was his, and said as such they cannot be a part of an association with him as chairman. He said every political party has the right to associate, but again was quick to point out that it was not a rule or regulation that every political party must join APPA.
Dr. Bright noted that NGC and other parties have left the association and formed a Consortium, which he said issued a press release about its formation, so that the public will not associate the parties constituting the consortium to any policy statement or public engagement that may purport to come from APPA in the future. He dismissed any possibility of NGC becoming a part of the association again.
APC’s Deputy Organising Secretary, Karamoh Kabba also affirmed his party’s decision to sever ties with the APPA. “You know this APPA chairman he cannot be even countenanced ‘’, he said. Kabba accused Coker of trading off APPA to the government and of protecting its interest instead of those of APPA.
He said APPA was expected to serve as a pressure group and to help the government in shaping the good governance and democracy of the Sierra Leone. Kabba claimed the new consortium consists of 13 parties and that they will now focus on protecting the country’s democracy.He also claimed only 4 parties are still with APPA.
Politico made several efforts to contact the APPA Chairman but he could not be reached even by text message or phone call.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (18/08/21)
