Four Executive members of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party have approached the Political Parties’ Registration Commission, requesting their leader, Mohamed Bangura, to step aside until issues around financial support and its use are adequately addressed.
In a letter dated 3 December 2012 and signed by the party’s National Secretary General, Sulaiman Bai Sesay, his deputy Halima Lucy Deen, Publicity Secretary Editayo George-Temple and National Campaign Coordinator, Alex B.M. Kai Kai, the general membership “request for a comprehensive report on the income and expenditure from the chairman and leader of the party on account of his stewardship.”
The letter continues that “…the leader was requested in an emergency meeting to furnish senior party stalwarts and the membership account of his stewardship since the inception of the party” (sic), adding that “it would astonish you to know that the chairman and leader, Mohamed Bangura, is the ‘A and B’ end of the party and represents an omniscient capacity which is very unprocedural.”
The aggrieved executive members of Sierra Leone's newest political party also cited alleged constitutional breaches such as non-payment of remuneration to staff at the secretariat, regional administrative officials, refusal to hold national executive council meetings, issuing of scholarships to non-party members and lack of probity.
They said Bangura betrayed their trust and confidence by endorsing President Koroma a week to the elections.
“Most members frowned at such an endorsement with no explained bargaining conditions which should be beneficial to the entire membership. This decision hugely affected our aspirants across the country,” they claimed in their letter.
When contacted the UDM leader Mohamed Bangura said he had been singlehandedly running the party with his own money.
“It is therefore not proper for anybody to ask me how I spend my money. In fact, the four executive members are acting against the wish of the general membership of the party,” he said.
He accused them of wanting to use him to collect money from the president which he said he refused to do.
“We all agreed to endorse the President. Editayo was on television to endorse the President. That is evidence that we all agreed to take that decision,” he said, adding that the call for him to step aside was “rubbish”.
When contacted by Politico, the party's Publicity Secretary, Editayo George-Temple could not comment on the specific allegation that he was on television to endorse the president way before the party went public on that.
The UDM secretary general, told Politico last night that they had had a four-hour long meeting at the PPRC where the allegations were discussed and that they had been requested to forward supporting documents to back their claims.
“How can one man use his money to fund the activities of a whole political party? That is in breach of the PPRC code,” he exclaimed.
He also confirmed that a decision on the said matter is expected to be reached by Tuesday.
© Politico 07/12/2012
