Concord Times (Freetown)
Mohamed Massaquoi
2 July 2009
Freetown — Members of the opposition Sierra Leone People's Party, SLPP have once again demonstrated their strength in the eastern district town of Kenema notwithstanding the 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections shocker.
Though the ruling All People's Congress, APC are making frantic efforts to gain some political grounds by trying to win over certain political heavyweights in the area, yet past Friday's event clearly demonstrated that Kenema indeed belongs to the SLPP.
The entire township was painted green last Friday when the Kamboi Eagles football team locked horns with premier league champions East-End Lions at the Kenema town field.
The reason behind politicizing the match was yet unknown but some residents intimated Concord Times that it all started when Lions upon arrival in Kenema visited the regional office of the APC, which according to them was a blatant show of political allegiance to the APC.
Lahai Fatoma, a strong SLPP member said they had not taken the matter seriously until when they saw some business women and APC party affiliates done in their party colours to patronize with the visiting team that they realized what was supposed to be a social event had degenerated into a party affair.
"They prepared food for the team and some even went ahead to hire motorbikes and vehicles to escort them to the field," Fatoma said, adding that SLPP supporters as well took to the streets in an apparent show of support for their darling Kamboi Eagles.
"SLPP supporters came out in the numbers, overpowering the APC. We will never allow the APC to bully us in our own turf, which is more the reason why all of our leaders were at the Kenema town field to witness the match," he said.
Mohamed Kamara, an APC member said they came out as a show of solidarity for East-End Lions and not to politicize the event.
He said though the SLPP came out in full strength, APC members were still able to make an impression as their presence was felt in every nook and cranny of the city.
Kamara however noted that the event ended in a peaceful atmosphere.
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