By Foday Moriba Conteh
As the country is gearing up for an election year, 2023, when Presidential, Parliamentary, and Municipal Elections are to be held, various individuals have manifested interests to vie for certain positions under political parties.
Among such individuals that have so far surfaced is a young unassuming, attractive, ambitious, and compassionate personality in the person of Bernard Solomon John.
Bernard Solomon John has made his intention known to contest for the Parliamentary Seat of Western Rural District during a well-attended declaration ceremony held at the Kossoh Town Hall in Jui ,Western Rural District.
Speaking during his declaration ceremony, the Secretary General for Constituency 112, Al-Yusuf Abdullah, said that the constituency has enjoyed the development of Bernard Solomon John over the years, adding that he has been also making meaningful strides towards the promotion of the APC party.
He said that as an Executive member of the constituency which falls under the district that Bernard Solomon John is aspiring to contest, they will ensure that the aspirant gets maximum support.
Al-Yusuf Abdullah used the opportunity to encourage members of the APC party present at the ceremony to ensure that they collect their voter ID cards during the period announced by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone for the collection of Voter ID card.
The Former Councilor of Ward 395, Zachariah Kanneh commended Bernard Solomon John for his intention to represent the Western Rural District as Member of Parliament, describing the move as a laudable venture towards the development of the district.
He said that he is with the strong conviction that Bernard Solomon John is fit for the position owing to the fact that he has been contributing immensely towards the development of the district through his interventions over the years .
Zachariah Kanneh informed the gathering that owing to the fact that the country will be using the PR System for the conduct of the June 24, 2023 elections they will not have the opportunity to vote for their Members of Parliament directly.
He then, on behalf of his ward, endorsed Bernard Solomon John for the position of Member of Parliament for the Western Rural District.
Voicing his declaration, the aspirant, Bernard Solomon John said that over the years he has been supporting communities within the Western Rural District in order to keep the party alive in that part of the country.
He said that since 2017 he been mobilizing and supporting youths to embark on cleaning exercise within the district, adding that during the 2018 elections registration process he also donated food and non-food items to the APC constituency members in order to enhance the smooth registration process of members within the district.
Bernard Solomon John furthered how he has supported the construction of road networks at the Komba Farm community and how he is also supporting the pavement of the Jui market, adding he also facilitated water supply for Mongaba Community which has helped to address the challenges faced community residents towards water supply.
He also maintained that during the COVID-19 outbreak in the country he supported communities within the Western Rural District with veronica buckets and face masks in order to curtail the spread of the virus in the country.
Bernard Solomon John said the above are just few of the things he has done within the district of which he said makes him the fittest candidate to represent the Western Rural District as a Member of Parliament.
He said that he is willing and determined to turn around or improve the district, when he becomes the elected Member of Parliament of the Western Rural District and to continue his developmental interventions within and out of the district.
The Aspirant concluded by encouraging all present to go out in their numbers to collect their voter ID cards and vote for Dr. Samura Kamara as the next President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
