By Foday Moriba Conteh
A philanthropist and Proprietor of the Daverajj International Senior Secondary School in Kambia town, Northwest region of Sierra Leone, David Lamin Bangura is reported to be on the run for fear of his life.
Investigation revealed that in early February this year, members of the Kamaranka community at Bamoi Luma Constituency 060 decided to endorse David Lamin Bangura as their preferred Parliamentary candidate for the 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections in Constituency 060 in Kambia district under the All Peoples Congress (APC) party ticket.
David Lamin Bangura who is also the Founder and National President of the United Family Social Club in Kambia District has been working with all stakeholders in the Constituency regarding the peace, security and development of the community.
Mr. Bangura who doubles as the President of the National Support Group (NSG) of the main opposition All Peoples Congress party has been described by the people as not only a honest and dedicated individual, but also a philanthropist, advocator and development oriented person. The people claimed that David Lamin Bangura has always stood by them and defended them during crisis period, noting that if elected in Parliament, he will do more for them.
Kambia district has been referred to as one of the most under developed communities in the country as it lacks good roads, pipe borne water, electricity and good health facility. It has also been established that farmers in that part of the country largely depends on subsistence farming making it very difficult to survive. The people claimed that the Member of Parliament in Constituency 060 Hon. Bai Sama of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) party has not lived up to their expectations and therefore wanted to replace him with David Lamin Bangura who they say has been seeking their interest.
This news did not go down well with members of the ruling party Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the NGC party Parliamentarian. The government is of the view that David’s popularity will definitely prevent any candidate from winning that seat in 2023.
The Section Chief of Bamoi Luma Pa Alimamy Kargbo disclosed that David always shares his meagre salary into three parts namely the vulnerable pupils, aged and his family which he noted increased his popularity in the constituency.
“His philanthropy, advocacy for the poor and marginalization by this government increased his popularity in the constituency,” Youth Leader Alpha Kamara said, adding that they will market him to the APC to ensure he gets the symbol.
While continuing his work, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy wrote a letter to Mayor Sunkarie Kabba of the Makeni City Council of their intention to remove the generator from Makeni to the Lungi international airport in Port Loko district.
This government decision did not go down well with the people and so they decided to protest against it removal.
As APC members, David organized the youths of Kambia to take part in the protest in Makeni in solidarity with their counterparts in that region.
During the day of the protest, armed security officers fired live bullets leading to the death of six people and the injuring of fifteen others who were later admitted at the Government Hospital in Makeni.
Since that incident, police declared fifteen ring leaders in that protest including David Lamin Bangura wanted. They called on the general public to arrest and hand over the said fifteen people including David Lamin Bangura that have been declared in connection with the Makeni riot.
Members of the task force group loyal to the SLPP government began raiding homes of people suspected of being behind the Makeni protest. They started attacking people and destroying their properties which prompted David to escape with his immediate family members. Since that time, his whereabout remains unknown.
Family members have however expressed serious concern about his safety
