The re-admission of Sam Sumana into the main opposition APC party has been met with mixed reactions. One school of thought has described his comeback as a welcome news because as the former Vice President under the APC government of President Ernest Bai Koroma, Sam Sumana’s re-admission is not only fantastic news but it will also cool the hot tempers in the diamond rich Kono District, his homeland. (Photo: Sam Sumana, right laughing with the SLPP Chief Minister David Sengeh, left and SLPP oldie Dr Sama Banya).

However, the other school of thought dubs his arrival to the mighty APC party as shocking, unwelcome and bad news for the APC party at this crucial point in time. The critics believe the party does not need Sam Sumana who is now a spent force in Kono politics as exemplified in the June 24, 2023 elections when the Kono people voted massively for Dr Samura Kamara without the support and participation of Sam Sumana and his supporters. Other Sierra Leoneans say Sam Sumana’s comeback is very concerning and, worrisome.

Concerning because, the majority of the APC Grassroots supporters still do not believe Sam Sumana is sincere and honest with the progress of the APC party. The Grassroots say Sam Sumana has only decided to come in now for selfish reasons rather than for the good of the APC. They believe that Sam Sumana has seen the light at the end of the tunnel for the APC party and he believes power is on the way and that is why he had taken advantage of his close connections with Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray to come back. (Photo: Ernest and Sam and centre is Victor Foh, the man who succeeded Sam after his sacking).

Whatever the reason or reasons given by the divided opinions, the Saturday night bogie was a special event at Sam Sumana’s Imatt mansion where well-wishers and avid APC supporters gathered to celebrate his comeback after a long gloomy and protected absence. Critics say it was shameful to observe short-sighted APC supporters dancing for a chief APC traitor like Sam Sumana. The sceptics believe the likes of Alhaji Sam Sumana are not a good addition to the mighty APC party.

Sam Sumana is still remembered as the politician sacked for anti-party activities, but instead, of sitting quietly and allow the ugly situation to cool off, he stupidly went on the offensive to take court action upon court action in Sierra Leone and even went to far away Abuja to complain to the ECOWAS court. As that was not enough, the power-hungry Sam Sumana opted to form his own political party called the Coalition for Change C4C and contested the 2018 general elections against the APC that he pretended to love.

Despite the C4C emergence, APC party still won the 2018 elections but for the regime change policy adopted by the international community, Dr Samura Kamara was begged to allow the current evil President Maada Bio to take State House. Today, luckily, Sam Sumana has been re-admitted as a fresh member of the party. He is starting like any new member with a new Identification Card number. Whether he would accept it in the long run remains to be seen.

For those who still think Sam Sumana has been re-instated to his previous role are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land. No amount of money or influence would instigate the party to give him his previous status. Of course, as a former VP, Sam Sumana would still be given the respect that position deserves. But for the buffoons who think that re-admission into the party is the same as re-instatement, they should check their mental faculties properly to see if certain cells are not missing in their tiny brains.

But Sam should remember that the APC Grassroots supporters would never forget his treachery and dark past. The best advice for Sam Sumana now is for him to publicly apologise for his negative behaviours against the APC party particularly the lies and misleading Ebola statements he made against the Grassroots’ favourite leader Ernest Koroma. “We will forgive but we will never forget his negative behaviour,” APC Grassroots supporters said. Meanwhile, the Saturday night bogie went well as celebrants enjoyed good Salone music and food and wine at Sam Sumama’s Imatt residence.