DR. IBRAHIM BANGURA’S BRAVE JOURNEY TO MATTRU JONG: A CALL FOR EMPATHY, DISCIPLINE AND DEVELOPMENT
By Jarrah Kawusu-Konte
In the early morning of Friday, May 30, we departed Freetown for Mattru Jong, Bonthe district, Southern Sierra Leone. The sun rose gently over the rolling green hills as Dr. Ibrahim Bangura’s convoy snaked its way through some of the most treacherous roads in that part of Sierra Leone. The mission was clear: deep consultations and heartfelt engagements with the resilient Ward, Constituency, and District executives of the All People’s Congress (APC). However, the path was anything but easy.
To reach Mattru Jong, the district’s headquarters, Dr. Bangura and his team had to traverse the rugged, muddy and dusty backroads of rural Bo and Bonthe, crossing the Tabai River at Bumpeh on a makeshift seacraft. Clearly, this journey required strength, patience, and an iron will. The bridge over the Tabai River remains incomplete, languishing in limbo for seven years under the ruling SLPP government. With no new major road or bridge projects undertaken by this administration, one would have thought that such a vital crossing would have long been fixed. But like many promises made to the people of Bonthe, this too remains unfulfilled.
As the vehicle dipped and swerved through muddy gullies, fractured culverts, and precarious wooden planks, one could see the forgotten faces of a forgotten district, traders balancing their loads on heads, barefoot school children walking miles to class, and rice farmers trudging through waterlogged fields without support or tools.
Yet, amidst this neglect, Bonthe remains one of Sierra Leone’s most naturally enchanting districts. The geography is lush, rich in mangrove estuaries, inland rivers, and tropical vegetation. The communities are nestled between freshwater and seawater bodies and fertile soil. And, the history of this land runs deep with colonial encounters and revolutionary dreams.
At the Mattru Complex Hall, he delivered his address to the APC stalwarts and faithful in Constituency 092, covering Wards 321, 322 and 323, Dr. Bangura’s message was one of hope wrapped in empathy, healing, unity, and responsibility.
“You live in one of the most beautiful places in Sierra Leone,” he said. “Bonthe is rich in geography, rich in culture, rich in history. But your needs are real. And they have been ignored for far too long.”
He was warmly welcomed by local executives, though he immediately noticed the absence of one of the district’s most beloved political heroes, Daddy Avondor. Bangura asked for him right away:
“Where is Daddy Avondor? He is someone I like. He is a brave man, a courageous man.”
That recognition drew approving nods and emotional sighs from the gathering. Indeed, Daddy Avondor is a local legend, he stood firm as the lone APC victor in the local council elections in this SLPP stronghold, a living symbol of courage, sacrifice, and relentless belief in change. His victories are a rare ray of red in a sea of green, a testament to the enduring appeal of the APC among Sierra Leone’s most abandoned citizens.
Dr. Bangura’s message was clear: this campaign is not transactional, it is transformational.
“This is not a touch-and-go campaign,” he said, as the gathering listened intently. “We want to live with you in your communities. We want to feel what you feel. We want to understand what you suffer.”
THE REALITY ON THE GROUND:
According to the latest reports from Statistics Sierra Leone and the UNDP Human Development Index, Bonthe is among the poorest districts in the country. Over 70% of households survive on subsistence farming and fishing. School attendance is inconsistent, maternal and infant mortality rates are above the national average, and most villages lack access to electricity, clean water, and decent healthcare.
Bangura made the point that government must be sympathetic to the suffering of its people because, as he put it, “the business of government is to transform the lives of the people, to improve their living conditions.”
One may therefore ask: How can a government that claims to care ignore such conditions for so long? The bridge should not still be under construction after seven years. If a government cannot fix small things, how can it transform lives?
The leading APC flagbearer aspirant reminded the people that development is not about speeches, it’s about showing up, listening, and responding.
A CAMPAIGN OF DISCIPLINE AND UNITY:
True to his philosophy, Dr. Bangura called for restraint, unity, and respectful dialogue within the APC:
“If anyone has issues, there are channels to address them. No supporter of mine should insult or attack another comrade because he competes with me or supports my competitor. We are all comrades and we are one family. We must build a party of discipline and dignity.”
The peace expert he is, he passionately appealed to his comrades: “Let us not use hate, let us use love. Where there’s conflict, let us bring peace, and where there’s pain, let’s bring healing,” he said.
He cautioned against the politics of misinformation and reckless slander, reiterating that only a disciplined and united APC can rescue Sierra Leone from its current economic and social despair.
He reminded his audience that “The APC is a party which embraces every Sierra Leonean. It is not a party established to satisfy any particular group of Sierra Leoneans which is why it is called the All Peoples Congress.”
THE WAY FORWARD:
Dr. Bangura outlined the three pillars of his political movement:
Unity of APC and Sierra Leone.
A leadership style that listens and learns from the grassroots. Bangura emphasized that central to his movement was to unify the APC and then Sierra Leone. “We want a country that will work for everybody regardless of your surname or where you came from. We want a party that has discipline in which no one will rain insult on another comrade or any person.
He also spoke on his commitment to resolving national problems like youth addiction, hunger, poor infrastructure, and lack of opportunity. “We are losing our youth to drugs like kush. Our women are struggling daily to find food. We take five steps forward and ten steps backward. This must stop.”
With that, Dr. Bangura pledged that his team will return to Bonthe in the coming weeks to continue consultations in every constituency. He declared Bonthe as one of his political campaign bases and reaffirmed his personal connection to the district.
FINAL WORDS:
Before departing for Bo to attend the APC National Young Congress Conference, Dr. Bangura left his supporters with a heartfelt message:
“My name is Ibrahim Bangura. Do not forget it when the time comes. This campaign is yours, the one that truly cares for you.”
As the convoy disappeared down the winding, battered road, one thing was clear: for the people of Mattru Jong, Dr. Bangura visited, he saw them, he heard them, and he walked through their pain with purpose.
And in a nation yearning for honest leadership, that may be the beginning of something truly powerful.
The consultative meeting was gracefully attended by the District Chairman Mohamed Sheriff, district executives, constituency chairmen, deputy regional chair Sylvester Swarray who also served as chairman of the event.