By James Tamba Lebbie
21st May, 2025
Great leadership is usually tested by ambition and defined by the level of restraint it exhibits particularly in times of disquiet and disunity. It is also during such trying times that leadership with foresight, and moral courage is identified. In the All Peoples Congress (APC), where the tempo of internal contestation is rising, Dr Ibrahim Bangura has emerged away from tired drumbeats of division, and positioned himself with the solemn cadence of purpose and progress. His recent statement, “United We Stand…,” is more than a call for party unity, it is a political testament to the kind of leadership Sierra Leone desperately needs: mature, measured, and motivated by national interest over personal gain.
In this political season, already marred by bitterness and factionalism, Dr Bangura’s appeal to fellow aspirants and party members is a refreshing departure from the familiar script. Echoing the wisdom of Chinua Achebe, who once wrote, “A man who brings home ant-infested firewood should not be surprised when lizards pay him a visit,” Dr Bangura cautions against internal discord that invites political decay. His approach is not to fan the embers of rivalry, but to douse them with the cooling waters of dialogue, mutual respect, and strategic foresight.
He asserts, with a tone both humble and resolute, that “competition should never breed enmity.” Such clarity is rare in a landscape where political contests often degenerate into personal feuds. In his words and actions, Dr Bangura embodies the Shakespearean virtue found in Henry V, where the young king says, “We are but warriors for the working day.” The implication is clear, ambition must be tempered by duty; leadership is service, not self-glorification.
What sets Dr Bangura apart is not only his philosophical clarity but his tangible commitment to national well-being. At a time when the country faces a renewed public health challenge with the spread of Monkeypox (MPOX), he does not retreat into rhetoric. Instead, he steps forward with a personal pledge to finance a nationwide sensitisation campaign. Here is a man who sees leadership not as a path to privilege but as a platform for problem-solving.
This is not his first moment of national conscience. From his calm and insightful statement on the delicate Yenga border tensions to his reflective voice following the tragic fire at State House, Dr Bangura has consistently offered not just sympathy, but solutions. On Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day, he reminded Sierra Leoneans that gender inclusion is not ceremonial, it must be structural. His policy-forward tone in each of these moments reveals a leader preparing not only to win power, but to wield it with wisdom.
In a party that has known both glory and struggle, Dr Bangura’s presence signals a break from the past. He is not a nostalgic candidate clinging to former formulas; he is a new horizon, an intellectual and strategist deeply aware of the APC’s legacy, but even more committed to its rebirth. He calls not only for a “cohesive, visionary, and disciplined opposition,” but for an APC ready to govern in deed, not just word.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o once observed that, “A people without memory are in danger of losing their soul.” Dr Bangura carries the memory of the APC’s founding values—discipline, nationalism, service, but he also envisions a soul renewed by inclusivity, health-conscious policies, and internal cohesion. His call for unity is not a performance for political cameras; it is the philosophical core of a man who understands that divided parties cannot build united nations.
In this political hour, Sierra Leone does not need noise; it needs nuance. It does not need gladiators; it needs guardians of the common good. Dr Ibrahim Bangura is staking his claim not with force, but with faith, in the APC, in Sierra Leone, and in the power of principled leadership.
It is said in African wisdom: “When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.” Dr Bangura’s roots are deep in policy, party loyalty, and public service. And in a time of gathering political winds, he stands firm—inviting all to unite, heal, and build.
The APC may yet rediscover its soul through such leadership. And Sierra Leone may yet rise with it.
