Dr Ibrahim Bangura is a young man in his mid-40s. He was born in the central area of Freetown to the first National Secretary General of the APC National Youth League and a former APC National Organising Secretary, Senior Comrade M L Bangura from Mambolo Chiefdom, Kambia District.
He attended the Government Rokel and St Edward’s Secondary Schools. He went to FBC and got his first and first master’s degree. He furthered his education in many renowned academic institutions abroad where he attained another master’s degree, PhD and other academic certificates. He is currently an Associate Professor.
As one of the DNAS of the APC, he formed a political group called the Rising Sun during his school days. At Fourah Bay College, Dr Ibrahim formed the APC Students Association, now called NUAS and became its first President, who later handed over to President Momoh Bangura, and the leadership line continued to Felix, BTK and others.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura did not serve in the last APC government and has not held any party position, but he has been supportive of the APC in both financially and in preparing Campaign Strategies and the APC Party Manifesto for both 2018 and 2023.
He attempted to apply for the NSG position in 2018, but was prevailed upon not to do so by senior party elders through the use of the previous APC consultation constitutional provision.
The party made every effort to resolve the NRM issues, but there was no headway. The APC leadership requested Dr. Ibrahim Bangura to help resolve the NRM Issues. With his personality and expertise, the NRM issue was resolved as the Sierra Leone NRM Chapter accepted and withdrew the matter from court. The NRM leader Sheridan, PRO – Alfred Minkailu Koroma and many others dropped the NRM case, except for the arrival of Alfred Peter Conteh from the USA, who was an SLPP government agent that pursued the issue with a court injunction.
In addition to his prolific academic achievements and political contributions to the APC, Dr. Ibrahim has a very rich national and international work experience, as he has worked in the following:
– Dr Ibrahim Bangura is a professor at FBC and other renowned universities abroad.
– He has worked as lead consultant for ECOWAS, AU, UNO for West Africa and the Sahel Region, UNDP, UNICEF and other international organisations on conflict resolution, good governance, Justice Sector Reforms, Security Sector reforms, Human Rights, and Gender issues and many other governance and human development issues.
– He is not part of the stakeholders that the grassroots members are currently accusing of internal party fight and sellout of the 2023 general elections. He is a friend of EBK, Dr. Samura, the current executives and all current flag-bearer aspirants. Therefore, he is a clean candidate with the capacity, Competence, Character and Charisma to unite the APC, win elections and protect the APC’s votes and govern with excellent performance.
– All former Ministers are qualified to aspire for a presidential candidate or running mate. But the majority of them have decided to drop their ambition to support Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, because he is the right person to lead the APC to State House victory.
– The candidacy of Dr Ibrahim is like a God sent to the APC, because he is loved and respected by all APC stakeholders. He has never worked for the government before, and nobody will criticise him or take him to court for any wrongdoing.
– With a candidate like Dr. Ibrahim, the SLPP will have nothing to investigate or be critical of him as the APC Flagebearer.
– Dr Ibrahim’s academic pedigree and work experience are the best for a presidential candidate. SLPP has no candidate that matches Dr Ibrahim’s calibre.
In conclusion, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura is a charming and charismatic candidate with the aura of political importance and leadership that is needed to capture more new followers and maintain the existing grassroots support.
