Rev. Komba Mbawa Affirms

By Edwina Sia Janga

On Monday 8^th May 2023, the National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP) officially nominated their Presidential candidate, Dr. Jonathan Sandy, and Rev Apostle Komba Mbawa, his Running Mate, at the ECSL’s Tower Hill Offices. After going through the process, the nominations of the two candidates were approved by the ECSL. After the nomination, this writer caught up with both men and asked how they felt about the entire process.

In his response, Dr. Jonathan Sandy, the Presidential candidate of the party, expressed satisfaction over the entire process. JPJ, as he is commonly called, commended the ECSL for such a transparent process, adding that with his background of national security, which focuses on vetting and screening, he observed that what the ECSL did was to vet both he and his VP in waiting in accordance with the Constitution and the National Security Act of 2002. He furthered that the process is very important, and is not just the normal thing, as the process involved putting of their data into the system by expert ICT officials at the ECSL. He observed that the entire process indicated that the ECSL did not only look at the Constitutional provisions, but at the National Security Act of 2002, which provides for vetting, to ensure that foreign nationals are not brought into the national electoral process. He expressed satisfaction at the entire process, adding that now that the nomination has been completed, they are going to focus on disseminating their campaign message, which is to put Sierra Leone back on track, beyond politics of exclusion and corrupt regime. He furthered that he had worked before in the Tejan-Kabba administration as National Security Adviser, and is determined to ensure that the politics of exclusion and corruption is made a thing of the past.

In his contribution, Rev. Apostle Komba Mbawa, Running Mate of Dr. Jonathan Sandy, and born in Kono, expressed happiness for being fortunate to be nominated with his boss, Dr. Jonathan Sandy, their Presidential candidate. He maintained that their leadership is to ensure that all the vices and suffering of the people are brought to an end. He furthered that both political parties, the APC and SLPP, have ruled this country for some 62 years, and have been responsible for the current state of the country. He stated that what inspired him to take this journey is the realization that the country’s foundation has been destroyed, naming the economic downturn, corruption and lawlessness as part of the contributory factors for the decline of the country. He furthered that as a man of God, he believes what the Bible says, which is that when the “wicked are on the throne the people suffer, but when the righteous are on the throne, the people enjoy”, adding that with a mission in Sierra Leone and the UK, it is his belief that righteous people should ascend the throne to get the hand of God on the nation.

Rev Apostle Komba Mbawa disclosed that the system brought up by the current government is to stifle other political parties, as many parties have not been able to make it to ECSL. He alleged that the government is using the PPRC to break smaller political parties, as a result, most smaller parties have been swallowed up by the big parties, notably the two, thus, a lot of them do not have a political party, but with the NURP, headed by a man of integrity and charisma, he felt they share similar values for the development of the country, as a result, he decided to join him to change the country. He called on Sierra Leoneans to try another party and forget about the two parties that have been responsible for our woes. He noted that people are fed up with what is going on in the country, but are afraid to speak out, so as not to be arrested and put behind bars. He admonished that the NURP is their best option for a better Sierra Leone, where their rights are respected and their interests will be taken care of. The NURP, he furthered, is a party that has respect for the rule of law and Human Rights of people.