|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: A viral Facebook post claims Dr. Samura Kamara has backed Sierra Leonean politician Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, popularly known as “Jagaban.”
Verdict: False. No official statement, media report, or credible source confirms that Dr. Samura Kamara has endorsed Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara (Jagaban) for the APC Flagbearer position. A trusted team member of Dr. Kamara has refuted the claim.
Full Text
A viral post on Facebook alleges that Sierra Leone’s opposition leader, Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara, has officially endorsed Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, popularly known as “Jagaban.” The post, accompanied by an image of Jagaban and political slogans, claims Samura Kamara endorsed him as a leading figure for the APC flagbearer position for the 2028 general election.
This post has been widely shared on WhatsApp and Facebook, sparking debates and speculation among All People’s Congress (APC) supporters. Given the political sensitivity and potential electoral implications, especially in a post-election year marred by ongoing legal battles, DUBAWA decided to investigate the authenticity of this claim.
Verification
1. Contact With Samura Kamara’s Team
DUBAWA contacted a trusted member of Dr Samura Kamara’s inner team, Alhaji Mansaray, who also doubles as his nephew, to verify the claim. In a direct response, he stated:
“This is a false and unfounded claim. Dr. Samura M. W. Kamara has not backed any aspirant. Doc is not focused on elections right now but on his fight for electoral justice.”
This clarification invalidates the viral claim. Dr. Kamara’s camp’s official position is focused on seeking electoral redress following the controversial June 2023 elections, not on endorsing any new aspirant.
2. Review of Dr. Samura Kamara’s Official Channels
DUBAWA reviewed Dr. Samura Kamara’s official platforms on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). No statement or post has been issued endorsing Jagaban as of this verification. Instead, recent posts continue to focus on electoral justice and governance issues.
3. Review of Credible Local News Outlets
A search across trusted Sierra Leonean media houses, including Sierraloaded, The Times Sierra Leone, Awoko Newspaper, The Calabash Newspaper, AYV News, and Politico SL, yielded no reports or mentions of any such endorsement. If Dr. Samura Kamara had endorsed another political figure, especially one from the same party, it would have made significant headlines.
4. Political Consistency and Contextual Analysis
DUBAWA also conducted a contextual analysis on the claim. Jagaban, Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara, is a known member and financier of the All People’s Congress (APC). He has publicly declared support for the APC, donated resources to the party, and emphasised unity. For instance, Jagaban pledged support for the APC’s future and donated 146 bags of rice to support the APC in the Tonkolili district.
Given this alignment, it would be politically inconsistent and highly unlikely for Dr. Samura Kamara, already seen as the de facto APC standard-bearer and a contestant of the legitimacy of the 2023 election results, to suddenly shift focus by endorsing another figure. There is no political or strategic indication suggesting such a move.
Conclusion
There is no evidence to support the viral claim that Dr. Samura Kamara has endorsed Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed Omodu Kamara (Jagaban) for any political position. His team has debunked the claim, and no official party communication or media outlet has reported such a development. This claim is, therefore, false.
