Freetown – May 23, 2025
As part of his ongoing outreach to communities of faith, Dr Ibrahim Bangura, a leading aspirant for the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearership, today observed Jummah Prayers at the Limba Central Mosque on Sander Street in Freetown.
A devout and practising Muslim, Dr Bangura joined the Muslim faithful in solemn prayer, seeking the guidance and blessings of Allah in his personal journey and national aspirations. In a moment that resonated deeply with many in attendance, he humbly requested Dua from the congregation and the clerics present, a powerful Islamic tradition where one asks others to intercede through prayer on their behalf.
The Chief Imam, Sheik Zachariah Mohamed Dumbuya, who also serves as the National Chief Imam of the Limba Muslim community, offered a general sermon highlighting the qualities of integrity, humility, and wisdom that should define both leaders and those who seek power. Without naming individuals, he reminded the faithful that Allah commands them to render trusts in leaders who are trustworthy so that when they judge between people they may judge with justice.” (Qur’an 4:58).
In the words of one of the congregants “Nothing is greater than Allah’s mercy, and as he offer himself for leadership and ask for prayers, may he be guided by truth, compassion, and justice.”
In a powerful show of spiritual solidarity and cultural affirmation, the Fullah community in Freetown sent a special delegation to the Limba Central Mosque to join Dr Bangura in prayer. One of the representatives noted that while Dr Bangura was not at the Fullah mosque physically, they considered it their duty to be present, symbolically fulfilling the maternal bond, as his late mother was of Fullah heritage.
This gesture carried immense cultural and spiritual weight. In many African traditions, including Islamic culture, the maternal lineage is sacred, and communities often feel spiritually invested in the success of their sons and daughters. The presence of the Fullah delegation served as a reminder of the unseen hands of mothers, still nurturing, guiding, and interceding even after their passing. “Paradise lies under the feet of mothers,” as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught, and today, it was as if her spirit lived on through the embrace of her people.
In his brief yet heartfelt address to the Jammah, Dr Bangura expressed his gratitude to the Limba Central Mosque for their warm welcome and acknowledged his long history with the mosque, having worshipped there over the years. He extended equal appreciation to the Fullah delegation, calling their visit “a powerful reminder of the unity our country needs, across tribes, across mosques, across hearts.”
As Sierra Leone continues to grapple with economic hardship, rising division, and faltering institutions, the call for leaders with moral compass and spiritual grounding grows ever louder. Dr Bangura’s presence in the mosque, his deference to Islamic leadership, and the rich symbolism of maternal intercession all speak to a different kind of politics, one rooted not in division or opportunism, but in dignity, humility, and integrity.
His personality: calm yet commanding, wise yet warm, principled yet accessible, continues to endear him to citizens across the country. And in a time when Sierra Leone is in desperate need of honest, visionary, and morally grounded leadership, Ibrahim Bangura is quietly, prayerfully, and purposefully rising to meet the moment.
Dr Bangura was accompanied by senior members of the APC, including Jarrah Kawusu Konte, Alfred Minkailu Pa Yamba Koroma, Ishmael Al-Sankoh Conteh, and others.
