United Democratic Movement (UDM) party supporters on Thursday 16th August 2012 gave a rousing welcome to their National Leader and Presidential Flagbearer Mohamed Bangura who returned from a two weeks tour to the United States, China, Senegal and The Gambia.Delivering his welcome statement, the UDM’s Financial Secretary, Mohamed Sowa Turay, said their party believes in peaceful elections, noting that one of UDM’s key visions is to see a country where women and persons with disabilities are redeemed from marginalization.

He recalled that few days ago thieves broke into the party’s office and carted away with valuable properties worth millions of leones as well as a large amount of cash. He said that matter is under police investigations. UDM Leader, Chairman, and Flagbearer Mohamed Bangura stated that his trips overseas were to galvanize financial and moral support for the party. He disclosed that in another three weeks time he will be leaving for Angola to solicit support from other well wishers.

He says the UDM has committed itself to finance the cost of half of NEC’s nomination fees for Councillors but lamented they could do the same for their parliamentary candidates. He however expressed the hope that he might be able to raise more money and would make an announcement on his return from Angola as to whether the UDM could also assist their parliamentary candidates with their nomination fees.

He however said he was contesting the presidential elections and will do so “with vigour”. Speaking of the country’s main opposition presidential candidate, he disregarded his chances by saying citizens are afraid of what Bio might do to innocent people.

“If Bio could not protect the lives of the twenty-nine (29) people brutally killed when he was in NPRC junta government, whom can he now assure that if he wins the presidential election, he would protect the lives of other innocent Sierra Leoneans?” the UDM leader boomed out.

Further touting his chances, the presidential hopeful said: “I have never summarily killed any Sierra Leonean citizen; I have never stolen passports belonging to the State so the presidential elections for now should be considered as being between the two clean candidates which are President Koroma and myself”.