The Mayoral Candidate for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Mohamed Gento Kamara has reaffirmed his statement made at Basharia Mosque on Kissy Road via SLRSA.

“I will not apologize. I am sincere with what I said,” he said.

“We are not being recognized [and] I’m making my case for my Muslim people to support me but I will choose a Christian running mate,” Gento affirmed in an interview with 98.1 on Monday.

He added that he has respect for Christianity and referenced that he said that in his statement at the said mosque.

Responding to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), the mayoral candidate said that SLAJ is a hypocrite because they failed to call out both Dr. Samura Kamara and Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of the All People’s Congress (APC) when they made tribal statements some time ago.

Gento added that SLAJ should have contacted him to enquire about the rationale behind his statement at the mosque. He said the Journalist Body failed to investigate but only responded based on a video that was circulated widely on social media.

“The mayoral position should not be for a single tribe,” he said. He furthered that people are used to “skewing things” for political gains but that he will not subscribe to such.

On Monday afternoon, the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) also criticized Gento and prodded him to make a public apology for his statement which they believe to be bigotry and hateful.

The SLPP candidate will face the incumbent APC Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr in the 24 June mayoral election for Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.