Hinga Norman Junior, son of the late former Defence Minister and strongman of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Sam Hinga Norman has declared to join the ruling All People’s Congress (APC).

Cocorioko reports that Norman Junior made his declaration on Tuesday this week to Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh at the residence of the Sierra Leone High Commission in London Edward Mohamed Turay.

The Vice President himself had already departed London today after a week-long official visit on the invitation of Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission where he served as a Special Guest.

“I am convinced that the APC holds the future for Sierra Leone because they are the only party that will ensure peace and prosperity in our country,” Norman said during a courtesy call on the Vice President.

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Norman Junior has already presented passport size pictures of himself to the Vice President for a party membership card to be made on his behalf.

He said it took him seven years after the controversial death of his father at a military hospital in Dakar, Senegal, to come up with such a decision because he wanted to be sure that he was doing the right thing.

On behalf of his family, Norman thanked the Vice President and the ruling party in general for the role they played during the incarceration of their father at the Special Court of Sierra Leone.

Vice President described the former Defence boss and leader of the pro government Civil Defence Force as a hero who made huge sacrifice for Sierra Leone.

“As a political party, we believe Chief Sam Hinga Norman was a hero who served his people very well and deserve not to have gone the way he did,” the Vice President said.

He described the coming of Norman Junior as ‘a big catch’ that will go a long way to send a signal to Sierra Leoneans what the APC stands for.

“We are a party of the people and for the people,” the Vice President said.

The Late Hinga Norman requested to meet with President Koroma – then opposition leader – while in jail and according to Foh, the APC visited him four times in jail before he fell sick and eventually died in February 2007.

The Vice President did not discuss details of the party’s meeting with the Late Norman, but certainly not unconnected with matters of national interest including of course politics.

Late Sam Hinga Norman’s death sparked wild controversy and confusion within the SLPP and many are still of the view that it was politically motivated taking into consideration the fact that there were huge indifferences between him and some top guns within the SLPP who saw him as a threat to their Presidential ambition.
Many also believe that the then ruling party did very little to protect him.

The late Norman commands great deal of respect and support particularly in the southern and eastern province of Sierra Leone.

He was regarded as a national hero for standing up to the rebels who were trying to oust the elected government of President Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.