SAWN Trending: And the Rat Race has begun: Are the hopes of Change Guaranteed?

Shebora S. Kamara, Amadu W. Jalloh, Ibrahim M. Mansaray, and Ernest Y. Tarawallie

A

fter several shift of dates for national delegates’ conventions of Sierra Leone’s two major political parties, the Ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and its main opposition—Sierra Leone’s People Party (SLPP) — have finally resolved into holding their conventions on the same dates (14^th & 15^th October,2017) though at different towns and regions of the country: the APC resolved in hosting theirs at their newly constructed party office in the Makeni-Magburaka highway, one of biggest (if not the biggest) and most magnificent party office in the West African region; whilst the SLPP did their convention in a private owned Hotel “Catco” situated along the Wilkinson road, Freetown.

The competitions internally were tough in both parties and from different camps. Key among the SLPP presidential flagship competitors were Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, Dr. Alie Kabba, Amb. Bond Wurie, Eng. Munda Rogers and Mr. John Oponjo Benjamin; and key for ruling APC party were Dr. Kaifala Marah, Amb. Alimamy Petito Koroma, VP Victor Bockarie Foh, Hon. Minkailu Mansaray, Mr. John Bornoh Sesay, Mr. Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Esq, Lawyer Kalokoh, Dr. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Dr. Alhaji Alpha Kanu and Dr. Samura Kamara.  

Remarkable all this while had been the drama from within the parties and the struggle between its candidates. The SLPP for instance saw the breakaway of head honchos that had accumulated large followership at both party and national level. Key among whom are Dr. Kandeh Koleh Yumkelah (KKY) and Eng Andrew Kailee. Their defection from SLPP was described by many political pundits as a traumatizing moment for the SLPP, which could either make them or break them. The APC is not an exception to struggling moments. Fortunately for them however, theirs took a different tune and did not result to breakaway of key officials. The biggest challenges however for the APC are both citizens recent dissatisfaction over the seemingly economic crises the country is experiencing resulting to massive unemployment and increased cost of living for citizens; and of course the trending hajj-gate and toll-road project. 

Observers in the SLPP convention commended the process as being a free and fair democratic one held through direct voting system, whilst the APC did theirs through a consultative selection process by the chairman and leader of the party and the party’s National Advisory Council (NAC), which process its party stalwarts deemed democratic as well so long as it meets party constitution standards. In a nutshell, both were highly praised for a peaceful process and so far positive reaction(s) from all contenders and their supporters.

Nevertheless, it was a breath-taking moments especially in the ruling APC. It was clear from observation that the suspense had only remained in the APC party owing to its stringent constitution which literally place the faith of the party and contenders in the hands of few party stalwarts (NAC) headed by the chairman and leader of the party—the sitting president and head of state HE Ernest Bai Koroma—thereby making backup supporters’ braggadocio unserviceable to any aspirant come pronouncement day.    

Those of us who stay in Makeni witnessed the massive display of posters; rallies peaceful joggings, and festivities, some with prices attached for the youth participants, organized by different contenders of different camps. Flag bearer aspirants did all they could in order to either appease the chairman and NAC or to make the event a memorable one. Honourable Petito was rumoured to have imported customized chairs from China bearing the party’s symbol for decoration of APC’s Office in Makeni; Dr. Marah is also rumoured to have emulated Dr. Samura Kamara in taking up construction cost for APC’ Kabala Town Office, and so on so forth. Literarily, they all did their best to appease the party hard-core membership.

For a time it looked as if the presidential flag bearer of the APC would not escape the circle of the popular 5 (out of 28 contenders): Dr. Marah from Koinadugu, Petito from Kambia, Alpha Kanu from Port Loko, John B. Sesay from Kamabai, and Zainab H. Bangura from the Tonkolili. Things became more dramatic and intense when the APC flag bearer contenders converged in Makeni. Few of the backup supporters could ever again see or ride along with their contender, especially during the daytimes. Actually not even their drivers or personal bodyguards could render them the services they may desire in the daytimes. Everything was catered for them by NAC and the Party Chairman and Leader. And perhaps to also show unification of purpose and intent, or, as some have put it, to show them who is still in authority, they were at some point in time in the beginning of the program asked to embark the same bus by the APC leadership to be transported from Wusum Field to their new district political party office. In the end, for whatever reason it was, they conceded. In what many have described unanticipated or flabbergasting, especially those not conversant with the APC 99 tactics, the selection committee (sorry, I erred NAC and APC Chairman and Leader) favoured Dr. Samura M. W. Kamara (Minster of Foreign Affairs and International Coorperation) as presidential flag bearer with Honrable Chernor Mahmud Bah aka Chericoco (Deputy Speaker of Parliament). Well, I would have to admit, few could have guessed this shocking and yet unquestionable pronouncement made by HE the President Ernest Bai Koroma, bearing in mind the efforts and resources expended by the most expectant aspirants listed above (well, owing to the unsubstantiated calculations of backup supporters  in the township of Makeni, extensively Sierra Leone, I want to believe).

The result from SLPP on the other hand, did not make news when hours later announcement befitting wide spread speculations of the citizens was made favouring Rtd Brig Julius Maada Bio as presidential flagbearer of the party for March, 2018 general elections. The only thing that result brought to the hearkening listeners is a state of suspense. This has partly being exacted by the blend of candidature brought forth by the APC which many have stereotypically started referring to as bait to capture the voting population of the somewhat discriminated Fula community— a paradigm which if proven true could promote hegemonic tendencies bad for democracy and state unification transcending ethnic and regional divides. Opinions around the choice of candidature for running mate in the SLPP are divided about the need to either balance the seemingly absurdity created by the APC when it appointed honourable Chericoco as running mate to Dr. Kamara with the appointment of Alpha Timbo (a revered Fula man, too) as running mate, or talking Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkela into recurring with the party he has defected. Both options if endorsed by either side could go a long way to define the nature of the canvassing process for the 2018 general elections and its outcome.

And yet the question as to whether such a selection or election of flag bearer candidate for both parties could guarantee the hopes for change stands. There are those who believe in the need for of third force; those who question the unpretentiousness of the choice for candidature pronounced by HE the president Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma of not bearing any conspiracy intent to surreptitiously push the “more time for the pa” propaganda; and most importantly those who look up to a progressive nation united under one leadership free of any ethnic or regional bias.   

Meanwhile we ask the question as to whether the decision of one time famous good governance journalist (David Tambayo) to join/declare for the APC is a call for concern to those who dream or strongly look forward to a third force to undo/replace the legacies (tribalism, nepotism, regionalism, hegemonic rule and stark development due to corruption and gross misappropriation of funds) of the two oldest political parties of Sierra Leone); or best still, whether the candidature choice of the two (the deliberate process of selecting  and electing Samura Kamara and Maada Bio, respectively, by the APC and SLPP) means that the wind of change is blowing to unseat these old grand parties by third forces (could either be for Mr. Mohamed Kamaraimba Mansaray’s of the ADP, or Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella of emerging National Grand Coalition, or Lawyer Charles Margai of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change). Is there more to the choice of presidential flag bearer and running mate pronouncement made by the Chairman and Leader of the APC HE the Presidents Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma than we know or think about? Does the choice reverberate with APC stalwarts’ much propagated agenda for more time, third term for the “PA” in a more technical manner? A narrative and rhetoric despised by many who feared its consequential damage to a fragile state which has embraced democracy only recently after a bloody 12year Civil War. And finally there are those nationals who had hoped (and may still be hoping though) that for once the APC and SLPP finally chose someone with the vision, zest, and experiences to vie for the presidency come March 2018 and lead the country in its supposed course free of regional or ethnic divide.  

Nonetheless, the decision to effect change in whatever form or range is now our choice to make as citizens of this country. We could now either choose to stay tune to the radio and making good and meaningful use of other media outlets/channels to find answers and ask questions as to the records and intentions of our intending leaders from all parties; or we could just follow blindly, putting tribal or regional sentiments into the elections, and allow justice and truth to become secondary to patronage system.  

© SAWN 17^th October, 2017