By Forum staff writer
The ongoing public exchange between Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, and All People’s Congress APC lawmaker, Hon Osman Timbo, intensified on Monday as Timbo rejected allegations made against him and questioned the political standing of the chief minister.
Speaking during a media engagement at Radio Democracy, Hon Timbo said he does not consider himself on the same political level as Dr Sengeh, arguing that the chief minister has never won an election in his life. According to Timbo, his own political journey is rooted in electoral victories dating back to his school days and continuing through his emergence as a Member of Parliament, a position he said he earned through the votes of the people.
Timbo maintained that Dr Sengeh currently occupies his office solely by appointment and is benefiting from an opportunity granted by President Julius Maada Bio. He argued that while appointments are lawful, they should not be equated with the legitimacy that comes from winning an election. He therefore called for an end to what he described as unnecessary comparisons between himself and the chief minister.
The APC lawmaker further described Dr Sengeh as an administrator rather than a politician. He claimed the chief minister operates strictly on directives from the president and does not possess an independent political base or record of contesting and winning elections. Timbo insisted that this distinction must be clearly understood by the public when assessing recent claims and counterclaims.
Hon Timbo said the allegations reportedly made by the chief minister, in which Dr Sengeh accused Timbo and Dr Khafila Marray of influencing former APC flagbearer Dr Samura Kamara to act improperly during the Tripartite Committee discussions. Timbo categorically denied the accusation, describing it as false and misleading.
According to Timbo, at no point did he or Dr Marray force or coerce Dr Samura Kamara to take any position during the talks. He said the former presidential candidate is an experienced politician and statesman who is capable of making his own decisions without pressure. Timbo accused the chief minister of attempting to rewrite events surrounding the Tripartite process for political convenience.
He further stated that the Tripartite discussions were complex and involved multiple stakeholders, both local and international, making it unreasonable to single out individuals for decisions taken collectively. Timbo urged the chief minister to focus on his administrative responsibilities rather than engaging in what he called political distractions.
The exchange between the two senior figures has drawn significant public attention, reflecting the broader political tensions between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the opposition APC. As the debate continues, observers say the comments highlight deeper disagreements over political legitimacy, accountability, and the role of appointed versus elected officials in Sierra Leone’s governance.
