By Joseph A. Kamanda
Sierra Leoneans the world over know very well that this country has only two traditional political parties: the All People’s Congress (APC), and the failed ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party – SLPP.
These two political entities have for far too long dominated the political space with their recycled politicians since Adam and Eve, providing little or no formidable solutions towards addressing Sierra Leone’s socioeconomic challenges. Rather, they always celebrate exchange of power from one failed regime to the other, that is from SLPP to APC.
Since April 27, 1961, there has always been the culture of failed regime of recycled politicians, except for the current opposition, APC, whose records can at least point at certain legacies left by late President Siaka Stevens.
On the contrary, the grand old party, the SLPP, well known for its political leadership failures since it was founded to date, is trying tirelessly to consolidate its grip on power, a reason for the unchecked bad governance backed by flagrant state sponsored corruption.
There is no need to ask why President Julius Maada Bio sacked cabinet ministers and others frequently. Is it because of the last-gasp efforts by ministers, deputies, directors, commissioners and the like to make smart moves for rainy days?
The Chief Executive Officer of the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone at ‘Fort Thornton’ can certainly provide multiple answers to the legitimate concerns and questions regarding the fight against corruption, the Feed Salone initiative, the failed energy revolution, the dilapidated infrastructure, poor fiscal and economic management, to mention some, concerns he pretends to fix.
Bio knew very well that he cannot fix such concerns but promised the gullible masses in 2018 and in 2023. The political promises have not been for the last seven years; and he has recently made it clear that he cannot change things in Sierra Leone at all.
The acknowledgement of state governance failure under the Bio administration came from the horse’s mouth probably because the messenger, the State House Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh of the Radical Inclusion, has not delivered it well as initially instructed by Bio.
The CEO himself has made it clearly to the world that he has failed the nation for the second time: first under the NPRC, and now as President of Sierra Leone.
Dr. Sengeh, whiles addressing a meeting at State House, said even if Jusus comes down on Earth, he would not change Sierra Leone. Sengeh’s non-leadership statement, backed by his boss’ recent admittance of state failure, is proof that the Bio-led SLPP regime has failed the nation, his family, the SLPP party and his entire generation.
Amidst the growing confessions by leading state actors, approximately 85 percent of Sierra Leoneans are confident of a political transition come 2028, with the APC democratically forming the next government. Citizens have gone through the governance crucibles in the hands of the SLPP in the last seven years, and can now barely stand the imposing economic pressure from Bio, and majority are sure that the APC will deliver them from current political quagmire come 2028.
The minority who want continuity with a transfer of power from Bio to another SLPP leadership realize that there is no way such is possible considering the current misrule and harrowing economic hardship.
However, one thing the APC and SLPP should always bear in mind is that no matter how well any of the parties deliver, after a specific period of five or ten years, pwer will change hands.
As good dancer, a leader and his/her party should not be told to leave the stage, but respectfully exit rather than be reminded by the audience. Such has so far been the modus operandi since the return of multi-party democracy in 1996 to date. And so shall it be moving forward.
So, no one party is allowed to occupy the seat of power for too long, especially when bad governance speaks for itself with the people’s popular call for a change for the better.
Hence, Bio and his team of failed bad governors should be folding up their files in preparation ahead of 2028 as they should not be allowed to be told to leave. The remaining thirty-three months left is exactly three years for the Bio-led SLPP regime to exit political power and bring to an end power-drunkenness, not to mention the CEO’s voracious appetite for airplane and dry overseas travels.
Kabbah and Koroma exited peacefully. Similar compliance is also duly expected from Bio.
In a political culture in which a third force hardly survives, the current main opposition APC must put its house in order, go to the National Delegates’ Conference, elect a winning Presidential candidate and brace themselves up to take the national responsibilities of state governance come 2028.
