By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay

The political landscape of Sierra Leone has been marred with controversies and scandals, especially over the last decade. One such scandal has revolved around Samura Kamara, the Presidential candidate of the APC and former Minister of Finance. Samura Kamara was once seen as a beacon of hope in Sierra Leone’s political world, but his actions have caused many to question his integrity and loyalty to the people of Sierra Leone. The question on everyone’s mind now is, why should we give him another third time to run for the presidency?

Samura Kamara is not new to politics in Sierra Leone; he has been an active player in the country’s political scene for decades. He was appointed Minister of Finance by former president Ernest Bai Koroma, a position he held for several years. During this period, Kamara was applauded for his efforts in stabilizing the economy and for his contributions to national development. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was accused of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

In 2018, Samura Kamara ran for president on the platform of the APC. He promised to take Sierra Leone to greater heights and to build a better future for the people. But it seemed that Kamara had other plans. After losing the election to Julius Maada Bio, Samura Kamara went on to sell his influence within the party, campaigning against his own party and openly associating with the ruling government. This move was seen as a betrayal by many APC supporters, who had put their trust in Kamara.

Now, with the election cycle once again coming up, Samura Kamara has expressed interest in running for president. But the question on everyone’s mind is, why should we trust him again? Why should we give him another chance to govern our beloved Sierra Leone? If Kamara was willing to betray his own party, what stops him from doing the same to the people of Sierra Leone?

It is time for Sierra Leoneans to wake up and demand accountability from our leaders. We cannot allow people like Samura Kamara, who have already shown their lack of integrity, to continue leading us. We need leaders who are committed to the welfare of the people, leaders who will put the country’s interests first and not their own. We need leaders who will be transparent and accountable, leaders who will earn our trust and respect through their actions and not just their words.

Samura Kamara’s actions have caused distrust and disappointment among Sierra Leoneans. He has betrayed the trust of those who believed in him and has shown that he cannot be trusted to lead. Therefore, we must stand firm and demand for better leaders, leaders who will put the country first and not their ambition. As Sierra Leoneans, we must learn from our past mistakes and choose wisely in the upcoming elections. We cannot afford to give power to those who have already failed us.