As Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, prepared to step down in 1990, his close advisers were alarmed. They urged him to either remain in power for life or handpick a successor, his son Lee Hsien Loong. However, Lee Kuan Yew was resolute in his belief that true leadership meant allowing free and fair elections to determine his successor. He warned that imposing a successor would undermine his legacy and risk everything his party and country had achieved. Today, Singapore remains prosperous, with Lee’s party still in power, winning election after election.
In contrast, former President Ernest Koroma manipulated the APC’s flagbearer selection, imposing Samura Kamara as his successor. This undemocratic decision led to two consecutive electoral defeats for the APC, a party now in disarray, with Koroma in exile and his legacy in tatters. The lesson is clear: imposing a successor can have disastrous consequences.
The SLPP now stands at a similar crossroads. As President Maada Bio’s term draws to a close, the party must decide how to select its next flagbearer. The temptation for those close to the president might be to shield him from harsh realities and only offer comforting advice. However, for Bio to protect his legacy and ensure the continued success of the SLPP, the flagbearer election must be free, fair, and transparent.
Allowing the grassroots to choose their leader will energize the party, uniting it for the 2028 general elections and setting the stage for an overwhelming victory. Conversely, if the president and his advisors repeat the mistake of imposing a successor, they risk dividing the party, leaving it vulnerable to APC attacks and potentially undoing all the progress made under Bio’s leadership.
It is imperative that the SLPP’s leadership avoids any machinations or undemocratic maneuvers. The Constitutional Review Committee must act responsibly and avoid any temptation to undermine the party’s established democratic processes. If government resources are used to support a preferred candidate, it will only weaken the party and expose it to defeat in future elections.
To safeguard the SLPP’s future and ensure its continued success, the flagbearer election must be conducted with fairness and transparency. This is the only way to protect the party’s legacy and keep it strong in the years to come.
(Green Brigade Communication Network)
