As a democratic government in waiting, the All Peoples Congress (APC) party must go on. Despite the extant electoral justice campaign led by the current flagbearer, the party as an institution has statutory obligations that it must abide by or maintain.
It is expected that the party’s leadership structure must or should change as the nation marches to dictates of time and progress. For this, the party must have or conduct internal elections to elect this new leadership cadre irrespective of the outcome of the vote; that is, if the people choose to vote for change or retaining the incumbent partisans. There has to be lower level elections to reflect the present local and global realities or expectations, hence the need for the party to register its members.
Indeed as a society that is changing the needs and expectations of this generation are far different from those of the 90s down. Political parties and their leaderships have to change to admit or acknowledge this reality.
Therefore the present battle to ensure electoral justice by the flagbearer and his supporters should not and must not be allowed to stop the APC machinery, the internal government, from progressing and changing to the signs of the times.
As a constitutional democracy, the party’s government expects, as per constitutional provisions, for the head of state, after two terms, and the flagbearer, after two tries or attempts seeking the office of the president, to both step aside and make way for a new leadership cadre to emerge.
It is a fact that the focus of the APC as a party has shifted from Dr Samura Kamara and his fight to protect the people’s votes. The hope now is that the party’s leadership will not fall into the wrong hands as is the case in the SLPP. The APC executives and grassroots supporters and members are together hoping that the party’s leadership structure will be made up of true democrats who are guided by respect for and obedience for the rule of law and constitutionality.
Things and times are rapidly changing and the APC executive and leadership must reflect these changes. All over the world, especially in leading democracies, even China, their populations are ageing. Meanwhile Sierra Leone’s population is a majority of young people; we have a youthful population. The APC leadership is expected to reflect this demographic shift.
The party’s rear guard, the people we call the party’s elders, are not put to the pasture. They are not a bunch of failed or washed up politicians. Far from that they are the ideological and moral compass of the party. Under their leadership and direction the new leadership cadre that is expected to emerge from the delegates’ conference and the lower level intraparty elections will be expected to run the party based on its longstanding policies and ideology. The party’s elders and ex officio members are there to ensure that the APC leadership of this present generation does not water-down or compromise on the party’s mission and vision, which forms the basis for the party’s integrity and credibility. The reasons why people love the APC must not change with a new, vibrant, young and dedicated leadership. The new faces in the party’s leadership structure must either be mindful or be reminded of their obligation to maintaining the party’s philosophy going forward.
The year is 2024. This year, this decade and present local and global reality are all different from years gone by. The needs of this generation are different from what obtained before and during the warring years. All over the world we see the older generation of leaders stepping back to give younger professionals who are respected and loved by the party’s grassroots the chance and opportunity to step up and lead.
Much closer to home the Senegalese people elected a young man that they believe represents the hope and image of the new generation. The Sierra Leonean youth of today want to see replicated here at home what they see on social media and films in other countries. They believe that with an effective and accountable leadership that respects the rule and procedure of law that allows for true separation of powers in governance where duty bearers will operate in the true spirit of independence of their terms of references, they believe that Sierra Leone can achieve and attain to any society the world over.
Therefore the days of champagne leadership is over, the days of presidents for life, of leaders who see their positions as birth rights, who flout the rule of law and democratic traditions just to maintain their grip on power, are all things of the past. The APC executive wants a leadership that is liked and respected by the grassroots that will give the SLPP regime the trashing they always get in free, fair and credible elections cycles. The days of executives till thy kingdom come is over, chairman and leader for life who meddles in the affairs of the party thereby negatively impacting on the peace, progress and development that the party and country as a whole needs. There should never be an attempt of people in the present leadership of the country and the parties to attempt to hold the party, the people and our laws hostage.
Therefore in respect for constitutionality, in high regard for the rule and procedure of the law, and the old making and giving way to the new, the APC show must go on. The party’s machinery cannot be allowed to stop. It must be oiled, greased and geared up to meet the demands and expectations of the times.
In the struggle of the APC, there is victory. Losing two electoral presidential cycles cannot deflate the party as the party is fully aware of how those victories were won.
The party is preparing to bounce back from the 2018 and 2023 loses. It is now gearing up for 2028 with eyes wide open for there not to ever be a repeat of 2023. Lonta!
