By Big Brother Robinson Sesay Snr
In any healthy democracy, leadership is held accountable not only by the people but by a vibrant and vigilant opposition. The opposition is the moral compass of governance, the counterweight that challenges mediocrity, and the alternative that keeps ruling parties in check. Sadly, Sierra Leone finds itself at a critical juncture where the absence of such an opposition is enabling a crisis of leadership to fester unchecked.
It is both troubling and surreal that in recent times, the Head of State and the Chief Minister have publicly made statements suggesting; whether by direct admission or subtle implication, that they lack the capacity to effectively run the country, (evidences of their utterances are all over sicial media platforms). In stronger democratic systems, such confessions would be cause for national alarm and serious political consequence. In fact, such statements would be sufficient grounds for a motion of no confidence or even impeachment.
Yet here we are, business as usual. The leadership remains comfortably in place. No official probes. No serious parliamentary challenge. No mass mobilization from political rivals. This speaks to a much deeper crisis: the disturbing weakness of the opposition in Sierra Leone.
When those in power admit failure, the response of the opposition should be swift, responsible, and strategic. But what we see is an opposition that is disoriented, fragmented, and at times more interested in internal power struggles than in offering credible leadership to the nation. Instead of being a force for national renewal, it has become a footnote in the political narrative: reactive rather than proactive, emotional rather than strategic.
This absence of a sober, well-organized opposition emboldens underperformance and enables misgovernance. It leaves the average Sierra Leonean without hope of meaningful change. People begin to believe that leadership is a fixed game, one where elections are formalities, and real change is out of reach.
A true opposition should not wait until the next election to act. It should be active every day; presenting alternative policies, engaging the public with clarity, and most importantly, holding leaders accountable when they fall short. It should be the mirror that reflects the truth, even when it is inconvenient. And when national leaders confess their own limitations, a strong opposition should treat that as a call to duty, not an opportunity to issue press releases alone.
Sierra Leone cannot afford to treat this moment lightly. Our challenges, from economic hardship and youth unemployment to governance failures and the erosion of public trust, require leadership that is capable, honest, and driven by a sense of urgency. If the current administration cannot deliver on these expectations, then the onus is on the opposition to prove that it can. If it fails to do so, it becomes complicit in the national stagnation.
Now is the time to rethink the role of opposition in our country. It must move beyond rhetoric and embrace responsibility. It must stop waiting for power to fall into its lap and start earning the public’s confidence through action, vision, and unity.
The future of Sierra Leone depends not only on who leads, but on who is willing to challenge leadership when it fails, and who is prepared to take over with clarity and competence when the time comes.
