The controversy around June 24, 2023 elections is taking a new dimension as one-time good friends no longer see eye-to-eye.
Former President, Ernest Koroma who entrusted Samura Kamara with the portfolios of finance and foreign affairs and later selected him APC (All People’s Congress)’s flag-bearer no longer supports him in his bid to get back the party’s stolen victory through “electoral justice.”
While Ernest Bai Koroma says “the June election is over,” the opposition leader and presidential candidate, Samura Kamara says “the election is not over until it is over.” A shiny redline seems to have been drawn between the two political giants.
If APC grassroots members go by Ernest Koroma’s declaration, all must disengage and retire to their trenches and wait for 2028 elections to contest, but with a thin hope of APC coming again to power as President Julius Maada Bio says he will never hand over power to APC, a stance supported by SLPP stalwarts and grassroots members through the mantra of ‘from PAOPA to GBAGBATI.”
On the other hand, Samura Kamara on whose head the crown lies frowns at anyone praying for the game to end since his life on the knife edge. The APC flag-bearer risks incurring the wrath of APC grassroot members if they suspect him of working out a compromise plant with State House. The people know that Bio is good at signing documents but poor at implementing, and Samura Kamara is standing up with the people.
Kamara has repeatedly made it clear that the June election is not yet addressed, and the struggle for “electoral justice” must continue unabated until justice is done. Samura Kamara is quite hopeful that “electoral justice” will see him take the reins of state command if put into effect to the letter.
Recently, he called on the international community particularly the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) on whom the responsibility to restore democracy in Sierra Leone has been bestowed to act now.
According to the United Nations Security Council, ECOWAS should use all means possible to restore democracy in Sierra Leone be it peacefully or forcefully.
The two contrasting statements by the two giants means Koroma and Kamara are two opposing forces, a factor that cast a long shadow on APC (All People’s Congress)’s future.
The former President and the current presidential candidate have followers who are ready to do the bidding on behalf of their leaders at any time situation arises.
But, at the moment, Dr. Samura Kamara has more followers than Ernest Koroma owing to the variance in the struggle to restore democracy.
The former President who is currently in exile made what many called a sad declaration at the height of a campaign for “electoral justice” as proclaimed by the opposition leader.
In what appears to be a spitting of venom, the former President directly accused Samura of lies and deception of the commoners warning him not waste the people’s time.
But, propaganda, hatred and revenge rings a bell in Koroma’s accusation as he also accused Samura Kamara of inciting his bloggers to insult him although the former President offered no evidence to support his claim.
With no hesitation, Sierra Leoneans were lately taken aback by Ernest’s latest statements on what many see as the most controversial election ever seen in Sierra Leone’s history.
By all standards, he wanted to expose Samura Kamara to mob justice while he enjoys a safe and comfortable stay in Nigeria so that President Julius Maada can continue to tighten his grip on power at all cost and against all odds.
But Koroma ran out of luck as the people clearly read between the lines of his statements, interpret the meaning and they go after him.
The APC grassroots members, few days ago, sternly warned the former Head of State not to step his foot in Sierra Leone or gets their anger for what they see as sell-out and an act of betrayal.
However, Samura Kamara who is widely seen as a man of few words is yet to respond to Ernest Koroma’s allegations made against him especially the one dealing with sponsoring bloggers to insult the former President.
Many APC members who see Samura Kamara as a seasoned diplomat observes that he would not degenerate to such polemics which they see as a distraction.
It is widely believed that even if he responds, he would do so in a polite and civilized manner, but there are no more questions about the strained relationship between him and his former boss.
As the bad blood between APC’s top politicians ensues, the people of Sierra Leone still doubt Ernest’s action in choosing Samura APC’s flagbearer in 2018.
But, analysts who have been closely monitoring the situation have strongly argued that Ernest’s decision to have Samura Kamara as flagbearer in 2018 was not make him President but an agent of transition.
Known for his excess humility and docility, Samura Kamara was expected to accept Ernest’s appeal for the second time even when they know that it is the last chance for him.
If Samura misses out this election, that would be his last chance as age seems to be no longer on his side. But, it is clear that Samura Kamara would not listen to Ernest Koroma at the detriment of eight million Sierra Leoneans.