Until 2023 post-election is resolved, the people should not think about 2028 polls if democracy is to be strengthened and the rule of law made to prevail.
Over three years after the 2023 general elections, the issue of rigging is still fresh in people’s minds, and they are calling for either a rerun or transfer of power through the tripartite recommendations. Majority of Sierra Leoneans hold the view that there would be no election in 2028 if the results of the 2023 election are not counted, and if counted, they must show a true winner.
This view is supported by many Sierra Leoneans who think the country first in the model of “MY COUNTRY, MY RESPONSIBILITY.”
In his enlightened moment, Osman Foday Yansaneh, the Secretary-general for the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) says “we will never get it right if the 2023 election issue is not resolved.” In a similar voice, the 2023 presidential candidate, Samura Kamara says he will not fail or falter in the pursuit of truth about the 2023 election with the Krio mantra “WUSAI WE HOLD, NAR DAE WE HOLD.” The Krio parlance means the APC members stick to the plan of retrieving their election, and nothing will distract them from the central issue.
But, in fighting for the party’s election victory, Samura Kamara says he will do it within the confines of the law and calls on his supporters to follow the law.
The determination to show who wins the election gives birth to the Electoral Justice Movement (EJM) which is founded and led by Samura Kamara himself.
The EJM, by all accounts, is a struggle to regain APC’s election victory through peaceful means and likely bring to justice those who play significant role in rigging the 2023 election.
Currently, the EJM remains a pressure group within the APC whose members still flex its muscles to take back what belongs to them.
It operates under the mantra of ‘GIVING CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR.’
Sounding in the same tone, EJM spokesman, Alhaji Mohamed Warrisay explained why the people of Sierra Leone should not be bothered about 2028 election when 2023 election is not yet over.
Warrisay also called on his constituents to look up to the leader, Samura Kamara until such a time they would come out and say they are tired.
At that stage, he says, he will know what line of action they would take to bring back their electoral victory. The EJM spokesman further assured the people that all documents had been signed, and that the political transition was at hand.
Warrisay made it clear that President Bio is only trying to throw dust in the eyes of his people as Bio stands on slippery grounds. The President is trying to satisfy his people in the SLPP, and at the same time appeases the international community.
Bent on tapping the largesse of state power, SLPP members and supporters hate to see Bio transfers power to the APC regardless of the consequence.
The international community has always worked for a smooth transition of power as they hold the view that in a democracy, the will of the majority must be respected and that everyone must follow the law.
In his recent address to lawmakers, President Bio assured the people of Sierra Leone that he was ready to transfer power, and had been fully committed to the implementation of the tripartite recommendations.
On the other side of the coin is APC’s top cream who are vehemently opposed to the presidency of Samura Kamara.
The great majority of APC leaders are not willing to accept Samura Kamara as President after signing all documents relating to the tripartite agreement. They see Kamara as a stranger in the party.
As if to sway the people’s minds away from the planned political transition, senior APC politicians currently embark on lower-level elections to have a full-fledge executive that will take the party to the next National Delegates’ Conference.
Almost all party officials have been elected, and it only remains the national executive officers and a flag-bearer.
Statements uttered by APC leaders also indicate their position towards Samura Kamara who they have always wanted to see stepping down after 2023 election.
While in exile, ex-President Ernest Koroma said the June 24, 2023 election was over and that Samura Kamara had to forgo everything.
Koroma described Samura Kamara’s participation at the negotiation table with SLPP politicians as a terrible blunder.
The former President emphasised that dragging the opposition candidate to a peace deal after an election was the surest way to resolve a post-election stalemate.
In support of Koroma’s view, Lansana Dumbuya says the 2023 election is a “spilled milk,” implying that everything is over. Dumbuya has been quite insistent on the six-month clause of the APC constitution which states that a presidential candidate who loses an election should step down after six months.
Officials of the party’s publicity wing are weak links as they have been incapable of educating the people about their role in the struggle to bring back the party’s victory.
Instead of fighting for the party, APC’s publicity secretary, Sidi Yayah Tunis says “the 2023 election is done and dusted,” and that the people should look up to the 2028 election.
Another official in public relations unit of the party, Minkailu Koroma says “the Tripartite Committee is not here to remove President Bio,” and that the party does not intend to pursue such agenda.
Honourable Zainab Catherine Tarawallie said the Tripartite would not remove President Bio from power but ensure electoral reforms in Sierra Leone.
Perhaps, the worst comes from the erstwhile APC Chairman, Minkailu Mansaray who says over his dead body for Samura Kamara to become President of Sierra Leone.
He watered down the importance of the Tripartite Committee, a platform through which Samura Kamara would become President.
“Let the Tripartite Committee carry on their work, while we do ours here,” he told a crowd of jubilant supporters at the party headquarters.
At the moment, the people wait to see which group will prevail over the other. Is it members of the electoral justice fighters or other APC members.