After days of delays, Chernor Maju Bah is now running mate of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), but debates and arguments take centre stage. For many members, nerves have now calmed down, but Chief Samuel Sam Sumana’s stance is not yet known. But, reliable sources say Chief Sam would likely declare for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) to seek solace.
It is yet to be confirmed as none of his officials have been contacted. It also remains unclear whether the former Vice President ever had an interest in the running mate status. He has, all-time long, eyeing for the party’s flag, a factor that prompted him to urge top APC officials to reinstate him. He appears as the fittest candidate as maintains a clean slate.
He is among few APC politicians whose names do not appear in the list of corrupt officials. Series of attempts were made to reinstate him, but such moves suffered abortion. They were challenged and foiled by APC’s top cream sometimes resulting into litigations. The contempt charge for which Alfred Peter Conteh was dragged to court hinged on his attempt to reinstate the former Vice President.
Conteh narrowly escaped imprisonment after he was convicted of contempt of court. The marginalisation of Chief Sam Sumana in the APC’s affairs is a real test for him at the moment. It is a real test as APC wanted to know exactly how Chief Sam’s response would look like in coming days. Will Sam Sumana declare for SLPP? Will he go back to his party, CFC? Will he remain in the APC?
These questions have formed part of the public discussion in no small measure, but answers are not yet available. However an experienced APC politician who preferred anonymity has expressed his views on the much-discussed topic. For him, this is the time for the former Vice President to display political maturity.
He said if he were Chief Sam, he would go nowhere. He would stay in the APC, talk to his people and campaign in the Kono constituents for the party. This is also the time for Chief Sam to establish good rapport with Dr Samura Kamara, APC’s newly elected flag-bearer so that the party can bounce back to power after June, 24 elections. The former Vice President should meet with the men he grew up with in Kono, go to the towns and villages with robust campaign messages to make APC an admirable and loveable entity.
He must look at APC’s good side, package and market its policies, programmes and actions to the people. The party can take pride in fine legacies left behind by the APC which Chief Sam can use to canvass for votes in Kono. The good roads and tarred streets, electricity, Free Health Care policy among others are areas the former President could capitalise on while campaigning his people. Despite inroads SLPP is claiming to have achieved in Kono, the ruling party has not gone without weaknesses.
The removal of an electricity generator that caused continuous blackouts in the town, and the brutality meted to Kono people when SLPP took over power in 2018 are reference points. With such steps, Chief Sam will be seen as one that is worth working with, and capable of healing old wounds and making new friends. Even before Chernor Maju Bah was appointed, Kono had borne deep grudge for the APC if any of their sons or daughters were marginalised by the party.  APC’s decision to have Chericoco as running mate instead of Chief Sam or Diana Konomani resonates with the cries of the Kono.
Many APC members say Chief Sam would have been flag-bearer today if he had remained in the party without forming CFC. Several quaters are calling on the former Vice President to resist the temptation of declaring for the SLPP, a party that withdrew security details from him, withhold his benefit and relegated him to the dustbin.
He must also resist the temptation of falling back on his brainchild, the CFC as scorn and humiliation would definitely come his way. The only and ultimate option available to Chief Sam is to work with fellow comrades to bring back APC to its glory days, and look to the future with hope. Chief Sam should make the maxim be part of him that it is not yet over until it is over.