Struggle to retrieve APC (All People’s Congress)’s stolen votes is above Samura Kamara, a veteran opposition politician has told this press. It makes no difference whether he accepts or rejects government’s request to stop down as the international community stands together with the people of Sierra Leone.
Kamara is APC’s flag-bearer and presidential candidate in the June-24 election whose stalemate has considerable undermined the country’s peace and security, and getting out of the mess remains one of the biggest struggles at the moment.
The old politician, Alim Bangura who was responding to an interview says the power to decide whether Bio should get away with the stolen mandate does not lie in Kamara’s hands, and should not be seen as the man with the solution to such problem.
“It is a sad mistake for SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) politicians to think that Samura Kamara alone can stop APC’s fight to take back the election victory from the hands of the ruling party. Samura Kamara does not have such power today, tomorrow and at any time as he is voted in by delegates in the party and later by the people of Sierra Leone,” he said. For every decision especially an important one, the APC flag-bearer has to consult with other members of the party for a unanimous decision,” Bangura further stated.
He says not even former President Ernest Bai Koroma can solve the election stand-off unless the right thing is done as prescribed by the three-day mediated dialogue.
A look back at the period immediately preceding the conduct of the June-24 election shows the patience shown by the APC leader who pointed out several irregularities that should be fixed in the interest of peace and stability.
On the election eve, he drew ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone)’s attention to the harsh legal frame work, non-publication of data, improper voter verification and registration process, printing of substandard and faceless voter ID cards and the appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh.
Konneh heads ECSL, a body mandated by law to conduct and supervise free, fair and public elections in Sierra Leone.
But, by his disposition throughout the conduct of the election, Konneh has played no fair role as he tilts the scales in favour of the ruling parity ignoring most of the demands made by the opposition.
In ensuring victory at all cost for the ruling party, Konneh manipulated the electoral legal framework by amending existing laws and enacting new ones for the incumbent to have a smooth ride.
It was in the same year that the Political Parties Regulation Commission, Local Government, Public Elections and Proportional Representation regulations were made just a month to the elections prompting tough feedback from the regional bloc, ECOWAS.
Government went ahead with the laws despite heavy criticisms from ECOWAS parliament, a move that showed President Bio was ready to ride roughshod by any one standing on his way. Sacked Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema used to echo that “SLPP will crush at anyone who stands their way to victory.”
One after the other, the manipulation continues, as the voter register became a skeleton in the cupboard, sub-standard and faceless voter ID cards printed in spite of US$11m provided by the international community and improper registration verification exercise among others.
Repeated Calls by opposition politicians for rectify the irregularities were rejected outright with Konneh having his own way.
Now, Sierra Leone has been taken to a dangerous situation in which the opposition leader and international bodies discredit the election results as transparency is absent at stages of the electoral process, and a probe is the only way out at the moment.
The probe should have commenced last Monday had there been decorum in the country. The election investigation is a product of a three-day peace deal brokered by Commonwealth, ECOWAS and African Union to end a post-election stalemate that has reversed gains made over the years.
But, accusations against authorities that they are not ready for the probe are widespread owing to the snail pace at which the process is moving.
The recent attacks on the military and police facilities is also a setback to the election investigation with many saying it is another way to evade responsibility. If the APC leader, Bangura says, is to end the stalemate for Bio to continue in office for another term, he has to face the people of Sierra Leone and the international community who have suffered much of the brunt of Bio’s alleged interference with the elections.
Even ahead of the Commonwealth mediation, Sierra Leoneans have wanted to see either a run off or rerun of the elections so that a real winner of the June elections could be ascertained.
The calls for run off or rerun continued even during the deliberations. Several others did not even want Samura Kamara to take part in the dialogue owing to fear that Bio would not respect the demands of the communique, and the fear is now crystalising as the composition of the Election Investigation Committee is yet to be agreed on.
While the committee calls for a three-way leadership to include only members of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) and Development Partners, government has included other bodies such as the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, the Peace Commission and other civil society organisations.
By bringing other bodies not provided for by the communique, government hopes to get support from those appointed when it comes to voting, but it is a move heavily criticised by the people of Sierra Leone claiming that it is a way of undermining the move for electoral justice.
Credible sources have intimated this press that government participated in the dialogue with no open mind and sincerity as they were quick to sign but slow at implementation.
However, opposition politicians have intimated this press that SLPP was lured into accepting the communique to get the US$500m laid on the table by the United States Government.
While signing the communique, SLPP politicians hope that everything would be rosy once APC parliamentarians and councillors take their seats in parliament and councils, but it became a big disappointment for them.
United States Embassy in Sierra Leone put out a press release that the funding cut remains intact until the election fraud is investigated. Members of the diplomatic community also flexes their muscles to ensure that the election investigation begins and ends within six months with recommendations expected to be published at the end of the process regardless of looming security threats.
The readiness to look into the fraud was shown by the UK diplomat, Lisa Chesney who is on government’s neck to honour their commitments in the communique. Ambassador Chesney, few days ago, reminded government’s signatory to the communique, Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh about the need to speedily investigate the fraud and assured him of UK’s support to the investigation effort.
“Now, more than ever, commitments made in the peace dialogue must be implemented to benefit all, and the United Kingdom is ready to work with and support Government of Sierra Leone and all stakeholders in the process,” the UK diplomat assured government.
At the moment, it remains unclear whether government would adhere to pressure by the international community. As it stands, Sierra Leoneans are in big doubt as to why government would not like to see the fraud looked into.
APC, on the other hand, wanted to see the investigation carried out as they met with the UK High Commissioner quite lately with a stance that the November-26 armed attacks should not overshadow the pending election investigation.
“We have agreed that the events of 26th November, must not derail the election investigation,” APC appealed as they appreciated the UK diplomat for her effort in getting to the truth.
With a thorough probe in the alleged fraud, APC politicians are sure of taking back state governance in the name of national development.
As the investigation remains pending, members of the international community have come together against Sierra Leone by withholding funds from the country.
The EU, UN, Commonwealth, African Union and other Development Partners have ceased financial support to the Government of Sierra Leone until the truth comes out, and Samura Kamara cannot stop the international community and the people’s will.