As President Julius Maada Bio is yet to announce a campaign chairman, reliable sources have informed this press that the President is performing that function. Office of Campaign Chairman is central to any political party, and the occupant must be a tough political strategist. The person’s political experience, contact and clout either local or international should not be in doubt or question. The campaign chairman also directs the deployment of financial and logistical resources during campaigns to ensure an electoral victory. He takes the praise if the party wins and goes with the blame when the party loses.
It happened in 2007 and 2012, when SLPP lost the elections to APC, the campaign strategist took a fair share of the blame.
It is now two years after the party’s convention was held in Bo city in the South, and no reason exists for the ruling party to go without a campaign chief at the moment.
It is not clear whether the President is ready to relinquish that function to any member of the party or is trying to beat the time.
The absence of campaign chairman is reaching boiling point in the party since the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) have chosen a campaign chairman about a week ago.
A former parliamentarian, Honourable Kombor Kamara is the substantive campaign chief for the APC, and has hit the ground running days after his election. If APC has a campaign strategist, what SLPP whose convention has taken place for years.
Why does Bio still hold the title of campaign chairman? How long will he remain in that post? Have donations started coming in? Is Bio working out a transition?Is Bio and his wife trying to be in control of campaign resources in the party?
These questions are the most frequently asked, but no answers have been provided. The fourth and fifth questions have however seem to have generated the greatest discussions among public and private quaters.
The question of weather President Bio is managing a transition is being discussed much frequently. It is indisputable that a party that wanted to win elections would have a strong campaign chairman at the shortest time possible. It should not wait for the eleventh hour when situation might have gone out of control.
Since Bio took over power in 2018, he has always assured his SLPP comrades that he would ensure that his party remains in power after June 24, 2023 elections. He would not hesitate to inform members at gatherings that he would no longer hand over power to civilian rule as he did in 1996.
President Bio was Chairman of the defunct National Provisional Ruling Council, a military that ruled for four years after the then APC government was toppled.Bio who usurped power in a palace coup conducted elections within three months, and handed over power President Ahmed Tejan Kabba of blessed memory.
Bio however saw this move as a great error that he would not repeat as a civilian head of state. Without giving much thought to such attention-catching statement, a huge majority of SLPP members have resonated with Bio’s promise. However, fear and panic seems to have gripped SLPP members as the international community appears as if they were working out a regime change strategy in Sierra Leone.
Signs and symptoms of change of government are visible and compelling.
Frequent meetings between the diplomats and APC politicians especially former President Ernest Bai Koroma, diplomats’ deployment in a booth during a parliamentary bye-elections in Tonkolili district, the call for credible elections and the pronouncement by EU Ambassador of a zero-tolerance on rigging among others are signs of a change of government in June.
Bio too has held talks with the international community, and their discussions are closely guarded secrets. In December last year, President Bio was part of a group of six African leaders who were warned by US President, Joe Biden to accept the election result even if they lose. The fundamental requirement of an election, President Biden says, is to accept and congratulate the winner, and that is one of the building blocks of democracy.
To many Sierra Leoneans, it is clear that Bio will go out of power after June.
His latest strategy of holding the post of campaign chairman goes in support of what many others have been saying. On the other hand, some SLPP members have found it difficult to accept arguments in favour of a regime change. They choose to endorse notions of those from the resource side.
The President and his wife have been accused as cherishers of wealth and power, and this might be their last chance. They would therefore not play with it or delegate such function to anybody in the party. Sources say the President is assisted by his wife, Fatima Bio in the dispensation of the functions of campaign chairman.
In such capacity, any donations made will go directly to the first couple. The first Lady minced no word while on an SLPP Women’s forum in the United States that she would accept any money that came her way. “I am a woman, if anybody gives me any money, I will accept it,” Mrs Bio said.
Without delays, the President and his wife are now in their campaign trips upcountry.
The pair are criss-crossing the country in secret campaigns even before the whistle is blown hiding behind the cloak of pads distribution and thank-you tours.
For 2023 Elections… Bio Is SLPP’s Campaign Chairman
