In politics especially in mass parties, everyone matters particularly heavyweight politicians who can add value to the party during elections.
Main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) is a mass and not an elitist party and that everyone’s contribution is needed for the party’s success.
It has been mooted in several quarters that the Cross-Party or Election Investigation Committee would likely recommend either a rerun or fresh election at the end of the day owing to the non-cooperation of ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone) with the investigators.
It is therefore high time APC became a united force to face the challenge in case an election is held either 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 or 2028.
In a press briefing held last Wednesday at the party office, the APC rep, Dr Kaifala Marrah informed APC members and supporters that ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone), the prime target for the election probe, has failed to produce the much-demanded data and the election results, and there is no sign that they would fully comply.
According to analysts, if Konneh’s resistance continues, the investigators would likely recommend a rerun or fresh election and the party needs unity now or never as it prepares for another election.
All old politicians with the required experience should be sought in readiness of a future election.
By its nature and practice, APC is a complete opposite of an elitist political party since it caters for the interest of grassroot persons and not that of highly placed persons in society particularly the political and the economic elites.
The party bears element of a socialist or communist ideology identifying itself more with the downtrodden men and women of society and not those at the top.
In perfectly democratic states, the vote of an illiterate carries the same weight of the vote of a professor implying that everyone should be brought on board to pursue a common goal.
Most of APC’s heavyweight politicians left the party after the June 24, 2023 elections owing to marginalisation, internal controversies, conflicts and disagreements that nearly paralysed the party in the face of political intimidation and harassment by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Former Vice President, Chief Sam Sumana and the likes of Bode Gibson, Herbert George Williams and many others, are no longer active in the party for some time now, and the APC executive has made little or no effort to bring them back.
Chief Sam and the two politicians, Gibson and Williams as well as many others still command an arousing popularity within Freetown, the nation’s capital and other parts upcountry, but have kept low profile over the years as no platform has been created for them to showcase their political strengths.
Apart from Chief Sam which is an household name in Sierra Leone, George Williams and Bode Gibson too are popularly known within Freetown municipality. They have successfully served the municipality as outstanding mayors and their achievements still linger in the sands of time.
Mayor Williams could be credited for the construction of a clock tower which has been the admiration of many within and outside Sierra Leone. Located at the city centre, the tower caught the eyes of many within and outside Sierra Leone.
In its completion phase, a delegation from the West African country of Gambia visited Sierra Leone to see firsthand what features of the Clock Tower they could adopt to beautify their own country.
The former mayor also initiated the SALAD GROUND market project to take petty traders off the streets. The building is today nearing completion although he is no longer at the seat. Other valuable projects are also to his credits.
His immediate successor, Bode Gibson also played his part for the beautification of Freetown especially the initiation of the new Freetown City Council Hall project.
The hall is now in full swing after its completion by the current Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer as it hosts most of the council’s offices.
Like Williams, Gibson is also left out of the party with many other politicians who have worked hard for the party in years gone by. Next in the list of neglected politicians is
Former Vice President, Chief Samuel Sam Sumana who has been made to join the ranks of those marginalised politicians despite his weight and political strength.
He is still being discriminated against despite frantic effort to come back to his old party.
Chief Sam, in early 2021, wrote a letter to APC leadership signaling his return after spending four years out of the party.
The former Vice President did not see his application letter as an end in itself, but played an important role to see APC back to State House by participating in most of the party’s important functions as well as those of the state.
Chief Sam was the first opposition politician to visit a fire accident scene in Wellington community in Freetown where over 100 Sierra Leoneans were burned to death following a tanker explosion in November, 2021….
At the scene, he was highly empathetic with the bereaved families who he encouraged to put the past behind.
At the accident scene, he remains unruffled in his comfort to the victims even when he was a bit provoked and taunted by then police chief, Ambrose Michael Sovula.
Chief Sam, despite government reprisals, also stood firmly with his former boss, Ernest Bai Koroma following a number of attempts to arrest the latter over corruption and money laundering offences.
The former President felt a bit relieved to see a man who he had once asked out of the Vice Presidential office around him in time of distress and trouble.
Chief Sam put up the greatest preference for APC by reconciling with his former boss, a factor that led to the disarmament of his guards by the Bio regime.
Overnight, Chief Sam became a prime target for the security forces as seen in the firing of teargas canisters when he visited PortLoko town in the Northwest region.
The former Second gentleman could also not see eye-to-eye with President Bio following his return to the APC as evidenced by the cruel treatment meted to him by the Bio regime. Of all past government officials, Chief Sam Sumana is the only APC official who is yet to receive his gratuities and privileges of a former Vice President.
Despite the hard times, he still stays loyal to his party and is not in the mould of Koroma’s handpicked Vice President, Victor Bockarie Foh who abandons the former President in times of danger.
When the Biobele Georgewill Commissions of Inquiry were in progress, Victor Foh was blunt in urging his former boss to answer to his allegations saying “no one is above the law” although he knew that Koroma maintained a clean slate.
Foh also crossed over to SLPP and permanently remained there with scathing allegations against his APC comrades who he constantly referred to as thieves and ‘Ayampees’ in his public speeches whenever he accompanied President Julius Maad Bio in his local tours.
By his utterances, one would be safe to say that Victor Foh was among misguided politicians who emboldened the Chief Electoral Commissioner to rig the elections in favour of the ruling party. During campaigns, he assured SLPP members and supporters that SLPP would win the elections at all cost, and his forecast came to pass.
On the other hand, Chief Sam never put down APC in preference for another party not even his own party, the Coalition For Change (CFC) which he formed as a form of resistance to his political victimisation.
In spite of huge funds and effort placed in CFC, Chief Sam wasted no time in abandoning his party when it was time to fight SLPP in the polls.
However, Chief Sam Sumana never chose such path as he vilified no one even when he knew those who fuelled the bad blood between him and his former boss resulting into his eventual expulsion from the party of his forefathers. Chief Sam was born and bred as an APC and would always remain APC in the midst of difficult and turbulent circumstances. He could take the back seat when enemies go after him but sure to come back when the row is resolved.
Many local and international media treated such political decision from Office of the President with utmost seriousness being aware of its negative impact on the security of the state drawing their experience from South Sudan where a rift between the President and Vice President plunged the country in serious security crises.
On the contrary, Chief Sam placed an absolute trust in the rule of law as he challenges his removal in the court, and called on his constituents to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
He also demonstrated love and loyalty to the party by humbling himself and comforting those who had been unfairly treated by government.
Many APC members saw his vigorous campaigns to ensure that Honourable Khadijatu Davies who lost her seat in a petition return to parliament to represent her people.
Those APC politicians working from behind the scenes for the party’s well-being should be reached as there is no room for complacency.