Recent and current trends have crystallised a defeat for the ruling SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) in 2023. The adage coming events cast their shadows is relevant here. This article looks back at signs that have predicted an SLPP defeat in 2023. SLPP is always known to be in possession of the cash and cache to make headway during elections. Where the cash fails, the cache will not fail.
But, most times, both fail lending credence to the notion that it is the people’s will that is supreme in a democracy. The cash and cache methods started in the days of Vice President, Solomon Ekuma Berewa (late). The late Berewa ambitiously eyed the Presidency between 2006 and 2007, a time President Ahmed Tejan Kabba (late) was ridding into the sunset.
It was clear that Berewa contemporaneously employed the two methods. During the campaign period, late Berewa spent fabulous sums of money to win over the electorate. The money spent remained unaccounted for till his death over a year ago.
Traditional leaders especially paramount chiefs were the main recipients of Berewa’s money.
But, the money was not free; it was meant for a purpose which is about winning the elections at all cost. The late Berewa reportedly had a bitter encounter with Paramount Chief, Kamanda Bongay (late) when huge crowds in the southern city of Bo greeted former President Ernest Bai Koroma , Berewa’s main challenger at the time.
Chiefdom speakers too benefitted from Berewa’s magnanimity. Section and town chiefs also got a fair share of the cake. Berewa’s campaign was taken more to rural communities than city and urban centres.
Accompanied by campaign money was brute force and oppression against anyone who stood on Berewa’s way to become President of Sierra Leone. The brutality showcased at a time Berewa’s convoy was blocked at the entrance of Christ the King College Secondary School in Bo.
Media and police reports indicated that PMDC (People’s Movement for Democratic Change), under Charles Francis Margai, carried out the blockade. Berewa’s move at that time was to see a lethal police response regardless of consequences.
But, the police displayed tact and professionalism to disperse rowdy crowd unhurt. Berewa was not pleased with this high-level professionalism which he saw as a sell-out. Senior police officers on the ground met their contemptuous treatment for what was referred to as failure to protect the Vice President.
The Regional Police Commander at that time, Chief Superintendent Amadu Kaikai was humiliated and immediately transferred at Mano River Division at Gendema, extreme southern Sierra Leone. The Local Unit Commander, Superintendent Karrow Kamara was was posted at Anvil Division at Lungi international Airport.
Almost invariably, OSD (Operations Support Division) Commander, Mr Francis also followed suit. The transferred officers were immediately replaced with Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Desmond Buck (late) and Foday Umaru Daboh, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
PMDC leader, Charles Francis Margai was arrested and arraigned before a magistrate in Bo city. He was slammed with 11 charges of riots and disorderly behaviour. The charges were subsequently dropped owing to want of evidence.
Apart from the use of brute force, subtle methods of oppression were also used by the Berewa campaign. Teachers perceived to oppose Berewa’s political ambition were suppressed. Their names were deliberately deleted from payment vouchers as a way to make them accept the Berewa ideology.
Those teachers who were members of COMTOSS (Concern Movement to Support SLPP and Berewa) enjoyed the political largesse. COMPTOSS was a movement that vowed to see Berewa become President of Sierra Leone.
Except slight difference, the tactics adopted by VP Berewa were almost the same as those employed by today’s Bio administration. The New Direction, under President Bio is making use of the cash, cache and adjudication to make his way for a second term. In most instances, the New Direction has failed in using all three tactics.
Immediately the New Direction came to power in 2018, SLPP vigorously contested for a councillor seat with the main opposition APC (All People’s Congress) in the home of President Julius Maada Bio, Bonthe. Despite money spent and intimidation used, APC prevailed on the SLPP, a move that angered the President.
It was a terrible situation for SLPP and President Bio for such a situation to happen. It never happened in the days of former President Koroma for an SLPP candidate to win a seat in his hometown of Makeni. In Constituency 110 in Freetown, APC and SLPP contested for a seat declared vacant by the judgement of a high Court in Freetown.
In the elections, the cash and cache methods were also employed. Money and thuggery overshadowed the elections. Millions of Leones was poured into the campaign, and terror unleashed to political opponents. Truckloads of SLPP thugs led by a notorious thug nicknamed ‘ARATA’ terrorised election officials.
Election materials were also destroyed. A culture of impunity reigned for the SLPP thugs. Top APC members including a former minister were arrested and charged with felonious offences while the thugs were let loose and free. They were later released without a verdict as to whether they were guilty or not.
The election was nullified because an SLPP defeat was imminent. The cancellation of the results did not go down well with the main opposition APC and the National Elections Watch, a local elections observing body.
The two entities had wanted to see the election results counted. They are of the view that although there was violence at some polling stations, the violence did not warrant a cancellation of the entire results. It was a call the New Direction would not answer quite easily.
After a long delay, SLPP Government ordered a re-run of the election. APC also prevailed on the SLPP despite the presence of top government officials and threats of violence. In the recent bye-elections for local council seat at a constituency in Wellington community, APC also emerged stronger.
SLPP was completely vanquished.
In the just-concluded SLFA (Sierra Leone Football Association) election, a government sponsored candidate, Kofi Sadik Deen Nyakoi disgracefully lost the elections regardless of the huge dollars that went into his campaign. Expectations of most Sierra Leoneans were ruined after Nyakoi lost.
The New Direction has also used a number of litigations as methods to frighten the opposition. The arrest and detention of Dr Sylvia Blyden, Alfred Paolo Conteh, Karmoh Kabba and others were part of a ploy to intimidate the opposition for political advantage.
It is about testing waters for 2023. These tactics also failed to work. APC is growing stronger every passing day. Considering the strength already gathered by the APC owing to past record, the question of how SLPP would win 2023 election forms greater of public discussion in the country.
A member of the public has said, without any doubt, that one of these methods: the barrel of the gun, violence or rigging would be used.
But, resistance could not be ruled out.