Abstract
AUTHOR: DR. S.S. MARRAH [D–GENERAL]
[Expert In Security, Strategy And Foreign Policy AnalysIs]
This piece attempts at critically analysing the criteria set in both the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution and the 2022 APC Constitution with regards the respective sections/articles dealing with Presidential Candidates and suggest that the criteria enshrined in both constitutions are too flexible. It furthered that, as a result of such flexibility, every politician thinks they are qualified to be President even though they lack the competence and moral high ground to do so. By deconstructing the Liberal Paradigm, the piece explores complex governance issues and essentialises anticipatory governance challenges and caution that the office of the President cannot afford to be reduced nor compromised to mediocrity and absurdity.
The simplistic, permeable and scrawny nature of the APC Constitution arguably served as a recipe for the scramble for flagbearership within the APC Party. Without being prejudiced and with all due respect to the Framers of the 2022 APC Constitution, a critical review of the said constitution – it can be argued, is perforated and riddled with myriad of challenges inherently exposing the party to vulnerability, susceptibility if not extreme liability. The frequent and persistent dissatisfaction by party members and their tenacious complaints [to the PPRC] against certain actions and inactions by the party Secretariat partly underscores and illuminates this assertion.
It is glaringly glittering if not obviously conspicuous to note that the only stringent prerequisite or criterion enshrined in the 2022 APC Constitution as requirement for contesting for standard-bearer is articulated in Article 56 (b) which states that, “for a member to contest and be eligible to be voted for, that member must have been a registered paid up member of the party for a continuous period of not less than five (5) years leading up to the date of the flagbearer elections he seeks to contest in”. Even the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone to say the least is neither stringent nor rigid in terms of criteria for a Presidential Candidate. Section 41 sub-sections (a-d), states that for one to contest as a Presidential Candidate in Sierra Leone, he/she must be; a citizen of Sierra Leone, a member of a political party, has attained the age of 40 years and is otherwise qualified to be voted as a Member of Parliament.
Examining these standards and benchmarks as enshrined in both the 2022 APC and 1991 Sierra Leone Constitutions, obviously suggests that the criteria and canons set by both Constitutions are malleable and flexible for attaining the utmost office in the country. The 2022 APC Constitution and the 1991 Sierra Leone Constitution in terms of requirements set for Presidential Candidates; can be seen as two sides of the same coin [which for now] do not negate one another. Such compassionate and overly simplistic democratic tenants inadvertently orchestrated to democratise the leadership process is effectively preposterous and it is the starting point of producing debauched and depraved leadership for the people of this country.
Such excessively rudimentary democratic propensity of both Constitutions (APC 2022 & Sierra Leone 1991) has fundamentally led to the proliferation of Flagbearer Aspirants within the APC. Since 2017, the number of APC Flagbearer Aspirants has exponentially skyrocketed; some of whom have absolutely no business to do with Flagbearership in the first place. We know and we know all too well, that among the myriad of Flagbearer Aspirants, those that have the competence, temperament, strategic vision, emotional intelligence, proven administrative and leadership track record with esteem moral and ethical fortitude.
To dream of becoming a Flagbearer of the APC, meant that you want to become leader of the APC Political Party. Nevertheless, the profound question is – do they truly know what it entails to be the Leader of the APC – which is not just another political party but the APC? The Leader of the APC must require institutional knowledge, consensus building skills, strategic vision, high integrity and public trust. The Leader must have proven track record of strategic decision making, adaptability, active listening ability, resilient, empathetic and a good team player with the ability to unite and concretise not only the APC party but the country as a whole.
The final echelon of dreaming to be the Flagbearer of the APC is to become the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Let me draw your attention! Sierra Leone is embellished with critical security and economic issues including but however not limited to: inter-connected perennial issues sprouting from post-conflict and fragile statehood, characterised by youth protuberance and unemployment, acute poverty, health and synthetic drug crises, inflation, currency depletion, over reliance on the extractive industries, endemic corruption, stunted economic growth, deforestation and territorial disputes with the Republic of Guinea. Becoming President in 2028 is a herculean task which requires a thorough and steadfast leader set and ready to roll out visionary plans from day one. There will be no time for honeymoon because the current economic situation in the country is so appalling and coalesced with the expectations of the people; we must start delivering results from day one.
Having said that, [as a Flagbearer Aspirant] – if you are a true patriot, true to your conscience and the APC, honest to the people of Sierra Leone, knowing very well you lack the proficiency, efficacy and competence, why vie for the flag of the APC when you do not have the strength, energy and stamina to carry the flag to STATE HOUSE in 2028. Independent dispassionate scrutiny suggests that, out of the 20 or more Flagbearer Aspirants, there are only six to eight competent presidential like, administratively battle tested Aspirants in the APC who will not only win the 2028 Elections but can meritoriously deliver this nation from the current abysmal wreck.
It is no marvel that the APC Party Stakeholders, Elders, Veterans, Critical Thinkers and Political Pundits – perhaps Journalists, Civil Society Activists and even the Grassroots have been pondering and cogitating why all this rush, push and pull for flagbeareship within the APC at this critical point in time. Why not trim the number of Aspirants to eight or even six and reduce the superfluous expenditure and de-escalate the menace and tension within the party? From 2017 to date, it appears there is no panacea for the vicissitude and psychomachia of the APC Party albeit the challenges been so perspicacious.
From a more conspiratorial perspective, it is largely purported and rumoured that, most of the ‘known-unknown’ and ‘unknown-unknown’ Flagbearer Aspirants are only in the race for them to be recognised by the leadership; so that in the event the APC wins the 2028 Elections, they will be rewarded Ministerial or Ambassadorial positions. Considering the number of Flagbearer Aspirants in the race, it therefore meant that, all the high profile positions will be LOST to people who haven’t sacrificed enough for the people and the party and who have little or no acquaintance with the Grassroots; as it is currently prevalent and demonstrated in the President Bio administration [albeit different circumstances]. This will not be tolerated in the next APC administration. If you want to be President, be one – but if you fail and come for high profile positions that are merit based – you will be disappointing yourself. You are advised!
Do not get me wrong, there are Flagbearer Aspirants who under any circumstance, will be appointed as top Ministers or Ambassadors based on their proven track record and performance – but those that use the Flagbearer race as a political short cut or as a Trojan Horse or as a mendacity to get high profile appointments will have to wait for another Flagbearer race. One will agree with me that, political overtaking is a political traffic offence and must be nipped in the bud.
Some of the ‘known-known’ Flagbearer Aspirants are fanatically overzealous, imbued with excessive self-esteem, compulsive obsession and egocentrically calibrated to the extent that, they think without them as Flagbearer for the APC Party, they prefer the party to lose in 2028. Why do they want to position their self-interest above that of the APC Party? No matter what, no one is bigger than the APC Party.
Cautionary Advise
Having argued so far, it is prudent to ascertain that the APC comes first before any individual in the party; and so therefore, no one should feel aggrieved to the extent of undermining the winning of the APC Party as some of them did in 2018 and 2023 Elections. If you are not elected in the forthcoming National Delegates Conference in Portloko, please roll up your sleeves and continue the fight to bring the APC back to power. Let us cast aside personality conflict, self-affirmation and focus on APC victory in the forthcoming election. Whoever emerges as winner in the Delegate Conference should be accepted by all and sundry in the name and spirit of the APC; because ’in the struggle of APC, there is victory for us’ – not just the Flagbearer but the APC Party in particular and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone in general.