A panic-stricken SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) is showing intense fear for a run-off in the up-coming 2023 elections. Scared by a second round, the ruling party’s main strategy is to use violence and thuggery to intimidate voters or go around political parties that possess the numbers for political favours.
In a meeting in Lokomasama Chiefdom in PortLoko district, an SLPP member has threatened to brutalise anyone who betray them in 2023 elections.
“This time, we mean no joke. We will beat up any person that betrays us [fail to vote in for SLPP] in the coming elections,” the SLPP member threatened colleague SLPP members. The language of betrayal remains absurd as the people ask about what improvements have SLPP brought to the people of Lokomasama chiefdom.
In what appears a show of civility and decency this time, SLPP’s leadership has discountenanced and dissociated itself with the threats. A press release dated 5th March, 2022 indicates SLPP’s dissociation from threats of thuggery
“…The SLPP hereby swiftly condemns the recorded threats of that of our supporter, and we apologise to the peaceful people of Lokomasama,” the press release reads in part. The press release went on to state that the “reprehensible” threats of that single supporter is not representative of the party’s views.
“SLPP has always prided ourselves in peace and unity and would not deviate from that under any circumstance,” a portion of the press release also states. The SLPP secretary-general, Umaru Napoleon Koroma called on SLPP supporters to comport themselves within the spirit of peace.
He is highly hopeful that their achievements would campaign for them in any election. Koroma’s call is to support his supporters that the party would not use violence to win elections. The scribe’s comment came after SLPP leadership laid hands on a video in which a perceived SLPP supporter threatened to use violence against other SLPP supporters in Lokomasama, PortLoko district should such supporters vote for any party other than SLPP. The people of Sierra Leone were not convinced with the press release as most say it is only meant to cool down troubled waters, an APC (All People’s Congress) member says. The APC stalwart, Abu Bakarr Kamara (not his real name) argues that if SLPP is a peace-loving party, why do they still retain a violent man, Abu Abu as resident minister for northeast region? The question is just too tough to answer.
Kamara made reference to APC’s publicity secretary, Sidi Yayah Tunis who was recently detained in a police cell for fair expression of his views. For fairness sake, the Lokomasama politician who issued threats of thuggery should also be arrested. SLPP has lately fallen into violence through which they achieve their political objectives. The party witnessed stabbings and killings in the eastern districts of Kenema and Kono where fatalities have occurred quite lately.
The fatalities usually emanate from minor political disagreements especially over support for rival politicians in the party. Killings and stabbings also took place in the northern district of Koinadugu in a bye-election contested by SLPP and APC about two years ago. Machete-armed SLPP youth reportedly inflicted injuries on residents there to make them comply although the ruling party lost the seat.
Thuggery at Constituency 110 in western-rural district is still fresh in the minds of Sierra Leoneans during a bye-election contested by Honourable Kadie Davies of APC and Joe Jackson of SLPP. SLPP thugs allegedly attacked NEC (National Electoral Commission) staff and destroyed election materials to have their way. Although the ruling party employed various forms of violence, the seat went to APC.
Little difference exists between what happened in the above-mentioned districts and in Tonko Limba in the northern district of Kambia. A person was strangled to death by SLPP thugs, a move that did not go down well with APC, but powerless. The party could not do anything about the violence as the police are under an SLPP capture. Government on whom the people depend for protection does nothing to bring violent men to the courts because it is their men. The culture of impunity is deeply ingrained in youth especially during electoral periods.
It goes without saying that it is extremely painful to be in opposition in Africa especially in Sierra Leone where ethnic and political divisions are just sharp and apt. The list of violent chapters of the ruling party remains inexhaustible.
SLPP, once a peaceful party turned violent following the introduction of ‘PAOPA’ ideology (The rule through force). The youth readily imbibed the violent ideology hoping to preserve the party and to secure political victories. The scale at which the violence is perpetrated causes one to think whether the party leadership is in control or insincere with their promises of peace during campaigns.
SLPP believes that if violence or coercion fails, political manipulation won’t. SLPP is now going around political parties with the numbers at the earliest possible time for political compromise.
The party’s aim is to ward off a defeat in the polls. For SLPP to achieve its objective of victory, Alpha Khan and Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella have been key targets. The former is ex-Minister of Information and Communication while the latter is the founder and leader of the National Grand Coalition. SLPP greatly hopes that the two men would transfer their votes in an event of a run-off. President Bio has won over the two northerners who seem ready to do his biddings in their political domains.
The former minister who adopted the fond name of ‘Apprentice’ would be Bio’s key campaign machine in PortLoko when the whistle is blown for the 2023 polls. With Khan, President Bio hopes to realise his political dream in the northern district of PortLoko and its surrounding villages. Bio’s dream has always been to get a council and parliamentary seats in the northern city.
In most of his visits to PortLoko, President Bio is known for saying that the people of PortLoko have failed to give him, at least, a councillor. This time, a difference is possible. Although Yumkella has not wanted to come out clean, his moves in recent times have shown that he would go back to his root. Yumkella who was highly critical of Bio’s administration is now singing songs of praises for the SLPP. The NGC leader was with President Bio on his tour to Kambia over a week ago. By such commitment, information is filtering through the public that Yumkella may be the next running mate for 2023.
Should President Julius Maada Bio fail to avert a run-off, he would be in for a sad history. No incumbent President since 1996 has gone for a run-off during elections.
In 2002, President Ahmed Tejan Kabba of blessed memories won a landslide as incumbent. The late President was the most successful incumbent contender in post-war Sierra Leone. The votes, at that time, were a perfect reflection of the people’s love for him after he delivered on his key promise of ending the war.
The same thing also goes for former President Ernest Bai Koroma who overwhelmingly won the votes in 2012 for his second term. The former President successfully returned to power as many say he delivers on his campaign promises.
Bio
Meeting heads of political parties at this time is move that very well operationalise the maxim that the early bird catches the warm. But, it would likely not work as 11 political parties have currently crossed over to APC.