The conclusion of the two-day SLPP conference in Freetown which succeeded in separating the positions of Leader and Chairman has not in any way solved the deepening leadership crisis within the party.
It was commendable that the recent constitution has given authority to the various facets of the party i.e. Youths and Women’s groups to separately elect their representatives to the national delegates’ conference.
Understanding the dynamics of how political parties work especially when they are equally entrusted with state responsibilities is a herculean task.
There is always the tendency that people who are entrusted with managing the activities of the party tend to overlook such responsibilities especially with regards maintaining unity and cohesion.
The SLPP in the first one year and almost ten months rule has failed to hold its rank and file together.
A vacuum has emerged in the various party structures either as a result of the party officers taken up positions in government or as a result of the fact that there are wider divisions or hate within key members in those units.
Key party functionaries including Dr. Prince Harding and many others who have what it takes to bring those units together are themselves marginalized or sidelined.
This has frustrated them in taking on the much needed campaign to unite the party.
As the government becomes more older one is sensing a very wider division in which the President is bringing in more easterners and former military people into governance leaving the true blooded SLPP people and this for them (the true blooded) SLPP the Delegates’ Conference is the only place to vent this anger.
Some had even insinuated in their small corners that it is not the SLPP that is ruling? They might be joking.
The initial mistake of appointing party officials to state positions crippled the Party Secretariat whose role should have been to address the wider party divisions that had marred the party prior to the March 2018 elections.
The Party’s Secretariat should have been strengthened just after the elections to be able to harmonize all factions that have reared-up their heads for the leadership positions.
Mind you President Bio won the party’s leadership position in a deep seated acrimony and even when he won many were still of the opinion that they would not bow to his leadership.
Significant amongst these are John Benjamin, Bernadette Lahai, John Karimu and many others.
The leadership and experience of these individuals is very much needed in the SLPP.
President Bio would not have time for this but whosoever would have undertaken such a role should sense the readiness of the President in strengthening and consolidating peace within the party.
But as we approach the 2023 race the SLPP is getting more divided rather than consolidating its grip on power.
Many political pundits have speculated that the SLPP would have to deal with a very serious internal problem rather than the external in consolidating its grip on power.