APC’s 2028 Victory Hangs On The Flagbearer Choice

Titus Boye-Thompson, Accra Ghana

In a world where everything must succumb to the popular narrative, politics remains a bastion of the corrupt, the ugly and the disdain. The life of a politician is not one to gloat about, because it is a life fraught with blame and intimidation, but when the currency of engagement is power and authority, that politician, who wields much of it, becomes a demigod, undeterred by any limitations, but believing in his invincibility, would have you convinced that all of his own ideas are right and the rest be confined to the dustbins of history. It was Lord Acton, a British historian, politician and writer, otherwise known as the 1st  Baron Acton, who famously intimated that “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”, as he warned about unchecked power and authority and the danger of such behavior leading individuals astray. In his day, the power of social media was unknown, so he would never have imagined how deeply the unchecked use of authority would engulf a nation in such levels of  corruption, or how an individual with supposedly much power and influence over others can be led astray to play “GOD.”

However, as in all things, power and authority are but a passing glory, we are reminded in the Holy book that “all  is vanity.” The recent burial of Nigerian former President, Muhammadu Buhari, in a 3ft shallow grave wrapped in nothing but the colors of his national flag, must remind those who wield power and refuse to relinquish it, that they are but dust, and to dust shall they return.

Power from beyond the grave?

when the reality of transient power sinks in, those who refuse to walk away and retire honorably, refusing instead to hang on by some sliver of authority they weave over those who succeed them. This is the sad problem unfolding in Sierra Leone, where the former President, Chainman and Leader of the All People’s Congress, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, still considers himself to be of such importance in the party that in his own words, the erstwhile flag bearer of the party, Dr. Samura Kamara, “failed to consult him” prior to reaching a decision to meet with the sitting President when he was summoned from State House. This riposte, part of the now infamous “ruminations of a dwindling statesman” during an alleged private telephone conversation” that both sides knew was being recorded, and for which the former Chairman and Leader, a usually silent observer, changed tactics and went public, became a lesson in disgust, as the statesman was heard riling against the conduct of his own people in ways that should never have come from a man with whom state secrets are entrusted.

Chairman and Leader, a victim of betrayal or antagonist

When the now much maligned “private call” with the well known social media blogger, M S Bangura of the Rapid Hunt Unit became public, many were amazed that the former Chairman and Leader, whose decision it was to singlehandedly promote Dr. Samura Kamara as flag bearer at Makeni in 2017 against the protestations of his party elites, could have come to such a public forum to disclose such private antagonism against Dr. Samura, as if he has been betrayed by the man he built up from nothing. It must be noted that even as the audio went viral, Dr. Samura Kamara kept a stoic silence, acted as a true gentleman and refused to be drawn, even in private, on any of the issues raised by his former boss and colleague.

The truth is that Dr. Samura Kamara holds a deep respect for Dr. Ernest Koroma and this trend to vilify him by the man he knew as a political Godfather, was treated with quiet disdain. However, true to the man’s inner beliefs and his obligation to keep his dealings secret, as the well respected Freemason that he is, Dr. Samura would never stoop to such lows as to engage anyone contrarily on the matter. Many blame him for that stance, but those who know the man truly understand him. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is like a brother and a friend to him. Their interests shall always be the same, even if they disagree as to method, and Dr. Samura Kamara would never depart from his obligation to his former boss.

Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara was never a novice

Though many were quite unhappy at the choice of Samura Kamara as flagbearer for the APC in 2017, it soon became apparent that considering the internal conflicts and distension that were creeping up leading to the Makeni Convention, that choice, even though made deliberately to hurt others, had in it a clear advantage that the person selected by the former Chairman and Leader was in fact one of the team. Many in the APC, especially those who also contested for the flagbearer position, became convinced after careful consideration that Dr. Samura Kamatra was indeed a compromise candidate that held out hope for all of them to continue in service to the Party and government. Unlike some who are now parading youth and agility as characteristics of leadership, with no experience of public responsibility, not to talk of party engagement at elected official levels, Dr. Samura Kamara came to the APC flagbearer as a senior officer from the World Bank, a seasoned public servant, Minister and diplomat, who had served all modes of Government in Sierra Leone’s recent past, both  civil and military, SLPP and APC. Dr. Samura was known to all stakeholders at the helm of the last Government as a fair and disciplined Minister, who took his responsibilities seriously. There was every chance that his first Government would have mirrored that of former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s. The essence of his proximity to the last  government said much of his fealty and political savvy, which made it very easy for him to endear himself to the public in such a short time. His masterstroke was during the Presidential debate between himself and Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio. His answers were seen as forthright and sincere, so much so that the debate worked in his favor and all the more reason why it was never repeated during the 2023 elections, which he subsequently and undoubtedly won.  Comparing Dr. Samura with someone like Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, Jagaban or other more junior Ministers who served under him, is a non starter. Dr. Samura has a pedigree that these people do not have, a sense of what the APC grassroots require from their leader that they are only now beginning to grasp, and a sincere and forthright character that none of them could mimic.

Dr. Samura Kamara’s stature in contemporary politics in Sierra Leone is only matched by the achievemnts of the likes of Alhaji Samuel Samsumana, Kelfala Marrah and Richard Konteh. These could be termed the frontrunners, all the others are mere runners. It is for these reasons that many lament the disengagement between Dr Samura Kamara and the APC Executive, or better still, those who want to disabuse the Party’s governance structures to keep it tied to demagoguery. The APC must fight alongside Dr Samura Kamara for “electoral justice,”  otherwise the winning that we so much envisage in 2028 will turn out to be a mirage, a figment of our collective imaginations, and that is why we are sounding the alarm bells now. The SLPP will never hand over power to the APC without a very bitter battle. It is the duty of the APC to take over power by peaceful means at the next elections, and the only way to do that is to be united behind a leader who has proven that he can beat  the SLPP at any elections they supervise, hands down!