By Sorieba Sillah
What has the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) learnt from its history? Can the very history repeats itself?
The New Direction Government of Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is hegemonic in the Sierra Leone Parliament after its historic victory in the past general election. But With the unfolding political circumstances, the president is currently facing huge challenges both within his own political party and the country in general.
The president is currently facing a challenge to renew faith in politics as a force for good although his government has made some progress in reviving some quarters as he has been struggling to tell the economic story of the country.
For Sierra Leonean to Vote against austerity and for Change is an act of hope by the people of Sierra Leone. Austerity and Corruption is a symptom of a political discontent that the country endures at present. But if President Julius Maada Bio wants to offer anything progressive to the country, it must start with a perspective and a sense of Patriotism filled with hope and direction.
The people of Sierra Leone were expecting the second term of President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio as a term of newness, freshness and blameless with a new page turned. But guess what? The people are still hearing the same story of going big on the Opposition APC Party’s economic mismanagement.
In his big promises of his “Big 5″ agenda can they be delivered? Or Is it just a political gimmick just as the White Paper?. These are the dilemmas of the current timing of the New Direction Government as the discontent citizens has been losing their patience of what the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio is for.
Or does the New Direction Government lacks a positive narrative because the present scenario shows that, the country is not having a strong narrative as both the previous regime and the current establishment has made the people of Sierra Leone to be exasperated and tired of the same rhetoric.
The New Direction Government of President Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio must be cautious and avoid damaging the trust of the people of Sierra Leone. The people need Solutions; they need a structural approach to tackle the rampant Corruption and Poverty.
In a bitterly political divided country, the citizens are being genuinely torn apart between these two old political foes the SLPP and the APC Party and has detested the conspiracy theories of both parties with a polarizing politics.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is on a classic political intrigue as the axiom of Unity is breaking apart with the high tension of the looming leadership Scramble that is lurking in the background.
It all looks and sounds like a euphemism of leadership Scramble in the ruling SLPP Government as political maneuvering is now based on a power battle to see off an opponent.
The president of the Republic Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio should step in now and act boldly if not, the SLPP Party will continue to be bobbled by the obfuscation and timidity that will prevent peace in the party. President Julius Maada Bio should show the SLPP politicians that, he is still in control of the leadership and that, he is the boss and not a Supplicant of the SLPP party.
He should rally his party politicians and reassure the people of Sierra Leone of his promised hope for the future with a sweeping optimism as our Country is exhausted by and with Partisan politics. President Bio should deliver his election promises but shouldn’t offer ” false hope” to the people of Sierra Leone.
Although the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio is not a perfect establishment with a brimful of shining hope of uplift and Optimism that can march against the storm, but yet the citizens must see the light of hope in the tunnel.
At the moment, things are getting harder and chaotic while his selfish parties politicians are busy indulging themselves in the leadership scramble which clearly shows their nonchalant sympathy for the people of Sierra Leone.
But the hard fact message to President Bio which is a crucial message is to try and work out things for the people of Sierra Leone by demonstrating the improvement of the daily life of the people of Sierra Leone rather than being in a rosy imagination.
With the distracting row of leadership contest within the ruling SLPP Party, Critics within the president’s Party are saying that, the president has delivered so many down-beat messages about the state economy and the ” Big 5″ agenda which is not working but just a gloom- monger.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)came to power on the promised platform of Corruption fight and Change. But if you look at the cronyism surrounded by the president, you wouldn’t appreciate that, the Chang and Corruption fight they promised was actually into a new design.
The politicians of the ruling SLPP Government are really hot on their heels as leadership gossiping in the party is alarming whilst the President’s Big 5 agenda is still crawling. How can the electorates in Sierra Leone keep faith on our Politicians? It’s so sad because our politicians are not honest to themselves, and our democracy can only works if we do trust the very politicians.
At present, the ruling SLPP is at a Cross – road. The President promised “Big 5” agenda will get a distraction from his own Party Politicians as the leadership Scramble is a cause for concern as the inevitable leadership Scramble is becoming a damaging drip in the SLPP, and a drip revelation that will erode the Unity in the Party.
Our Country Sierra Leone is still rolling in Corruption and Poverty and I think these are the issues President Bio should address. The Change the New Direction establishment promised the people of Sierra Leone should be more than just a Clever SLPP Soundbite.
Since the beginning of President Bio’s Second term in Office, the revelation of hypocrisy amongst his Party Politicians have been staggering and increasingly outrageous as the race for the leadership is intensifying with a symptom of the President’s “Big 5” agenda becoming a mission unaccomplished.
The SLPP Party and its over ambitious power politicians should be ware for history not to repeat itself. They should not allow the second term of President Bio to be marked by their selfish leadership Scramble with turbulence. They should not drag the party into a prolong internecine quagmire of a drawn – out battle for leadership of the SLPP.
There is a great Consensus awaiting the governing SLPP Party and that is, they must shift their focus from the leadership quagmire to the “Big 5” agenda as the problem facing the party is existential and currently wrestling with the toxic legacy of Corruption in the Country.
With the race against time, the SLPP Politicians in their clandestine mood are drawing into their false comfort from their old pendulum as their struggles for the party leadership is yet exposing their toxic views and ambition of mass delusion that is harming the chances of their to retain power which is detrimental to their supporters and members.
The SLPP Party should be aware of what is currently unfolding in the party if not, another chapter in the story of a leadership Scramble that will dent the chance of the Party come 2028!!
!! GOD BLESSES THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE!!
BY: SORIEBA SILLAH @PSL