The most popular politician in Sierra Leone is gradually making himself unpopular in the eyes of many people.

Dr. Samuara Kamara is known by Sierra Leoneans as a calm politician in the All People’s Congress (APC).

Once a quiet and humble public servant, he is now a politician. Mr. Kamara came in the limelight after he was surprisingly chosen by former president Ernest Bai Koroma as APC’s contender for Sierra Leone’s 2018 elections.

Kamara was once a technocrat and has served as Minister of Finance and Bank governor. He was not sociable as he used to spend more time in books.

And the politician still appears to be bookish than a politician.

Being APC’s presidential aspirant again ahead of June 24th elections this year, Samura is noticed by many people to have already shown some weak leadership qualities.

It is true, though, that he has a dream to be president of Sierra Leone. But many people still see him as a cool-type guy to face the incumbent president Julius Maada Bio, a man who still shows indomitable spirit despite his failing economy.

“Politics in Sierra Leone is very complex in nature; sometimes one needs to be a bit radical and be more fearless,” argues a man who was drinking China Green Tea ‘ataya’ at a local pub.

Over the tense political atmosphere, critics of Samura Kamara, say former president Koroma had made a grave mistake to have handpicked the coolest politician to go for the highest post in the country.

The quiet civil servant has been made popular among Sierra Leoneans by Koroma. But as his popularity grows, the politician is slow to immerse himself in the country’s politics. Most people believe Samura needs to be an actor other than a spectator of events.

Instead of sacrificing for others, the politician appears to keep a clean-sheet on his image and personality.

A good number of his party followers have heavily condemned his action not to have taken a lead role at a recent press conference over the alleged beating of the party’s secretary general.

“Samura is no doubt the leader of APC party; we don’t expect him to just post a comment on social media over the manhandling of Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya. How many Sierra Leoneans are on twitter?”asks a supporter.

“If Samura wants to win over his opponent in the next polls,” he goes on; “he must come out of his private life.”

“This is because he is yet to draw a line between religion and politics” he added.

Unlike other political leaders who act tough in election period, Samura is different.

Another supporter of APC recalled the somewhat mistake that he thought Samura had made in 2018 elections.

“We saw him on TV. He appeared very cool and calm at an international election observers’ summon in Bintumani hotel in Freetown” he explained.

At Bintumani, both party aspirants, Julius Maada Bio and Dr. Samura Kamara were called to sign an election result document.

The signing by Samura of an election result accord means accepting the defeat for APC, according to the views of many APC supporters.

APC, they argue, did not put any resistance like SLPP.

“They were in the opposition but they kept saying that if final election results were not in their favour they would not accept it…” added some APC supporters.

Many people thought then that SLPP was feared by APC, a factor that enable SLPP to get victory.

Being in the opposition too, it is expected now that APC shows gallantry leadership style to face a more heavyweight party in power.

But the party is weakened by intra-party crisis. While its aspirant, Samura Kamara, is on a tightrope as a corruption case is still tied on him.

Many political analysts say the grim events of APC party are a plot the government is using to dissipate Kamara’s spirit and kick him out of the race.

The party is in a volatile situation while its public relations approach is chaotic.

APC recently organized a press conference over the status of their Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya Esq, who was allegedly beaten by some government security guards.

The party, however, fails to print out a statement and hand it over to press men for coverage but rather shared the content on social media.

Most supporters of APC are also not happy over the delay on Samura’s arrival in the capital after he was elected APC’s presidential aspirant in Makeni, north of Sierra Leone on February 18.

Many people tolled up the streets in the blazing sun as they eagerly await Samura.

Samura Kamara is now cautioned by analysts to be the people’s man.  A leader should not be indifferent to the needs of others.

As the saying goes, “success in life has nothing to do with what you gain or accomplish for yourself; it is what you do for others’’.