Why President Bio’s Successor Debate Is Timely

A Rejoinder To Dr. Sama Banya’s Follow The Leader

By: Lansana Fofanah

Dr. Sama Banya, a seasoned newspaper columnist, in his recent post on social media titled ‘Follow The Leader’, cautioned flag bearer aspirants in the Sierra Leone People’s Party to pause their presidential aspirations and support the agenda of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Dr. Banya’s comment came after some of the flag bearer aspirants are believed to have heightened their media campaign to succeed President Bio at the end of his second and final term in 2028.

“Sad to observe that immediately after our recent elective national delegates’ conference, almost everybody, their sponsors or supporters, with the exception of Vice President Juldeh Jalloh, have cut loose and continue to fill the media with the virtues and fitness of their prospective candidates. What a defiant and lawless situation!” Dr. Banya submitted.

Indeed, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh whom Dr. Banya singled out of those who have ‘cut loose’ has not been seen publicly promoting his political ambition for obvious reasons. He often refers to himself as the Vice President not a flag bearer aspirant.

While some political pundits are of the notion that, he is the natural  and most suited successor to President Bio, others are of the opinion that, he has equally enjoyed the privilege of ruling the country as vice president together with President Bio, and it is time for them to leave together peacefully in 2028.

The moment President Bio made it known that he would not be contesting for a third term, it became obvious that the race for a successor would be opened to every qualified candidate. This leaves room for the battle for supremacy.

While we have serving government officials with the same ambitions that are secretly campaigning using government resources, there are equally those without political appointments with the same aspirations.

The only way they would remain afloat and create more relevance is to connect with the people and solidify their bases ahead of the flagbearer race.

During the SLPP national delegates’ conference at the Bintumani conference Centre recently, it was obvious that, camps have already been established within the party. The tension and outcome of that delegates’ conference, has given a clear picture as to what is to be expected in the flagbearer race.

There is no way one would expect those on the ‘long benches’ to wait for that long to express their presidential ambitions knowing fully that their interests are at stake.

President Bio has the prerogative to appoint those he deems fit to work in his administration, and he continues to exercise that mandate by hiring competent ones or firing dead woods in his administration.

Therefore, energizing party activities has nothing to do with the current agenda of the government.

The biggest mistake and regrettable action would be for the SLPP to put a hold on all party activities.

Every flag bearer aspirants would like to position themselves as suitable candidates to the delegates, by banking on their achievements. This cannot be done by waiting for the eleventh hour when it would be too late for some.

While internal rules within the SLPP seek to control the ambition of aspirants, members of the All People’s Congress party are on the loose to campaign at both national and delegates level.

The outcome of the recent national delegates’ conference of the SLPP is a clear manifestation that all is not well within the party and there are so many issues to address than meets the eyes.

The SLPP’s best bet is to allow the game to play.