*Governance Insights*
*Responsibility & Leadership in the APC*
*Ya Umarr*
8th October, 2024.
The US Ambassador’s recent assertion that neither the ECSL nor political parties produced results of last year’s elections is needlessly provocative, especially considering the fact that he had already tapped both sides on the back for concluding the investigations. It’s like congratulating two chefs for finishing a meal, only to turn around and claim nobody even brought food to the table.
His statement reveals the Ambassador’s flair for sprinkling mischief into diplomacy—praising an effort only to later question its fundamental result. It implies the Tripartite investigation handed out certificates of completion, but leaves us wondering what was actually completed. Most importantly, it is a visceral indictment of the APC and an eloquent reminder of the hollowness of their allegation of electoral foul play. Why cry foul if you are not inclined to reverse the wrong?
More vivid and visceral is the APC’s inability to reply Ambassador Hunt. It calls into doubt every bit of their actions in recent times, including their decision to hide their results from their supporters before, during and after the elections/Tripartite investigations. It also begs the question: what political team plays hide-and-seek with their election results in a world where everything is just a click away? The answer is: just the type who throw caution to the wind! At the very least, APCians have been served a reminder that their party showed up to the elections without a game plan, or may be failure was the goal all along.
The party’s half-hearted dive into the Tripartite process, followed by the flurry of finger-pointing among its officials, does little to inspire confidence in its readiness to lead. Throughout the investigations their supporters were in a constant state of bewilderment. When they got tired of keeping them in the dark, they casually tossed out cryptic updates, by way of press conferences, that did more to leave folks guessing than to shed any light.
By mid-Tripartite, statements like “do not preempt the outcome” left APCians wondering what the party was even investigating.
The investigations ended, but Sierra Leoneans had more question marks than answers, still guessing what the mandate was all about.
So, it looks like either the US Ambassador or our political players decided to stretch the truth like a piece of gum. In typical fashion, party officials have stayed tight-lipped about their other entanglements. From being silent on Bio’s transgressions at ECOWAS Parliament to letting their own results slip through the cracks, something was clearly out of sync with our APC leadership.
I’m inclined to point this out given the recent twists and turns in the APC, and the ripple effect they are having on both the party and the country’s wellbeing. These are matters that call for serious reflection and the guidance of wise minds. That’s precisely why I chose to write instead of record an audio—to spark meaningful discussions among the party’s intellectuals, and mitigate the risk of artillery shelling from errant bloggers.
Factions in the APC seem to have no appetite for bitter truths. It’s less of a stretch for them to believe dogs and birds share a family tree than admit their opponents might have a point. Such stubbornness breeds a cycle of division, where only the echo of their own ideas is heard, leaving them stuck in a shallow pool of their own.
Concerns about the party’s handling of the elections and the Tripartite have morphed into tirades over the next leadership – here we go again! Agitation over the lavishly lauded electoral justice is either a loyalty test for some faction of the party or it’s just another chapter in the never-ending saga of political jostling. Either way, it’s all part of the political circus the APC needs to juggle while keeping their balance. But the race for flag bearer is rearing its ugly head once again, beginning with the registration process, and next, the primaries.
The media is starting to wonder if the APC is election-ready. If the push for electoral justice suddenly hits the jackpot and an election is called tomorrow, would the party be ready to roll? Not a chance! Allegiances to individuals have trumped the patriotic cum partisan imperative. This is not just a problem with APC, but APC is in direr need to address the dissipating energies that undermine the party’s effectiveness.
A party gearing up to take the reins of government needs to play by the rules of open democracy. How they manage the registration and primaries will make all the difference—less chaos, fewer court battles. And there’s only one way to do it: throw the gates open, let comrades compete, and may the best candidate win!
At this stage, I know some schemers in the party’s hierarchy are already plotting to pull the rug from under certain contenders, but trust me, that will just lead the APC straight into another mess. A party in opposition builds bridges, others form alliances just to taste power. The beauty of the APC is that it doesn’t need a coalition—just summoning a little inner strength will clinch them the victory.
If the party can rise above minor distractions like age, tribe, or religion, they will be on the right track to State House. That means wildcards like Sam Sumana should get their shot with the delegates, and Samura Kamara can test his popularity once again. Adding to the fine list of contenders will be young aspirants.
To make this happen, everyone—yes, even Samura Kamara and the party bigwigs—needs to step up and take responsibility for their supporters’ antics. They need to make compromises and show some real leadership. Otherwise, buckle up—we’re in for a long and bumpy ride.
*Disclaimer:*
This piece is not an endorsement of any candidate mentioned.
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