By Kabs Kanu
It seems to some people that the Alpha Kanu defection to the ruling SLPP is a game-changer and that it has given the SLPP an upper hand for the 2023 elections. But this is surely not the case and anybody who has studied the Sierra Leone political scene since Independence would agree with me.
Alpha Khan’s defection is good for the SLPP only on paper, but in practical reality, it should not turn the game into SLPP’s Favour . It will all depend on many dynamics. Let us look at some of them.
1. ALPHA KHAN IS NOT A CHARISMATIC LEADER CAPABLE OF SHAKING PORT LOKO OUT OF APC’S HANDS IF THE GAME IS FAIR AND EVEN-HANDED
Only those who do not know Alpha Sahid Kanu will lionize him and dress him in borrowed robes. To those of us who worked with him, we know that he is one of the most hyped politicians in Sierra Leone. He is a very clever man and an eloquent speaker but he is not a charismatic and outstanding politician capable of moving mountains. Alpha Khan is not the people’s and humanitarian politician of the mold of the late Alhaji Osman Boie Kamara to believe that he has done so much good to the people of Port Loko that they will abandon the APC on his behalf. Alpha Khan is a very selfish man who thinks only about himself . With Alpha Khan , it is all about him. I worked with him and hobnobbed a lot with him. You will not count many people that he has helped. Alpha Kanu has not done anything for Port Loko that will make the people abandon the APC on his behalf.
The SLPP too know that where we have a fair game, Alpha Khan is not a great catch. But the stocks – in-trade of the SLPP are deceit and criminality.
The SLPP never win anything by fair and legitimate means. SLPP will never win in Port Loko through free and fair elections. They have their game plan and the criminally- minded Alpha Khan fits into it well. That is why the SLPP are rejoicing over his defection. Alpha Kanu will be a useful linchpin in their criminal enterprise to stuff ballots and steal the people’s mandate in Port Loko. But even that will work only if the APC leadership does not step up the game. And that brings me to my second point.
2. IF THE APC PROVIDES STRONG, ROBUST, COMMANDING AND ELOQUENT LEADERSHIP IN PORT LOKO, THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO THWART ALPHA KHAN ON ALL FRONTS
PORT LOKO has always been an APC stronghold and we know the meaning of strongholds in Sierra Leone politics . it is very difficult to sway political strongholds , not even with defections. Is Alpha Khan the only politician who has defected before ? Did APC rule itself not glory itself in political defections ? But did it make a difference ? Did Alhaji Moijueh Kaikai stop Pujehun from voting SLPP ? Did the late J.B. Dauda help APC wrestle Kenema from the SLPP ? Despite all the hype, did Robin Farley and Maya Kaikai help APC make winning inroads into SLPP Kailahun ? No. And what was the reason ? Strong, unyielding , peppery and outstanding leadership by the SLPP. You have to hand that to the SLPP. In opposition, they were excellent and their leadership was very strong, uncompromising, vocal and proactive locally and internationally.
The SLPP leadership was so robust that it rendered its defected members hopeless and gave them gave them no chance to make a difference in their strongholds . Thus, Alpha Khan cannot do any harm to APC interests in Port Loko but that will depend greatly on the APC leadership. And that is where I fear for the APC. The APC party’s leadership is very weak at the moment and crippled by infighting and court cases orchestrated by the SLPP. The present silence of the APC leadership is killing the party. The APC is not making any significant outreach to the people and the international community . Through their silence and dependence on mere press releases, the APC are giving the game away. Can you imagine what would have been happening in Sierra Leone today if the SLPP had been in opposition ? Sierra Leone would have been on fire. THE SLPP WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN THE MESS THE APC IS TOLERATING FROM THE SLPP. Therefore, it is not Alpha Khan’s charisma and clout that will make him succeed in Port Loko. It is the silent and poor leadership of the present APC heirarchy that might not challenge him and seek to render him moribund and ineffective.
3. APC ARE THE GRASSROOTS PEOPLE’S FAVORITES AND THERE IS NO WAY DEFECTIONS WILL AFFECT THEM ,IF THE ELECTIONS ARE FREE AND FAIR
Everybody knows that the APC are the favorites of the grassroots people. Everybody knows that the APC are the preferred choice of the people. Everybody knows that the APC enjoy the majority votes . Everybody knows that where there are free and fair elections, the SLPPare no match for the APC . And that is where we have the tipping point. Unless the international community intervene seriously to change the dynamics, the 2023 elections are not going to be free and fair. If the international community does not get involved in a meaningful way, 2023 will be the most rigged elections ever in the history of our nation. The signs are very evident —A tribalized pro- SLPP National Elections Commission ( NEC ) ; a fake midterm census that will disenfranchise a significant number of APC voters ; a well-orchestrated SLPP game plan that will have Judge AdrianFisher adjourning court cases against the APC leadership and prevent them from having their convention and electing a flagbearer in time to campaign effectively; recent history of police brutality, intimidation and SLPP thuggery and ballot-stuffing during bye-elections. If not checkmated, it is these dynamics that will make the SLPP win in 2023 —-Not the defection of a puny man and lightweight politician called Alpha Sahid Kanu.
So, the reason that APC supporters are mad with Alpha Khan is not that he will change the political landscape against the APC ; it is his opportunism and betrayal of President Ernest Koroma, the man who created him politically and his treachery to the APC ,from which he benefited immensely , economically and otherwise. It is not because they believe he will wrestle Port Loko out of their hands. Port Loko will always be Port Loko—A strong APC stronghold , but it is the factors I have outlined that will make the difference.
It is now up to the APC leadership to arise from its present slumber , paralysis and inexplicable silence and challenge Alpha Kanu and any other member who might defect and fight them in the rugged and efficient manner the APC of old fought its enemies . Make no mistake about it. The APC is a fearsome battle machine and can fight back and overcome its present problems and take back State House from the SLPP.
