*The Hidden Strategy Behind SLPP’s Selection of Late President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah in 1996—The Untold Political Masterstroke!*
21st/February/2025
The Strategic Steps Behind SLPP’s Choice of a Non-Mende Presidential Candidate: Lessons for the APC
In 1996, SLPP made a highly strategic and unconventional decision by selecting Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah as its presidential candidate. This decision was not out of genuine inclusivity but rather a calculated move to shift public perception and counter the deeply rooted propaganda against the APC.
For decades, SLPP had been widely recognized as a Mende and Sherbro-dominated party. The natural expectation, given their political tradition, would have been for a candidate from their dominant ethnic base. Yet, they deliberately chose a North-Western candidate from a minority tribe, sending a powerful message that SLPP was an all-embracing party, upholding its slogan: “One People, One Country.” This decision played a significant role in reshaping their image and ultimately securing their victory.
*The SLPP’s Political Strategy*
The SLPP’s move was not an act of political goodwill but a carefully planned tactic with clear objectives:
1. Shattering the Image of Exclusivity: The APC had long been portrayed as an exclusive party, heavily controlled by the Temne and Limba ethnic groups. SLPP leveraged this perception by showcasing themselves as an inclusive entity willing to give the highest position to someone outside their dominant ethnic base.
2. Creating a False Narrative Against APC: By selecting Tejan Kabbah, the SLPP effectively painted the APC as a tribalistic institution that marginalized other ethnic groups. They exaggerated the notion that APC had been ruled solely by Temnes and Limbas under Siaka Stevens and Joseph Saidu Momoh. This narrative stuck, even though the reality was far more complex, considering that Siaka Stevens himself had a diverse background.
3. Gaining Support from the North-Western Region: By positioning a candidate from the North-West, SLPP was able to attract voters from regions that traditionally aligned with the APC, thereby creating division within APC’s stronghold and weakening their voter base.
4. Masking Their Own Tribal Politics: While SLPP had historically been Mende-centric, this move allowed them to temporarily dispel the notion that they were tribalistic, making it easier to accuse APC of the same sin they had long committed.
5. Tejan Kabbah as a Symbol More Than a Reformer: This is why late Former President Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah is considered more of a unified personality in Sierra Leone’s politics than a developmental-oriented leader. His placement was more about the message it sent than the actual reforms that followed. At a time when Sierra Leone was experiencing one of its darkest moments, his leadership symbolized unity rather than an aggressive developmental agenda. His tenure was focused more on stabilizing the country post-conflict than on pioneering significant economic or infrastructural advancements.
This strategy worked. Tejan Kabbah won the presidency, and SLPP successfully repositioned itself as a party of national unity while leaving APC struggling with the tribalist label.
*The APC’s Need for Strategic Reevaluation*
Now, the question arises: Will the APC learn from this history, or will it continue to operate within the traditional belief that only Temnes and Limbas can secure victory?
The SLPP has exposed itself under President Maada Bio’s leadership, revealing the deeply rooted tribalism and regionalism that they had previously masked. The blatant favoritism towards Mendes, the suppression of Northern and Western voices, and the exclusionary governance style have made it evident that SLPP was never truly an inclusive party.
This presents a golden opportunity for the APC to flip the narrative and truly embody the national unity that SLPP only pretended to champion. If the APC continues to select presidential candidates based solely on tribe, it risks reinforcing the very propaganda that SLPP once used against it.
Breaking the Tribal Status Quo in APC
For APC to secure a lasting victory, it must take a strategic and tactical approach to candidate selection:
1. Loyalty and Capability Over Tribe: If the APC fears losing its internal control, then the focus should be on proven loyalty, competency, and ability rather than ethnic background.
2. A Tested and Trustworthy Leader: The red line should be the candidate’s record of commitment to the party, their ability to unite diverse regions, and their competence in governance.
3. A Counter to SLPP’s Ethnic Divisiveness: With Maada Bio’s administration exposing the ugly side of tribal governance, APC must offer a true alternative by demonstrating that it is a party of all Sierra Leoneans, not just the two largest ethnic groups.
4. Expanding APC’s Reach: Selecting a candidate from outside the traditional Temne-Limba power base can attract new voters, just as SLPP did in 1996.
5. Rewriting the Political Narrative: The APC must take control of its own image. Instead of being reactionary to SLPP’s attacks, the party should actively showcase its historical contributions to national development, unity, and inclusivity beyond ethnic and regional lines.
6. A New Era of APC Leadership: The party must prioritize a candidate who not only understands grassroots politics but is also a unifier in the face of Sierra Leone’s divisive political landscape. The focus should be on leadership that embodies economic progress, governance transparency, and national integration.
*The Path Forward*
The SLPP successfully used the Tejan Kabbah strategy to win power, despite being a deeply tribalistic party at its core. APC, on the other hand, has a genuine chance to demonstrate true inclusivity—not just for electoral gains but for the betterment of Sierra Leone’s political culture.
If APC continues to believe that only a Temne or Limba candidate can bring victory, it will be falling into the same trap that SLPP laid in 1996. Instead, the party must focus on finding a leader who is capable, loyal, and has a national appeal—someone who can truly unify Sierra Leone and defeat SLPP at their own game.
The choice is clear: Break the tribal mold and reshape APC’s future, or cling to old patterns and risk being outmaneuvered again. The time for a bold and strategic decision is now.
An APC for a New Sierra Leone!
*©️The Mighty APC!*
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