– APC stand firm
Since the party’s hierarchy made the decision not to perform at any level of governance, be it at the legislative or the local council level, the APC party for the most part have stood firm in their resolve despite their financial and other challenges.
However, it would seem as if all the party’s efforts have not been in vain or lost or for nothing, as the APC’s advocacy is showing signs that it is gaining ground and accomplishing what Dr Samura Kamara and his supporters and party members are hoping on.
It must be here recalled that the announcement of the last batch of elections results by the Electoral Commissioner Mohamed K. Konneh was greeted with widespread condemnation and refusal by the main opposition APC and local and international elections observer missions across the country, and the embassies of our international development partners who prop up our financially challenged government.
Despite calls by the SLPP government, President Bio, the interreligious council, and some members of the international community for the APC to see reason to return to the House and local councils all in the name of providing representation for the people that voted for them and in the interest of peace and national cohesion, the APC have continued on with their advocacy, which has caused and raised serious problems with regards the credibility and integrity of the Sixth Parliament.
‘Although all of us have been saying that the elections results are not what they should be and the APC making their decision to boycott government, what President Bio did that showed that he cares nothing for national peace and cohesion before insisting on his win was to quickly had himself sworn in, name a cabinet and open parliament. If he was serious about reversing the trend of how elections are won in Sierra Leone, he wouldn’t have gone ahead with forming a government that is maintaining or fomenting a divided or one-sided nation and government. But we are seeing how the APC decision to stay out of government has started affecting the Sixth Parliament and President Bio,’ noted an APC supporter.
So far, there are two governments operating in the country. On the same day president Bio “officially” opened parliament in Freetown last month, Dr Samura Kamara held the APC’s state opening with his MPs and local councillors in Makeni.
Commenting on the issue, a member of the ruling SLPP said they hope the APC MPs and councillors elect will soon make their way back to governance as the House and entire government of Sierra Leone at present is ‘a half shell’.
‘At present no one has recognised our government. No one will do business with us. President Bio has not be recognised or accepted by anyone outside the SLPP. This is a problem. Our credibility and integrity as a people and government has taken serious knocks. It will be hard to bounce back from such a trashing of our democratic credentials. Parliament is going on an early recess because there is nothing to do. Donors have stopped funding many government projects with money not being enough to pay all the new people we have hired. Unless APC comes back to government we don’t see how we can continue like this at Tower Hill, State House and the country. It is a shame that we have returned to a one party state under the SLPP. We remember what a one party state is like under Pa Sheki. Where we are at present with our politics should an embarrassment to all of us as Sierra Leoneans,’ the MP affirmed.
The APC according to our sources is bent on seeing the end of their boycott, which they hope will at the end either see a rerun of the disputed elections, ‘or have Konneh release the results he is safeguarding as if his life depends on him refusing to release the demanded polling station level elections data’.
With the APC sticking to their guns and the SLPP not being able to perform as a government of national unity and cohesion, only God knows where this will end, ‘if president Bio and commissioner Konneh fail to do as the rest of the world is demanding’.
This has however put the SLPP under serious pressure as it is faced with a serious credibility and legality issue. In light of the disputed results, those that were declared winners of the house and council seats including those that have been appointed to head government ministries, departments and agencies and president Bio are all seen as operating on a stolen elections mandate.
‘No government or business operator in their right mind will do business with such a government,’ warned a member of the diplomatic corps.
