As the Tripartite Committee presented their final report to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, so many political observers ponder over the future political career of Dr Samura Kamara both within the body politics of the country and emerging leadership contests in the APC. Today, many believe that Dr Samura Kamara himself faces his own personal tripartite challenges amidst his countless efforts to reengineer his political future.
Firstly, leadership struggle within his party. This explains why he has continued to hold on to his own emerging outcome of the tripartite recommendations as it constitutes a sort of oxygen for him. What does the end of tripartite mean for his future political end game? What else can he hold on to as à mobilizing vehicle to continue to garner support across the various levels of the APC not least the nuisance wing?
Secondly, holding on to the tripartite also helped mask the stark reality of his New York Chancery case which most of his party members have distanced themselves from given the overwhelming evidence that the case presents. Does he want to use the tripartite as a bargaining tool with the government?
Thirdly, the seeming generational and ethno-regional challenge within the APC is another headache for Dr Samura Kamara. This is perhaps the most difficult to navigate. For some political observers, Karene District was carved out to salvage the deep-seated frustration over Bombali’s stranglehold over the APC party. Dr Samura Kamara being an indigene of Karene District was allowed to pass in 2018 and 2023 although grudgingly. He still wants to lead the party for a third term in a row. Other big guns in the party from across the entire North, East and mostly Western Area now think it is their turn to lead the party. There is a slow motion revolution within the party to reverse the Limbanization/Lokonization of the leadership drive. This is going on side by side with a wide spread notion that the gray-haired men in the APC need to give way to a young and vibrant leadership that has what it takes to challenge the SLPP in 2028.
The tripartite succeeded in concealing this underlying current and slowed down the change demand process within the broader APC. How long more can Dr Samura Kamara hold on amidst this slow motion revolution? Does he have all it takes to manage the flame of change blowing from below?
As majority of APC supporters are confident that 2028 is a near done deal depending on who leads the SLPP ticket, it is clearly evident that the APC is getting prepared and how this plays out in the future is vital to the transition elections of 2028. No matter what, 2028 will usher in a new President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The two leading political parties (APC & SLPP) now believe that, it is time to put up Muslim candidates for the 2028 Presidential election. Muslims constitute 78% of the Sierra Leonean population.
CREDIT GLOBAL TIMES NEWSPAPER
