{"id":67605,"date":"2014-05-23T03:33:16","date_gmt":"2014-05-23T03:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sierraexpressmedia.com\/?p=67605"},"modified":"2014-05-23T03:33:16","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T03:33:16","slug":"is-this-a-political-hostage-third-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/?p=67605","title":{"rendered":"Is this a political hostage? Third term!"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have heard the rumour before about the call for President Koroma\u2019s third term re-election. When I first heard the news, I treated it as insignificant because I had the feelings that we Sierra Leoneans are too good to be taken for a political ride to de-democratisation process. \u00a0However, I kept following the rumour, which has now turned to a political debate. \u00a0As a regular reader of Sierra Express Media, I said to myself I will write an article on this matter, but I nearly gave up because fellow Sierra Leoneans in the UK and those I spoke to on the phone in Sierra Leone about this subject all said the President is not going for third term and he will adhere to his constitutional mandate. \u00a0However, having thought about it again and reading from a recent article titled: \u201cThird term tornado \u2013 will Ernest be another Putin?\u201d<\/b> I decided to join the debate as politics is everyone\u2019s business or you let fools rule you. (Photo: author, Momodu Mansaray<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The friends I spoke to both at home and abroad have similar opinions on this matter. \u00a0In summary, some told me that it will never happen while others raised concerns about previous APC political strategy to maintain power.<\/p>\n

In my view, the failure of President Koroma to clarify the situation during a recent event at the ruling All Peoples Congress\u2019 (APC) headquarters in Freetown where he commissioned hundreds of wheelchairs for persons with disability raised serious concerns as to whether it is a political strategy to continue to assess the populace\u2019s opinion regarding this subject. \u00a0The President\u2019s failure to clarify the situation to date has persuaded me to ask this question: \u201cIs this a Political Hostage?\u201d \u00a0Is President Koroma using time to assess the people\u2019s opinion on this matter? \u00a0If so, then it is a kind of \u201cPolitical Hostage\u201d.<\/p>\n

Before I go into the details of this article, let me make myself clear I am a personate APC supporter so this article should not be treated as if it is written by an opposition member who is against a third term presidency. \u00a0I am APC, I have always been APC and I will continue to be APC, but the truth must be said. In my view a third term for President Koroma would not only be a set back to the growing democratic process and rule of law, but it would also be a serious Party Political miscalculation that will haunt us for years to come.<\/p>\n

Under President Siaka Stevens he managed to manipulate the constitution for his own personal gains at the expense of the party\u2019s credibility. \u00a0After the party lost power in a disgraceful manner, we came back to rule within a reasonable time, thanks to a combination of different factors – political shrewdness on the part of Koroma, Sierra Leone People Party (SLPP) infighting, which created serious doubts in the minds of voters and also their conservative political culture let them down.<\/p>\n

I think a public gathering such as the one President Koroma attended was a perfect place to clarify the situation, but instead he gave what I would describe as a typical \u2018political answer\u2019. \u00a0In summary, he stated that he respects everyone\u2019s views and opinions, and as a president and citizen, he is entitled to his opinions. \u00a0He went on to say that \u201cat the right time he will exercise his rights to express his personal opinion on the calls of AFTER U NA U.<\/p>\n

I think a political game like this is dangerous. \u00a0Sierra Leone democratic process is very young and any political uncertainty could be misinterpreted by some section of the population. \u00a0Some people have already started pointing fingers at the ongoing amendment of the 1991 Constitution as a gateway to a third term. \u00a0The 1991 Multiparty Constitution enacted by the then APC Government under Joseph Saidu Momoh makes it very clear about the terms of Presidential limit.<\/p>\n

I have no doubt that President Koroma is a democrat who believes in the principles of modern day democracy, but I don\u2019t know whether he would be able to resist pressure from some members of the APC party who are advocating for a third term. \u00a0The truth is while APC has a history of progressive development it also has its dark side of manipulating the constitution for the benefit of the few. \u00a0Here I quote A.K. Koroma in his book the Agony of a Nation:<\/p>\n

With all these problems swirling\u2026President Stevens hinted at resigning\u2026 but sycophants would not let him.\u2026 Delegations from several districts were organised by top politicians to plead with him not to go (A.K. Koroma, the Agony of a Nation, Andromeda Publication, p, 31).<\/p>\n

This gave the then APC leader and President of Sierra Leone the moral ground to hold on to power despite the bad economic state of the country. \u00a0I was surprised to read that, the first blind Cabinet Minister in Sierra Leone, said the disabled community were ready to sacrifice their lives for President Koroma to get a third term in office.\u00a0 He further pleaded that President Koroma does not turn down his people by denying their call. \u00a0I commend the Minister for his bold speech, but I disagree with his call for third term. \u00a0The most disturbing thing contained in his statement is the element of violence \u2013 \u2018sacrifice their lives\u2019. \u00a0This means if public opinion is split in halves APC third term advocates would try to use force to achieve its goal.<\/p>\n

I read from an article written by a fellow Sierra Leonean that a news release was issued by the Office of the President, making it clear that the President is not interested in going beyond his constitutional mandate. \u00a0This is a press release from the President\u2019s Office, which is good, but it would have been more sensible if the President had made reference to that release and confirm that he is not going beyond his mandate. \u00a0To date the most recent article I have read says that the president is tight lipped on the matter.<\/p>\n

Those advocating for third term Presidency are not only setting a bad precedent for the democratisation process to grow, but an indication of greedy and self-centred politicians who will do anything to maintain power.\u00a0 Has APC not learn from the past that any attempt to manipulate the constitution is a gate way to social disturbances?<\/p>\n

I agreed with the president that as Sierra Leoneans and free citizens we all have the rights to freely express our views, but what he failed to realise is that any Sierra Leonean that holds high profile public office is accountable for what they say in public. \u00a0The Office of the President is a high profile one and President Koroma as the president must know that any political uncertainty needs clarification at the earliest possible time.<\/p>\n

I sympathised with those who are arguing for President Koroma to go for third term re-election. \u00a0I understand their argument, which is President Koroma has done well during his two terms of office, but their argument holds no water. \u00a0I like President Koroma as a person and as a politician simply because he has backed political rhetoric with positive actions evidenced nationwide. \u00a0Just to mention few\u00a0 infrastructural development under his tenure \u2013 Sierra Leone roads network has improved, Electricity has improved, Health care has improved, arguably employment has improved, the economy is turning round for the better, peace and stability have been maintained and most importantly he has brought discipline within the APC party and restored credibility as a functioning political party. \u00a0All these developments are good, but in my view, they are not justifiable for an amendment of the constitution to allow him a third term of office. President Koroma was and is paid to do the job he applied for and succeeded. \u00a0His legacy will be remember either in good or bad and in this case I would like to say his legacy if he sticks to his constitutional mandate would be remembered as positive development not only within Sierra Leone, but certainly in Africa. \u00a0Democracy in Africa is a work in progress, it is good to take a step forward, but sad to take two steps backwards.<\/p>\n

I will conclude this article by highlighting the pros. and cons. for a third term presidency.<\/p>\n

The pros:<\/p>\n