OPINION > One Thing & Another Lessons To Learn From The Past: The Politics of Compensation…The SLPP Scenario Posted by I.B.M. Kamara on Mar 4, 2008, 03:07

It is no longer an African political secret that many men have, many a time, dedicated all they stand for just to achieve victory in and at elections. In the Sierra Leonean context, the country and its people have made history. Though Brigadier Bio said at the handing over ceremony that they “handed over power not due to any pressure either from outside or within”, many of us abreast with the facts and roles of a few super powers would see such a talk as merely talking tough. But that is never the case herein.

The African politics of compensation as against the true tenets of democracy is what often counts. That someone is a party stalwart and has put in more financial and material resources to achieve election victory like in our own case, the hardest moments for Alhaji Tejan Kabbah then was the hours within which he chooses his cabinet ministers. Apart from satisfying allying parties such as DCP, PDP, NUP and the APC, we would have to satisfy the many guns looking for ministerial jobs. That is probably why Tejan Kabbah had to cut down on the number of ministries he’d earlier on set aside for the PDP.

First he said eight (six ministers and two deputy ministers), then later six, and finally four. The man must have been under tremendous pressure from his SLPP giants. “Don’t trade too many sensitive ministries to our opponents” he may have been warned by die-hard SLPP men.

Obviously, of the good results of the Kabbah–Thaimu tie, there were grumblings and warnings in the SLPP camp as to why Tejan should not be going too close to Thaimu who was expediently more a politician than Tejan the administrator. But in the light of all these grumblings and suspicions, it would be better if the leaders do not forget what this new found democracy means and should achieve. To do anything then that would have warranted a military come back would have been most unfortunate.

March 29, 1996 climaxed the return of democracy to Sierra Leone after some two and a half decades. A democracy with a difference, especially when considered within the parameters of a free and fair electoral process, where the rights and judicious participation of the electorates were upheld.

As the celebrations and general victory excitement began to die down, one had to be reminded of the guiding concrete concepts on which a successful democracy rests and thrives. Democracy means more than a free and fair election.

In many sense, it is to create a limited government that protects individual liberties and has checks and balances built into it to prevent abuses of power. A functioning independent judiciary. This is what shifts a country away from totalitarianism to the rule of law. A high level of education; the provision of adequate amount of educational materials; access to educational facilities to all, a well defined system and curriculum well designed to meet the nation’s needs and commensurate or justifiable remuneration to the educators.

A free and independent media, as totalitarian nations speak with one voice, whereas democracies speak with many voices. A sound economic growth. A democratically political system with the underpinning of a free enterprise economic affair, the best prospects for development and prosperity.

Finally the management of the nation’s resources should be put in the hands of patriotic, honest and dedicated individuals who put the nation first. This should neither be compromised nor based on tribal boundaries, sentiments etc.

We should remember that it is easier to praise the ideals of democracy than it is to construct a durable democratic government. We are part and parcel of the government, part of the political system and so are all politicians active or passive.

President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, one is very much certain that you will learn a serious lesson from this past of the SLPP and continue making your sensitive appointments based purely on competence, integrity, patriotism, honesty and individuals who would put mother Sierra Leone first. Never, base such appointments on sentiments or those who have been sitting and waiting for APC to win, even though they very well know within themselves that they are no suitable material to lead this nation to prosperity.