Title: The Betrayal!

By Mohamed A Warisay, June 21, 2024

I have a strong interest in politics, but I approach it with a degree of trepidation. Not because I’m lazy or because I do not have the wherewithal to take active part in it, but I am fearful of my reputation and that of my family’s after my political career. I would like to start this piece with a quote from Aesop, which says, “Betray a friend, and you’ll often find you have ruined yourself.” Aesop was a Greek Fabulist and storyteller who lived from C. 620 to 564 BCE. He had an interesting view of humans, creation, and the universe, which he could translate into storytelling. (Photo: Maada Bio and Dr Samura Kamara).

In a democratic setup, a strong opposition is crucial for holding the ruling party accountable and ensuring that the voices of the people are heard. However, when sections of the main opposition betray the people’s trust, it can have far-reaching repercussions on the political landscape and the citizens they represent. “The opposition’s betrayal is a stab in the back of the people who entrusted them with their hopes and dreams,” says a Political Analyst, John Doe. When opposition leaders prioritize personal interests over the welfare of their constituents, it erodes the trust between the people and the opposition. This can lead to a decline in public faith in the political system.

“The betrayal of the opposition is a betrayal of democracy itself,” says Civil Society Activist Jane Smith. This is true because without opposing views, there will be no accountability, and without accountability democracy is a facade. In one of his very popular quotes, former President of the United States, J.F.K had this to say: “Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians.” Would you blame the mothers? Not under the sunlight. When you see and hear stories of how politicians betray their own very voters who have been killed, maimed, and enprisoned for them to come to power, you’ll come to exonerate our mothers for fearing politicians. The repercussions of opposition infighting can be seen in various aspects of the political sphere:

1. Weakened Accountability: A divided opposition fails to effectively hold the ruling party accountable for their actions, leading to unchecked power and potential abuses of authority.
2. Loss of Public Trust: When opposition leaders prioritize personal interests, it damages the public’s perception of the opposition and the political system leading to disillusionment and apathy.
3. Political Polarization: Infighting within the opposition can further polarize the political landscape, making it challenging to find common ground and work towards the betterment of the country.

Let us turn our focus to Sierra Leone, where an interesting and historic turn of events are taking place; where general elections were held and it is almost a year now, nobody has seen the full results of the elections that saw the ruling party’s presidential candidate being announced as the winner with 56.17% of the votes; An election that was widely condemned by all local and international observers; and furthermore, an election that is under investigation/examination as I write this piece. Yet, amidst this global condemnation of the conduct of these elections, sections of the opposition have not only come out to support the ruling government in secret, but that they have also mocked and opposed their own presidential candidate on national media. Wow, indeed!

You’re not dreaming. This is really happening in the 21st century Sierra Leone. Therefore, as a follower of politics in my country and a democracy activist, I feel obliged to tell the people of Sierra Leone that the betrayal by sections of the main opposition can have severe repercussions on the political landscape and you the citizens they represent. It is crucial for opposition leaders to remember that their role is to serve the people, not their personal interests. As noted by Nelson Mandela, “The greatest glory in living lies not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

The opposition APC must rise above their differences and work towards the betterment of the country, or risk facing the consequences of their betrayal; risk facing the consequences of betraying their own son, their presidential candidate, their comrade! May I end with this as a caution to Dr Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, who is the presidential candidate of the APC in the yet to be concluded June 2023 elections and his “true” followers; and it is a quote by Jessica Katoff that says, “I may be many things, and there are even more I am not, but I would never do to you what you did to me, and I think that says a lot.”