By Sorie Fofana.
Prior to the May 25th, 1997 Military coup that toppled the SLPP led administration, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah had complained bitterly to some of his closest friends that some of his Cabinet Ministers were using the party to engage in corrupt activities. For fear of rocking the proverbial boat, Kabbah reluctantly kept them in Cabinet.
When he was overthrown in 1997, Kabbah and some of his top Cabinet Ministers fled to Conakry, Guinea where they settled as refugees. Even in exile, Kabbah’s government was still recognized by the international community as the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone.
Even though the junta in Freetown was in control they were not in charge. Kabbah and some of his Ministers were invited to attend international conferences on behalf of Sierra Leone.
When Kabbah returned from exile in March 1998, he sacked a total of nineteen Cabinet Ministers and their deputies including Dr. Prince Alex Harding who was the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources. Dr. Prince Alex Harding maintained his position as National Secretary General of the SLPP. Dr. Harding was later appointed as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of NPA (National Power Authority).
2002 Delegates Conference
The SLPP went to the elective conference in Bo in 2002 a completely divided party. Almost all the national positions in the party including that of flag bearer were up for grab. Charles Margai and Michael Abdulai had openly declared their intentions to challenge both Tejan Kabbah and Prince Harding for the positions of flag bearer and National Secretary General respectively.
Charles Margai’s membership of the party was questioned and he was eventually disqualified from contesting for the post of flag bearer. Kabbah was endorsed as the Party’s flag bearer for the 2002 Presidential election. Dr. Harding won Kabbah’s backing and retained his position as National Secretary General.
2005 Delegates Conference
The SLPP went to the elective conference in Makeni in 2005 with all national positions in the party up for grab. Kabbah did not conceal his support for Solomon Berewa to become the Party’s flag bearer in the 2007 Presidential election.
Prior to the delegates’ conference in Makeni in 2005, Kabbah had been advised to ensure that the elections for National Officers were free, fair and credible. Kabbah invited Ambassador Alie Bangura from Ghana to return home and ensure that a level-playing field was created for all the elective positions including that of National Secretary General.
The delegates’ list was scrutinized and the electoral process sanitized. Jacob Jusu Saffa defeated Dr. Prince Harding for the position of National Secretary General in Makeni in 2005. With the exception of a few, all National Officers were replaced in Makeni.
Why Batilo Lost
Five candidates vied for the position of National Chairman of the SLPP. In the run-up to the National Delegates Conference in Bo City on 29th and 30th December, 2021 it was very clear to everyone that it was a two-horse race between the incumbent Dr. Prince Alex Harding and the runaway favorite, Jimmy Batilo Songa. Jimmy Batilo Songa has a remarkable personality. He had portrayed himself as the grassroots candidate. And he played that card very well. He was seen as the popular choice by party members and supporters.
Unfortunately, Jimmy Batilo Songa did not pay great attention to the lower level elections. Dr. Prince Alex Harding, the incumbent, had firm control over the delegates’ list. Even though no elections were held in Kenema for district executive, the incumbent District Chairman and a few hand-picked officials were declared winners of a flawed process called an election. That singular move affected Jimmy Batilo Songa’s chances in Bo City.
Another reason why Jimmy Batilo Songa lost the election in Bo is the decision by his wife to suspend her membership of the powerful JMB Women’s Wing.
Jimmy Batilo Songa did not win because he failed to get the backing of the SLPP Parliamentary Caucus. His wife who is a serving Member of Parliament had (has) fallen out with the SLPP leadership in Parliament.
Another reason why Jimmy Batilo Songa did not win was because he failed to get the backing of the First Lady. Undoubtedly, the First Lady has become a major stakeholder in the party and her support or endorsement matters these days.
Jimmy Batilo Songa did not win because he was seen as a man with a vaulting ambition to one day contest for the flag bearer position of the party.
Jimmy Batilo Songa failed to win the position of National Chairman of the SLPP because he was (is) seen by many as a very divisive figure in the party.
Another reason why Jimmy Batilo Songa did not win is because he failed to pick up enough diaspora delegates’ votes from especially his putative UK/Ireland base.
It must be said that Jimmy Batilo Songa put up a strong fight and was able to establish himself as a force to reckon with when it comes to a popularity contest in the party.
Will Jimmy Batilo Songa make a spectacular comeback in three years’ time with Dr. Prince Alex Harding still in the driving seat at SLPP Headquarters? That reality is far-fetched. But three years is a long time in politics.
See Part 2 next week on why Dr. Prince Alex Harding won re-election in Bo City.
