APA-Freetown-(Sierra Leone) Approximately 3.4 million Sierra Leoneans are registered for Saturday’s general election in which incumbent President Julius Maada Bio is seeking a second and final five-year term.
But does he deserve a second mandate given the widespread disappointment of the last five years under the Sierra Leone’s People Party (SLPP) government?
In the past year Sierra Leone witnessed serious violence in which scores were killed including security personnel over rising cost of living, corruption and general economic stagnation which Bio had promised will be a thing of the past when he was inaugurated as the country’s fifth president on May 12th 2018.
His biggest challenger this time round is Samura Kamara of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, who narrowly lost to Bio in the last election.
Kamara appear to be turning Bio’s misfortune into his own fortune, tapping into the stage of disenchantment of the ordinary Sierra Leoneans who are fighting poverty, joblessness and squalor in Freetown and other cities across one of Africa’s most naturally endowed countries.
Many say the polls come at a right time to test how far Bio has come in terms of assuaging the plight of ordinary Sierra Leoneans and how they feel about five years of his leadership.
Born on May 12th, 1964 in Tihun, Sogbini Chiefdom, Bonthe District, Bio one of 35 children born to Paramount Chief Charlie Wonie Bio II, Sogbini Chiefdom.
He completed his primary, secondary and undergraduate education in Sierra Leone. before starting his illustrious public service journey as a school teacher and later joining the Sierra Leone Army where he rose through the ranks as Brigadier.
He previously served as Chief Secretary of State, Chief of Defense Staff, Minister of Information, Minister of Marine Resources, Deputy Head of State, and ultimately as President of Sierra Leone from January to March 1996.
As military leader, Bio presided over the 1996 democratic elections, the first in Sierra Leone in nearly three decades and ushered in civilian rule under now late Ahmed Tijan Kabbah.
This had earned him the title “Father of Democracy” in Sierra Lone because of his outstanding contribution towards the restoration of democracy and attainment of peace in a country riven by more than a decade of brutal internal strife.
Will it be Bio or Kamara, his long-term political rival who is looking to upset the apple cart on June 24th.
The answer is not far off in the distance.
APA/ABJ