June 28, 2025
An objective view from a clean and sincere heart; in my response to the question in the 2028 Flagbearer Debate Forum on Friday, 27 June, 2025: Who is best as our next flagbearer of the SLPP for the 2028 Presidential election?
Dear All,
Fortunately, as on many occasions, the party is blessed with many fit and qualified personalities for the flagbearership of the party.
I am sure it is the hope and prayers of all well-meaning members that the party will not stay on the current dangerous trajectory of ‘elected-selection’ or the ‘selected-election’ of its party officials, and continue with this trend in the election of the flagbearer for 2028. That may not necessarily lead the SLPP to victory if there is no groundswell support for a flagbearer.
It is indeed disheartening to continue to observe that the party does not seem to have learned much from its one-too-many bad mistakes of the past, especially where attempts continue to be made to frustrate the choices of the majority from emerging, as expected.
Even from my relatively short membership time in the party, I feel emboldened by the annoying and frustrating silence of those who are supposed to salvage the situation, to share my own humble suggestion to steer us towards the selection of the best possible candidate group for the flagbearer position.
May I start by suggesting that we adopt the selection-by-
elimination method to enhance the party’s decision-making processes.
Let me first suggest a few criteria on the basis of which the elimination process could be done.
This can be reviewed.
1) That the next flagbearer comes from outside of the southern province, the region of the current leader, Retired Brigadier Maada Bio.
We need to consider the other 4 regions – East, North, Northwest, and West – in our choice of a flagbearer to strengthen our inclusiveness and unity. It was on the basis of similar principles that many of us could not support a Northern Province candidate to succeed late President Tejan Kabbah, who also hailed from the Northern Province. We showed preference for Retired Brigadier Maada Bio from the Southern Province to succeed a Northern Province, Pa Kabbah. I remember telling some groups then that it would be unfair for us (a Northerner myself) to insist on having another Northerner after we had a Northerner at the helm.
2) That the flagbearer must not be beyond his/her mid-sixties in age.
The party is blessed with a sober pool of young able-bodied and dynamic members to choose from. Older folks in their late sixties and seventies to provide for a more structured advisory group.
3) That the current leader of the SLPP, and President of Sierra Leone, makes a very clean break when his tenure expires in 2028 to allow for the peaceful, quiet, and decorous environment required for the first family to enjoy their retirement unencumbered.
Fortunately, the first family will most likely continue to attract the goodwill of the global, regional, and sub-regional bodies and multinational entities that would seek their engagement and advise on the never-ending challenges of our day.
Their experiences will continue to serve humanity well. Sierra Leone will no doubt continue to benefit from their efforts in many diverse ways.
4) That the ultimate flagbearer must be courageous enough to be ready to radically overhaul any current reckless agreement relating to our natural resources that does not significantly benefit the country’s economy and that has not allowed for our growth and development.
I am aware that the above suggestion of criteria will hurt, disappoint, or somehow insult various groups in diverse ways. But I prefer saying some of these bitter truths now than staying dumb, like so many more credible voices, whilst we sleepwalk towards the precipice .
A drastic deviation from more sensible and inclusive approaches such as this one, may cost the party very dearly for a very long while. I have based this on my personal experiences and observations working with, working for, and working around the corridors of power, both at home and elsewhere.
So una lef una hackeh for me. But dis nar me yone honest view ar don gee so for una consideration.
The party, we say big pass we ol
I have submitted these suggestions, which could be reviewed by those who matter more/most in furtherance of the party’s decision-making process towards winning the next election, strongly united to deliver even better thereafter.
After the elimination process, the resultant smaller number of candidates could then be much better assessed/analyzed on the finer points to achieve the best possible mix to lead the party. New sets of criteria may then be agreed against our threshold target of the sellability of our new flagbearer.
Let me pause for now.
Jumma Mubarak!
My very best greetings to you all. !
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Kellie H. Conteh
Brief Information on Brigadier-General Kellie Conteh
National Security Coordinator and Head of Office of National Security (ONS) in the governments of President Kabbah – when the ONS was established – and President Ernest Bai Koroma (2001 – 2012);
Minister of defence in the government of President Maada Bio (2019 – 2023)
National Security Adviser to President Maada Bio – (2019; and 2023 – to date
Served as Senior Security Sector Reform/Governance (SSR/G) Adviser in several UN-supported security reform programs and as a consultant in Africa and elsewhere.