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Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh, has called on the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) to select leaders with “depth, substance, and character” as the party prepares for its upcoming lower-level elections.
In a comprehensive statement addressing the state of national discourse, Dr. Sengeh framed the rivalry between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the APC as a fundamental ideological divide, while criticizing what he described as a growing culture of “social media rhetoric” within the opposition.
The Chief Minister asserted that the SLPP operates as a “progressive social democratic party,” pointing to the establishment of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), social security reforms, the abolition of the death penalty, and the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) program as evidence of this philosophy.
By contrast, Dr. Sengeh questioned the policy clarity of the opposition, noting that while Hon. Abdul Kargbo once described the APC as a “Pan-Africanist Party,” the practical policy implications of that label remain unclear to him.
Despite the sharp ideological differences, Dr. Sengeh highlighted his respect for certain senior APC figures, specifically citing a recent “deep conversation” with Chernor Maju Bah (popularly known as Chericoco), the former leader of the opposition in Parliament and 2023 Vice Presidential candidate.
Dr. Sengeh praised Bah for having the “intellectual stamina” to engage in serious policy discussions, contrasting him with what he characterized as a newer, less experienced wave of opposition figures.
“Unlike many of the other folks in his party, [Chericoco] and a few others have the experience, exposure, and intellectual stamina to discuss policy and governance even where we disagree,” Sengeh noted, though he clarified that his comments were not a formal endorsement.
The Chief Minister leveled sharp criticism at opposition members who he claims are more focused on “clout chasing” and trending on social media than on the complexities of actual governance.
“Governance isn’t social media rhetoric,” Sengeh wrote. “Until you’ve sat across teachers who are demanding pay rises… established institutions from scratch, and passed bills into laws, it would be hard for you to understand certain things.”
He described the frequent calls for non-participation in governance as “the laziest and most destructive form of civic leadership,” urging the APC to move away from “abusive language in rallies” and toward a message of constructive dialogue.
