Dr. Richard Konteh Refute the Proposition of Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas to be Selfish and Flawed—Despite Its Surface Appeal

Dr. Richard Konteh, on the right

At first glance, the proposal for power-sharing may seem like a pathway to peace, a quick fix to the deepening divisions in our politics. But beneath its surface lies a dangerous precedent—one that threatens to reward dysfunction, undermine democracy, and stall the progress Sierra Leone so urgently needs.

Let me be clear: Sierra Leone does not suffer from a shortage of political positions to share—it suffers from a shortage of trust, fairness, and accountable leadership. The solution to our national crisis is not another layer of political accommodation, but a radical recommitment to democratic integrity and institutional reform.

Our core problem is not the structure of government—it is the culture of governance. When elections are transparent, fair, and credible, the people's will speaks clearly. That is the bedrock of legitimate leadership. But when the electoral process is hijacked, manipulated, or discredited, no amount of seat-sharing can restore public confidence. Unity cannot be decreed through political handshakes in closed rooms. It must be earned through justice, trust, and respect for the people's voice.

Lessons from History: The Dangers of Power-Sharing as a Shortcut

We have seen where such power-sharing shortcuts lead. For example, in South Sudan, multiple power-sharing deals have been signed and broken. The cycle of violence continues because power was split without principle. Where there is no accountability, unity becomes an illusion.

Your proposed power-sharing, Mr. Hon. Speaker Thomas, is selfish and flawed. It will set a precedent where the pursuit of power by any means, even through violence or electoral rejection, can be rewarded with a seat at the table.

Sierra Leone must not walk that path.

True Unity Is Built on Principles, Not Positions

What we need is not a formula for dividing power, but a framework for rebuilding trust across party lines, across regions, across generations. This is how we truly unify Sierra Leone:

• By strengthening our democratic institutions,

• By ensuring justice is blind and impartial,

• By making leadership accountable and transparent,

• And by honouring the will of the people, not suppressing or negotiating it behind closed doors.

We should not be negotiating how to split power—we should be negotiating how to restore faith in the vote, dignity in governance, and hope in our future.

That is the unity Sierra Leone deserves. And that is the vision I, Dr. Richard Konteh, am committed to advancing—not unity for the political elite, but unity for the people.

Let us be bold enough to confront the real problems. Let us be principled enough to reject convenient compromises that come at the cost of our democracy. And let us be faithful enough to believe that Sierra Leoneans, when given a fair and open choice, can chart a future defined not by division, but by shared purpose, shared progress, and shared peace.