In a recent revelation that has stirred political debates, Sylvia Blyden, the former Minister of Social Welfare under the Ernest Bai Koroma administration, disclosed that Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh once sought employment from the then-ruling All People’s Congress (APC) in 2015.
Blyden made this claim in a Facebook post, sharing a photograph of Sengeh with former President Koroma taken in New York during the same period.
Blyden stated that she was instrumental in facilitating a meeting between Sengeh and the former president, as Sengeh expressed interest in joining the APC administration at the time. “Sengeh was pleading for a job with the APC,” Blyden wrote, implying that his actions suggested a lack of loyalty to his current party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
She criticized Sengeh’s recent comments on national television, where he referred to the APC as “unprogressive.” Blyden pointed out the irony in Sengeh’s statement, given his past efforts to align with the APC. “While the SLPP was functioning as the democratic opposition, Sengeh was lobbying the ‘unprogressive’ APC for employment,” she added.
The controversy escalated after Sengeh’s remarks, drawing backlash from APC members and political commentators. Abdul Kargbo, the Opposition Leader in Parliament, was quick to challenge Sengeh’s portrayal of the APC’s governance. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kargbo highlighted the economic stability under the APC compared to the current situation under the SLPP. He emphasized that inflation remained controlled and essential commodities like rice were affordable during the APC’s tenure.
Kargbo also noted that the APC ensured timely payment of salaries and maintained a minimum wage that could support a decent standard of living. “Under our watch, inflation never reached 54%, and the cost of living was manageable,” he said.
As calls grow for Sengeh to clarify or retract his statements, the Chief Minister has yet to address the controversy publicly. The delay in his response continues to fuel discussions across political lines, with many awaiting his clarification on the matter.
