Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s former Vice President, Chief Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana, has reaffirmed his commitment to constitutional governance and national unity, emphasizing that political convenience must never override the supremacy of the 1991 Constitution.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Sam-Sumana stated, “The Constitution is the supreme law of the land not the president, not the ruling party, not even the judiciary.”
He explained that public officials derive their authority from the Constitution, and rejecting it amounts to a betrayal of the people.
Reflecting on his 2015 removal from office, Sam-Sumana clarified, “I didn’t sue the APC; I sued the Government of Sierra Leone because when the Constitution is violated, it is the nation that suffers, not just an individual. And when our Supreme Court failed to uphold justice, I took the case to ECOWAS not for personal gain, but to defend the rights of every Sierra Leonean.”
He reiterated that his legal challenge, both domestically and at the ECOWAS Court, was not motivated by self-interest but by a desire to safeguard citizens’ rights and ensure that no leader stands above the law.
Addressing suggestions that his exit from office marked defeat, Sam-Sumana said, “My departure wasn’t retreat; it was preparation. I left not because I was broken, but because I knew I had to equip myself to return and fight for something greater than office the integrity of our Constitution.”
He called on the youth to view the Constitution as both their inheritance and protection.
“I am not fighting a party,” he said. “I am fighting for you for your right to live in a nation where laws matter more than loyalty, where truth outweighs tribalism, and where your future isn’t held hostage by political whims.”
Sam-Sumana further cautioned against divisive political rhetoric, noting that, “True unity doesn’t come from rallies or slogans. It comes from a shared commitment to one law, one standard, one Sierra Leone whether you’re from Kono, Kailahun, Port Loko, or Pujehun. The Constitution is that unifying force.”
He concluded by pledging to always place principle over power and urged Sierra Leoneans to defend the Constitution as the foundation of peace and justice.
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
