This subject matter may sound strange to the ears of those who could argue that they will never see it happen. But, never say never.
The event, which followed the great split between late President Ahmad Tejan Kabba and Mr. Charles Francis Margai in 2006, was as a result of blatant disregard to moral protocols. Pride. Sa Lone man never encourages inferiority…take you yone ar take me yone…
This is the type of scenarios that want to befall the present dispensation. Because, gradually, all political strategies, coming from the Bio led administration, are pointing towards a regime bound for a dictatorship. Three years have passed with the same gimmick signaling high handedness, segregation and insubordination from most of the political actors doing their daily things. Sometimes some people want to believe that such character manifestation by President Bio’ appointees might graduate to the creation of a class culture within this society of ours. We have started seeing signs pointing to desperation, envy and dissent among the loyalists. If you talk to anyone who at one time saw the President as his dream, you will be turned down by a simple wave of the back hand gesture.
History may not want to repeat itself like we saw in the days of Late President Siaka Probyn Stevens’ All People’s Congress (APC) Party, when he hand-picked the Brigadier to further the continuity of his APC in power.
In 1988, the then President Momoh, on assuming the Office of the Presidency, was hailed by the whole nation as they were tired of seeing that old man. Mr. Momoh carved the lines of his predecessor to sooth his own style of governance and that was to continue the one party system of governance in Sierra Leone.
Momoh’s government swayed the peoples’ allegiance from all forms of democratic principles and fought hard to cement the doctrine of EKUTAY (oneness). Ostensibly, every top government official was coerced to wearing the Ekutay hat. Surprisingly, though, President Momoh was still carrying the APC One Party 5 year mandate in his right hand while in the left hand the Ekutay doctrine. Just a cabal of wrongdoers!!
The Ekutay had its proposed headquarters as a united front set at Binkolo Town in Northern Sierra Leone. This place was adored by the beholders who seek to pay homage to the godfather. Even those loyalists from far distance districts in the eastern province put up mansions in the town. Ekutay was becoming a family cabal of rulers whose aim was to continue to subdue the population to their dancing tune.
The spell did not last long due to the coup d ‘etat staged by the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). Coming back to my story, let us pray that the current status quo remains as it is, for much semblance of the Momoh era wants to pervade the corridors of State House. Momoh’s venture was a waste of his time anyway.
If President Bio really wishes to see this country progress at a considerable pace, then he needs to show us some amount of attention and concerns to treat us with fairness. He needs to go through the genuine advices raised by the citizens through the media. The media is the only source of respite for some of us who see no other route to let him know that there is pain and suffering somewhere, to say the least. The party office is dormant – so rumours are the key source of information we depend on. These are geared to improving on the daily lies.
Some of these concerns border on the choice of candidates for vacant positions within the government. What may be the yardstick used by the appointment committee to select people? Concerns which normally raise eyebrows are now the order of the day.
For instance, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) holds the position of Chairman, Public Private Partnership, while his wife is the deputy Minister of Mines (one family has Chairman, Chairman and Deputy Minister).
Mr. Tunis, former Leader of Government Business, holds a position in the House of Parliament and the African Union. His wife steps in as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Speaker of Parliament has his daughter appointed as High Commissioner to Kenya, replacing the Chief Minister’s late brother. So also are the President’s relatives, holding different positions in Government. What is really going on in here? How do we actually want to remember this President? That he came from afar; took power and turned to muzzle his people’s dreams? Send us to the backyard?
There are very strong men and women around who in many ways fought this course. There are couples going without food on the table who should have been placed in some of these positions.
The good thing is we need to share positions evenly across the nation otherwise it is becoming clearer that another Ekutay/the Real PAOPA is on the way creating The WE and the THEM scenario.