In a few weeks, sports enthusiasts and athletes from all around the world will be watching and participating in this year’s Olympic Games slated for this summer in Paris, France.
Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone, a serious political game is drawing to a climax. As the people of Sierra Leone at home and in the diaspora, regional and continental players, and members of the international community await with much expectation the outcome of the investigation and review of the 24 June 2023 presidential election (the people are not really interested in what happened in 2018, 2012, 2007 and 2002), there is a serious game at play.
It involves a lot of tough talking and venom spitting in the public domain while in the background and far from the eyes and knowledge of the public serious negotiations with promises, offerings and warnings are in the offing.
Welcome to the Tripartite Games, Sierra Leone.
In preparation for the day of the grand finale of this highly anticipated Game, there has been a lot of comedy of errors that leaves members of the public including many in the media more confused than informed about what is really going on.
Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on marketing the Paris Olympic Games, with regards what is really going to happen on the day of the Tripartite Games, which is slated for Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the Tripartite Games, Sierra Leone does not have a communications wing. Sadly, the people are at the mercy of the writers of intrigues in the traditional media (print and electronic) and new media (social or internet media). There has been almost a yearlong news blackout on the dealings and workings of the Tripartite Committee to the extent that it has a lot of commentators on what it is supposed to do, what it cannot do and what it will not and should not do.
No one speaks out for the committee whose findings are expected to unite and save Sierra Leone.
With only five (5) days left to the opening of Sierra Leone’s Tripartite Games, the political drama is heating up with a lot of comedy of errors on display. We don’t get to hear from the committee as much but we get a lot from the ruling party government and their supporters, tidbits from the main contender or main opposition, and a whole lot more from the new kings of citizen journalism, the social media guys.
In public, with so much at stake on the day of the Tripartite Games, there has been a lot of venom spitting from the ruling party government aimed at impressing their supporters while at the same time sending the main opposition and their supporters screaming for justice.
When speaking in public we have heard that there will not be another election until 2028. This is gravy points for the ruling party government. It sends a great message to their supporters that their comrade president, their soldier teammate is not leaving State House until 2028, no matter what happens at the Tripartite Games. Meanwhile, this stance on future elections is meant to deflate any hopes being nursed by the main opposition and their supporters and members that the committee is going to change anything.
And the comedy of errors continues.
To preempt anyone from within and without the country from thinking of coming out to demonstrate against anything, be it economic woes, the slowness of the day for the Tripartite Games, lack of news about what is really going on with the committee…there will be bullet for bullet. There is deafening cheering from the side of the ruling party government, fear and consternation on the side of the main opposition with the international community calling for clarification on the utterance. Are the warriors and architects of the 1990s talking about bullets? There is a rush at ECOWAS, representatives are sent east and west trying to understand what is going on.
As preparation for the Tripartite Games heat up we are now at the umpteenth hour being told what the Tripartite Committee can and cannot do without anyone telling us what the law says about whatever the committee could disclose. Supporters of the Games biggest participants are confused with this one.
While it is generally agreed that whatever the committee recommends will be good for Sierra Leone, why now at just a few days to the Tripartite Games (Wednesday, June 19) are we all of a sudden being told what the committee cannot do? But this is the public face to how the work of the committee is going to affect people.
But all along in the backrooms of tall buildings including some basement offices there are serious negotiations going on with duty bearers being reminded of their obligation to the upholding of the rule of law, there are promises and threats of actions to be taken if the people of Sierra Leone end up being the biggest losers of the Tripartite Games five days from today.
The reality of the matter is that while the Tripartite Committee cannot overturn any election, while it cannot announce election or voting results, while it cannot remove anyone from office, the disclosures that will be the fodder for all the committee’s recommendations that will come out on the day of the Tripartite Games are binding on all parties.
Also, what the public is not being told is that we will have to see what the law says about each disclosure and then apply them for the goodness and sake of the people and country.
Yes, this is Tripartite Weekend. Where will you be? Be on your side until you hear the results of the Tripartite Games. But like our dear comrade leader said, whatever the committee recommends will be good for the country, not a party, a tribe, a region or an individual. Lonta!