The elections, in a couple of days, are presaged by doubtful fears and high hopes. This is all because of some riotous events that have been taking place lately.
In spite of all the organizations falling over one another with peace messages, the fears of the electorate have not been satisfactorily allayed. It is either that the messages are not being comprehended due to the means of communications or they are not being adhered to. But the messages have to be understood if they are to be adhered to.
And talking about adherence to the rules and regulations, the roles of religious leaders should be underscored here. Almost all Sierra Leoneans are either Muslims or Christians and their worshippers are being regularly admonished on good and moral behavior. Worshippers too are partly to blame for insecurity in paying heed to their leader’s messages of peace.
One factor that has not been realized in Sierra Leone, and for that matter in other developing countries, is that political party membership is neither a family, tribal or regional affair. It is an individual affair.
In developed countries, members of a family can belong to different parties without rancor. It is a matter of opinion that depends on one’s perspective or persuasion. It is therefore uncivilized behavior to coerce anyone to share one’s opinion.
In Britain, a certain Cabinet Minister’s wife belonged to another party. No case.
Politics should not divide our families. A politician imitates the devil and no one wants to be hell-bound knowingly.
Shakespeare has noted that a politician is one that would circumvent God. Therefore following the behests of such citizens, sheepishly, could even lead one to lose his/her salvation.
If the God we serve was not tolerant most human beings would not exist. Imagine people worshipping cows instead of Him, and some of those people prosper more than those who worship Him.
Tolerance should be the word. “I tolerate with the greatest latitude the right of others to differ from me in opinion without imputing to them criminality,” –Thomas Jefferson.
We could safely take a leaf from ex-President Johnson Sirleaf’s neighboring Liberia. See how they carried out their elections late last year in a most civilized manner. This is in spite of the fact that Liberians are also exposed to alcohol and drugs in the same way as Sierra Leoneans. Perhaps the difference is that there is a greater percentage of Christians in Liberia than in Sierra Leone exhibiting civilized behaviuor.
One way to cope with defeat is to expect the worst and then our disappointment will mellow. We should not count our chickens before they are hatched. This will shield us from doing the meanest of offences.
Defeat is the first step to something best. That is what Ernest Koroma experienced before he became His Excellency.
Let us pray for the Peace of Sierra Leone!