By Felix Khonte
THE PROLOGUE: Sometimes in our life’s journeys, we fail to recognize; or lose our senses of purposes in our dealings with the affairs of society. Then, our life’s ultimately become stale, or meaningless. And perhaps; we may feel devastated by all of the pressures from the circumstances surrounding us; as they weigh heavily on our inner beings. When you undertake your vision quest, you may not know where your destination may lead you to, until when you flip flop along the way, then; you’re unrealistic and erroneous undertakings will begin to dehumanize and hunt your good reputation.
These situations could lead people to sleepless nights, and may cause loss of appetite; when in fact you could be hungry. But the prevailing circumstances have caused your stomach to be filled with torment, anguish, and resentment. Mind you, “man’s most faithful friend is your conscience!” When the mind is depressed and full of misgivings, because of your negative contributions to the sad state of affairs in your country, society; or organization, it tells on your physical features negatively; as a guilty conscience needs no accuser.
When confronted with such circumstances or situations whether in politics, businesses ventures, academic pursuits; and what have you, then; it is the right time for you to leave your routine; and enter a quest to re-discover the motivating vision of your lite. That vision can never change as you develop that aspect of your philosophy that, come what may, you must succeed in what your motivational aspirations are driving you to. This is the essence of whom you are; that makes you a human being with a calculated character of developmental instincts of good foresight.
When you are aware of your prominence in society, and able to act on it consistently and decisively, you feel energized and sustained. But some people get themselves messed up along the way as they become involved in the dramas of other people, and forget the real purposes of the fundamental principles of their aspirations. When you tend to forget about the real dangers some wrong decisions you are about to undertake might be leading you to, then, something rises within your natural inner being, and warns you about consistency in your decisions; for a just and equitable society, and that could lead you to ultimate peace of mind within yourself.
THE COUNTDOWN OF THE NEW DIRECTION: Over the past seven years, the SLPP-PAOPA Government of President Julius Maada Bio has had a “unique circumstantial privilege” of running the affairs of this country, during a period of immense opportunities, coupled with large funding from our development partners. His much trumpeted free quality education; and the first lady’s hands off our girls’ projects, received massive funding from our development partners. That was an eye opener for the citizens to should have expected positive developments in the educational sector, if the funds were utilized rationally.
But as his days begin to run against time in his “controversial second term mandate,” the feeling of resentment and disillusionment among Sierra Leoneans has reached the level of unprecedented heights. Their campaign slogans, and manifesto of 2018, has not been felt or seen in nearly every tangible sector of development across the country.
“THE NEW DIRECTION MANIFESTO OF 2018”: The slogan ‘Salone Go Betteh’, and of late, Paopa, Salone Go Betteh” has turned out to be ridiculous tones, as there are no tangible evidences to match up these mouthwash slogans. The SLPP can no longer fool the people again with their campaign slogans, nurtured grievances of vendettas against their political opponents, the All Peoples Congress. Their international media write-ups, and the president’s frequent travels out of the country so as to down play and cover up their mismanagement of the economy, and the huge corruption scandals hanging over their heads, are currently topical issues that cannot be brushed aside with a pinch of salt.
Before their assumption into governance in 2018, they made promises and commitments that they will endeavor to encourage genuine democracy, strengthen anti-corruption reforms; to be backed up with stringent measures for defaulters. They emphasized on human capital development; with infrastructural transformation, and capacitating the youthful population as their primary targets.
Then, the most importantly aspect of their promises, was the bread and butter issues,( the daily livelihood of its citizens). These promises were top of their agenda during the political rallies in 2018, as they defined and accused the Koroma led government as a bunch of failures that have crippled the economy beyond the common man’s reach.
These messages were not merely campaign rhetoric; they were holistic commitments centered on the party’s New Direction Manifesto. Seven years on, the stark reality of what majority of Sierra Leoneans are facing and enduring today are visible signs of increased poverty, lack of trust and confidence in all of our public institutions; as they have been captured by the state, coupled with archaic crumbling of our infrastructures that leads to economic despair, blatant human rights abuses, and swift clamp down on dissenting voices.
The most glaring failure of president Bio’s government since 2018 is his mishandling of the economy. President Bio’s first discredited and failed Finance Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, who was very much outspoken in his radio and television stations interviews, when they were in opposition; “told us that, within six months of their taking up governance, they will solve the bread and butter issues that were biting hard on the populace under president Koroma.” He made boastful claims about his vast and gifted experience of handling monetary matters in the past perfectly well, and that; they will alleviate the too many problems of the sufferings masses across the country within the shortest possible time.
He accused the previous government of not having qualified technocrats who know how to handle the economy of the country. Woefully though! Within six months of his taking over the finance ministry, instead of stabilizing the economy, the situation got worse! Inflation soared tremendously, and the cost of living numerically skyrocketed! He publicly made a “sacrilegious disclaimer in one of the radio stations that, if even Jesus Christ was to be invited to come and run the finance ministry; he too cannot solve the problems of inflation in the country!”
It was after these unfortunate remarks by J. J. Saffa that their government resorted to massive corruption in all sectors of their administration. Despite receiving massive support from donor agencies and international financial institutions, including the IMF, World Bank, the European Union, the government has little to show in terms of sustainable economic reforms. Public debt has risen sharply, with little or no accountability to justify how these monies have been utilized and managed.
The re-domination of our local currency was another glaring error that the octogenarian former Bank Governor, Professor Kaifala Kallon undertook. After being advised by competent banking experts about the negativity of that project, he turned down all those advises and went ahead to carry out the failed re-domination project. He went further to tell the nation that he splashed out the whopping sum of 68, million US dollars in order to canvas people to come the bank of Sierra Leone, in exchange of the old Leones as it was not too available in circulation.
On the development sector, the government failed woefully to empower local enterprises and forgot to boost agricultural productivity as the government depends heavily on importation of the country’s staple food, rice. This makes the economy to be fragile and contributes more to the difficulties and unpredictable hardships encountered by the vulnerable families. Even the much trumpeted Feed Salone Project has not received the holistic attention it deserves, as the sites are just white elephants covered in the cloak of “talk and do rhetoric.”
During his campaigning speeches in 2018, Bio made a firm and decisive commitment to wage war on corruption, as it was like a disease that has longed plagued Sierra Leone’s development agendas, and boost public trust in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s). Initially, the Anti-Graft Agency under Francis Ben Kaifala; was seen as a beacon of hope to cure this nation from the decades of gross unaccountability and mismanagement of public funds.
“O TIME! HOW MUST THOU UNTANGLE THIS NAUGHT, AS IT IS TOO HARD A NAUGHT TO UNTANGLE?” However, as the years rolled by; the administration’s war on corruption began to look like a crusade of selective justice; that carried political undertones in the exercise of the Agency’s fair constitutional mandates. High profile cases involving SLPP insiders were either not investigated, or quietly swept under the carpet where it would remain silent. In fact, there were instances when the head of the Anti-Graft Agency could be seen defending suspected members of the government that were brought before the commission for investigations.
Making reference to the State House Scandal of hotel double duping of receipts, in one of the presidents overseas tours was a case in point. The former Chief Minister, Dr. David Francis was also found wanting of embezzlement of thousands of dollars during his tenure at state house. The office of the first lady was also accused of misappropriating thousands of dollars, monies meant for the hands off our girls’ project. There were no investigations carried out in all of these allegations, and that was how it ended, in deep secrecy!
On the other hand, matters involving opposition APC members were quickly and swiftly prosecuted, often under controversial circumstances. Like the Commissions of Inquiries that were set up to look into, and investigate the erstwhile former President Ernest Koroma’s government, and all those who worked under his ten years in governance. They were referred to as persons of interest that were to face the inquiries with no legal rules of engagement.
The services of one retired judge from Nigeria, Justice Biobele Georgewill, Justice William Atuguba from Ghana, and Bankole Thompson from Sierra Leone were hired to carry out the inquiries. Ernest Koroma was even further indicted for financial impropriety and money laundering. The inquiries ended and a white paper was produced that recommended the forfeiture to the state of Ernest Koroma’s houses, and several other members his government.
The most unfortunate and saddest episode of all these recommendations was the seizure of two deceased people’s houses that were among the names of persons of interest. Former minister of education, Dr. Minkailu Bah, and former National Telecommunications Chairman, Mr. Momoh Konteh, who had already died; but their relatives were forcefully evicted from the houses under well-armed police authority. Under normal fairness and justice, cases of deceased persons are dropped by law as they are regarded as post humus.
“CROSSING THE RUBICON”: The most controversial matter was the one levied against Dr. Samura Kamara for the New York Chancery Building. This matter dragged on for a long time at the high court with prosecutors finding no substantive evidence to prosecute the matter further. What were the hooked up allegations levied against him? “He was wrongly charged for failing to inform his principal, that is to say, former president Ernest Koroma.”
He laid the foundation to secure the loan from the Chinese Government, and there was no evidence to prosecute him with the embezzlement of that money, because, by the time the money was transferred by the Chinese authorities, his government was already in opposition and there was another foreign minister in the person of Dr. Alie Kabba, who was never called to make clarifications about that money.
“TRUST DIES BECAUSE BAD PAY POISONS HIM”. For exposing the corrupt activities at the highest seat of office, the State House, the astute auditor general, Mrs. Laura Taylor-Peace, and her deputy; Tamba Momoh, were suspended for carrying out judiciously and objectively what their constitutional mandate entails, as auditors with checkered history of honesty in carrying out their official functions.
A pro- government committee was set up to look into the matter of the two auditors. The committee finished their findings and submitted their report to president Bio. He then pushed it over to parliament for their action to get parliamentary approval before their dismissals. They were summarily relieved of their duties on cooked up allegations of professional misconduct.
The Paopa led government of president Bio has also been accused of gross human rights abuses and denial of democratic freedoms since 2018. The spate of killings across the country from mile 91, Thonko Limba, Makeni City, Lunsar, Tombo, have all gone silence without proper investigations being set up to look into these unwarranted killings of innocent civilians.
“THE DARKEST HOUR IS NEAREST THE DAWN.” That was how it happened on that fateful day at the Pademba Road Maximum Prisons on the 29th January 2020. Very early on that memorable day, when security apparatus attached at the presidential lodge; barricaded the compound, shooting sporadically at close range to innocent inmates that were in their cells on that 5am operation. Several inmates met their tragic deaths from the cold hands of people who are paid to protect the lives and properties of peaceful citizens. Barbaric! People, who were in solitary confinement, could have met this gruesome death is unbelievable!
Few days later, the former SLPP Women’s leader, Fatmata Sawaneh, as if driven by the philosophy that says: “A fault confessed is half redressed.” She became active on social media; joyfully boasting about the genocide operation. She made mention of prominent SLPP figures that were on the scene when the onslaught was carried out, including the former SLPP National PRO, Lahai Lawrence Leema, who was also the deputy minister of internal affairs.
“DISGUISES HELP THE DEVIL DO HIS DIRTY WORK”: The government’s handling of peaceful protesters on 10 August 2022 and beyond, when the people wanted their voices to be heard and seen, was met with high-handed repercussions from the security forces; that led to the unfortunate death of several civilians, and six police officers. And on 14th August, one famous APC blogger, Hassan Dumbuya, commonly called Evangelist Samson, was brutally murdered in broad day light in Makeni City, from suspected state security management apparatus.
The 24th June 2023 elections stalemate which also saw the loss of life of one APC activist, commonly called White Boy at their party offices on the 26th June and Matron Mahawa on the 27thJune respectfully. On all these two occasions, the entire executive and leadership of the APC were in their offices; holding very important meetings, in the presence of both local and foreign journalists about their position on the announced results by Mohamed Konneh. It was in that gathering that they made it categorically clear that they will not accept the result, and that the ballots were in their favor.
Again on September 16 2023, several people lost their lives during rumors of protests that were about to be organized when people were not satisfied with the outcome of the June 24th 2023 elections results as announced. The spate of killings by this government has been described as the most worrisome and barbaric under a democratic dispensation since independence.
“WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS CITIZENS INORDER TO BUILD A JUST SOCIETY”? There are so many people who are supposed to speak the truth to power, but they have failed in their responsibilities to perform their duties genuinely. Those people, within and outside Sierra Leone; championing the call for “peace” without first mentioning “justice,” is like putting the cart before the horse; and it can never hold supreme. “There can never be genuine peace without justice”!
“OUR GATE-KEEPERS”: The moral guarantors, including the Inter-Religious Council, The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, are all important segments of our stake holders to think and do something urgently about our nation’s present state of affairs. Honestly speaking, this country is presently not as pleasant as we used to live since the end of the war. That is why I have decided to add ‘justice,’ to that institution of Peace and National Cohesion, as i mentioned inter earlier. Human Rights Advocates and commissions, Civil Societies, Office of National Security (ONS), and The Security Forces, including the Police are also important factors in this fight for the truth and justice to prevail.
“THE ALLIANCE POLITICAL CONSPIRATORS:” Looking at our situation presently, where the opposition All Peoples Congress, but as of now, has been referred to as the “ALLIANCE POLITICAL CONSPIRATORS,” who have lost all their senses of directions, and now roaming about; with no tangible plans for them to try for the restoration of their proclaimed 24th June 2023 presidential elections victory. It looks like they have bitten too much more than they can swallow, in partnership with the now infamous exiled former president Ernest Koroma, who has been on long slumber of silence, betraying the people’s trust in him.
“THE SOUNDING OF THE DEATH BELL OF DEMOCRACY”: This article is not about APC or SLPP, but for the very soul of our dear nation called Mama and Papa Salone. The Alliance Political Conspirators cannot speak in oneness on matters pertaining to the welfare of their party, and by extension the country; because, they have become conspirators and betrayed the people that voted them into governance for two consecutive terms. The APC executive here, together with their God Father in Abuja, in conjunction with the ruling government; are jointly planning a dangerous act of slaughtering democracy in this 21st century!
“PLOUGHING ON A LONELY FURROW”: Since the events of 24th June 2023, one man that has stood the test of time; is the forward thinking, technocrat, diplomat, and resilient presidential candidate of the All Peoples Congress Party, APC. This man has not given up his fight for the people’s mandate; and for the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. What he promised the people of Sierra Leone that they should go out and vote on the 24th of June and that he will protect their votes, is what he is currently championing.
“INSISTENCE”: He keeps insisting that fair elections are about results that reflect the will of the people, and it is on these bases that ruling governments are elected. He has been left alone by his executive colleagues of the All People’s Congress in this fight for a just cause, which is why he insists on saying no; to this election that the winner was declared, but there was no result to authenticate the declaration, that is why he continues his vigorous “plough on a lonely furrow.”
“EPILOGUE”: IF ALL OF US AS A NATION, WITH RESILIENT MINDS; CONTINUE TO REMAIN SILENT IN THE FACE OF THESE OBNOXIOUS PREVAILING CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LAND, THAT WAS ONCE SEEN AS THE “PARADISE AND ANTHENS OF WEST AFRICA,”THE ALMIGHTY GOOD LORD THAT IS WATCHING WITH KEEN INTEREST FROM HIS ABODE IN HEAVEN, WILL HOLD US ALL RESPONSIBLE, AND OUR CONSCIENCES CAN NEVER BE AT PEACE; FOR IT SHALL BE SAID: “PARADISE LOST, BECAUSE OF SILENCE”!!!
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESTORATION: “Look, The Eyes Of The Lord God Are On The Sinful Kingdom, And I Will Obliterate It From The Face Of The Earth. However, I Will Not Totally Destroy The House Of Jacob—This Is The Lord’s Declaration—For I Am About To Give The Command, And I Will Shake The House Of Israel Among All The Nations” (Amos chapter 9 verses 8—9). May the Good Lord deliver this nation from wicked politicians, in Jesus Mighty Name, AMEN!