That generation of Sierra Leoneans that we from the past have been praying for: that will not give in to the very toxic politics of our day; that will demand real and not manicured changes among many others, is here.
These first time voters, who we will call Generation Next, say they are actively trying to register and encourage their cohorts to do likewise and vote for change.
The first time voters that spoke to this medium say they are voting because their future is at stake with President Bio at the helm at State House. The young people say with the majority of their parents or guardians small to medium size businesspeople, and with most of them getting university requirements to attend, including the way this government has made a mess of things for the business community, they have to register and vote so that a sound administrator with love for the people and country can take over as President.
‘Right now, things are very difficult for all of us across the country. Next election is really about change; changing Sierra Leone’s story going forward. President Bio has been reckless in his stewardship of the state. For our parents that used to sell on Abacha, they were moved without any thought given to where they will go and what would happen to us they take care of. Hardship has shot up; our parents need to be back at Abacha; they have nowhere else to turn to,’ said some of the first time voters.
They say they cannot afford to risk putting their future in the hands of President Bio for another five year term, calling plans and actions of the New Direction regime reckless. The youthful future leaders say with the foreign exchange rate and the prices of goods and services on an almost daily rate or price uptake, ‘we sleep and wake up to different and much harsher realities every day’.
‘For example, the much talked or boasted about free quality education is not really free as it would seem as if all the costs we were to take care of in secondary school have been transferred to the university level. University school fees continue to rise; some as high as three times the normal. The FQE will really be free when either we bring university fees drastically down or make it free as well. Truth be told, President Bio is not good for our prospects as young people and the future of the country. He and his team of managers have really made a mess of things. Next election is a vote for a change in the Sierra Leone story.’
They continued that since the SLPP took over in 2018 their attention has been drawn to the many killings of civilians by armed police officers at scenes of rioting or protesting, the many instances of corruption that the regime has done nothing about, lack of freedom of speech, expression and assembly, tribal hiring and firing of public workers, political thuggery within and without the SLPP, the criminal waste and stealing of donated public money among others.
‘It is for these and many other reasons that we are registering to vote and calling on our fellow youth and first time voters to do likewise. We also want the international community to be aware of the fact that for the past four years, everyone, including SLPP supporters, has been complaining about how hard things have been under this president. We the people of Sierra Leone no longer want President Bio as our leader; and we are registering to vote this way. The nation as a whole is against a second term for Bio as we have seen all they have done during the first term. Who will think of giving the Maada Bios another term to wreck the country? If the SLPP wins 2023 by some “miracle of God”, the international community will have themselves to blame because such a miracle will be impossible, as no one wants President Bio, not even those in his party,’ the first time voters opined.
They say the nation is against a second term for President Bio based on his very embarrassing and economically and politically harsh first term; that aside, having witnessed all the atrocities by this regime in less than five years, they would like for an opportunity to change the narrative.
‘We are tomorrow’s leaders; we don’t want to copy today’s ways. We want to vote because we see President Bio insisting or claiming a second term as his right as a very dangerous thing to do. If he loses and claims that he is being denied his second term, imagine how his supporter would react? A second term is given to someone who has performed well during the first term. Second term in office is a limitation, not necessarily a birthright. Who in their right mind across Salone will re-elect Bio and the SLPP after all we have been going through?’ they asked.
As it stands, the whole nation is looking forward to the elections slated for next year. This medium has been in the fore reminding the nation that the 2023 elections are the most important in the history of elections in and for the future of Sierra Leone.
If the people are to vote as they have in the past, then we will get the same old class of leaders as we have been getting with our problems much worse. But if we vote alongside the winds of change sweeping across the world, then Sierra Leone stands a chance of reclaiming and eclipsing her past laurels in education, sports, politics and religion. Change is already here; the first time voters are going to make sure this change is felt in our governance space.