The question of why President Julius Maada Bio is calling for a second term still lingers among Sierra Leoneans. After a failed first term, President Julius Maada Bio is seeking re-election for another term but without a clear message. He is ambitiously canvassing Sierra Leoneans to entrust him with the country’s future for another five years without but without justification. He appears red than red colour itself or the hot seat as if he had never been there.
He leaves no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored to get what he wanted. At the moment, Bio’s penchant for a second term knows no limits. He is well prepared as he possesses the cash and cache. Signs of deep-rooted resentment and threats of protest do not hold him back. As President Bio promised to do more if voted in, his spin doctors are busy cajoling the voters that they will rectify errors of the past.
Former Finance Minister of Finance and now Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa is leading Bio’s campaign for June 24 election with high confidence that he would make it. Saffa is busy enticing and mesmerising the electorate that the mechanism to correct past mistakes is being laid although he did not specify them.
The only mistake maybe is for President Bio to allow Saffa who is well known for the failed bread-and-butter economics to champion his 2023 campaign. In 2018, Saffa presented one manifesto which covered almost every aspect of governance with free education being the flagship.
This time, he presented two shiny manifestoes that have seemingly won few Sierra Leoneans’ minds. The manifestoes are mere hoaxes riddled with lies and deception. The one manifesto is almost the same as that of 2018 in volume and content while the other is brief as it deals with five thematic areas: agriculture, education, youth employment, public service, tech and infrastructure.
The abridged manifesto very much resonates with APC (All People’s Congress)’s 2007 Agenda for Change (AfP) which looked at five aspects: energy, infrastructure, agriculture , education and health. The difference between the two lies in the degree of success recorded while in governance. APC’s AfP enjoys popular and positive appraisal although Saffa is yet to roll out his.
But, he is highly confident that they woul succeed this time. But, the adage that once bitten twice shy is highly relevant to SLPP’s fake claims. The SLPP lead strategist, Saffa made many promises especially on the improvement of the economy. He promised, in 2018, to transform Sierra Leone from a land of abject poverty into one of milk and honey.
Since one can see a ripe corn by its looks, Saffa and others appears ripe to the eyes of Sierra Leoneans as they cloaked in valuables to swing the people to their hidden agenda. Indeed, the people were carried away forgetting that not all that glitters is gold. The electorate were taken by their emotions and instinctual urges as they massively voted in for the ruling party, SLPP.
Five years gone, almost everything has gone agog, and many do not seem to accept Saffa’s promises this time. To many Sierra Leoneans, the promises constitute a big time deception. The people of Sierra Leone are tired of clearing dust thrown into their eyes by SLPP politicians. The only option now is to vote them out.
Failures in economy, governance, human rights and rule of law are stark and blatant. Although the gun kills, but failures in the kills the most although the deaths occur slowly. Under Bio’s watch, the economy has been badly battered than at anytime in the country’s history in spite of attractive promises made in 2018. The President assured Sierra Leoneans of fixing the economy, lowering prices of commodities, controlling inflation and improving living standards.
These promises were embedded in SLPP’s 2018 manifesto popularly known as the ‘People’s Manifesto.’ Voters were moved by the promises, and Bio became President in the face of high expectation. Providing food and cutting down on food prices were the most acute needs.
The voters’ famous rally song sent loud and compelling messages to President Bio that they urgently needed food in the short run.
“TOLONGBO NOR DAE SIDOM YA, ANGRY BOKU” which means APC(All People’s Congress) would no longer rule because hunger was too much. Bio was therefore expected to fix the food problem first as a way of hitting the ground running.
Within the first 100 days which is now a template for assessment of new governments, it became clear that Bio could not solve the food problem in Sierra Leone let alone fix the economy. By his disposition, it appeared as if food problem was not a priority for his government although he used to say that it was unfair for Sierra Leoneans to purchase a bag of rice at Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones).
He went on to state that a bag of rice was just Le50, 000 (fifty thousand Leones) before 2007.  It could be inferred from the President’s statement that he would ensure that the price goes below 50, 000. The current situation however has proved that Bio’s statement is a complete frailty.
A bag of rice today stands at Le700, 000, a price that stuns and shocks every Sierra Leonean either rich or poor, young or old, SLPP or APC, Northerner or Southerner, Westerner or Easterner and the list goes on and on. Nobody expected that under Bio’s leadership, a price for a bag of rice will reach such mountain-high.
It has today drastically changed the food or dietary habits of many Sierra Leoneans who are seeking subtitutes or alternatives. A huge number of Sierra Leoneans now depend on inferior food just to keep life going since they cannot afford rice as usual. A Freetown resident and mother of three, Adama Conteh says it usually takes them days for them to eat rice.
“Since rice is expensive now, I and my kids at home will depend on other food stuff especially ‘foo foo’ and ‘Yebbeh’ (porridge) for home consumption. We pray that the President who wins this election lowers the price of rice,” Adama prayed to God in sadness and disappointment. She is not alone in the prayers; others pray too.
Although Freetownians are badly affected by the hard times, those in the provinces are the worst hit. Video footages on media platforms show how upcountry men live on cassava at the moment. For many homes especially in the South-East, Cassava is now their staple. “CASSADA NAR HIN DON WIN,” Bobby, a local Mende singer.
Bo city and other parts in the Southern region have gained fame for living on sliced cassava known in Mende as ‘TANGAJESSE.’ The high price does not stop only at food but also other related items. Price of palm oil, a locally processed commodity in Sierra Leone has hit a record high.
The price of palm oil before 2018 hovered around Le180, 000 (one hundred and eighty thousand Leones) to Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones). Now, the price stands at Le700, 000 (seven hundred thousand Leones) for a jerry can making it difficult for many people especially low-income earners to afford it. The President has also found it difficult to contain the situation at the last hour.
The price of Petroleum, one of the most sensitive commodities in Sierra Leone, has shot up beyond imagination, and fears that it might further rise remains high. Before 2018, a price of litre was between Le4,500 (four thousand five hundred Leones) and  Le6, 000 (six thousand Leones).
But, it is never the same again when President Bio took over state governance in 2018. The price started spiralling out of control between 2020 and 2021 the peak or mid-point of Bio’s leadership. Now, the price stands at 21, 500 (twenty-one thousand, five hundred Leones) for just a litre. In the black market, the price is more than the recognised market price. Black marketers (jebu sellers) sell at the price of Le23, 000 (twenty-three thousand Leones) or Le25, 000 (twenty-five thousand Leones) especially during fuel shortages.
The Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) finds it difficult to stabilise the oil price,most times, during situation the agency is required to act. Looking at the low profile the fuel regulator keeps on frequent fuel crises, accusing fingers are being pointed at the agency for colluding with fuel dealers. Many say they share the loot.
Fear is rife that the price will remain as it is until Bio goes out of power in June, 24. Petroleum is both political and strategic: it has been used to depopularise governments or remove them from power. A shift in its price will also affect almost every commodity and service in the economy. Since its price sky-rocketed, prices of basic goods and services too has moved in similar direction.
An ordinary sardine is currently sold at Le17, 000 (seventeen thousand Leones), a price that has surprised everyone. How can a commodity which was sold at Le3, 000 (three thousand Leones) could suddenly rise to such price level remains the most frequently asked question. One cannot mention sardine and leave out bread; the two are complementaries although there are other substitutes.
Saffa promised to address the bread-and-butter challenge in the country within a short time. President Bio even went further in promising Sierra Leonrans that he would construct a bakery for an increased production of bread in Sierra Leone, but the bakery, to date, is yet to be constructed, and Sierra Leoneans are not sure whether the President would fulfill the promise as he slowly rides into the sunset.
The hope that Bio would win June 24 election remains faint. Even the most confident in Bio’s government has lost hope. The price of a real-sized bread stands at Le10, 000 (ten thousand Leones) instead of Le2, 000 (two thousand Leones) which was the normal price in the good and sweet old days. Even prices of personal wearings have been badly affected by the economic meltdown.
A Jean trousers recently sold between Le70, 000 (seventy thousand Leones) and Le80, 000 (eighty thousand Leones) today goes for Le200, 000 (two hundred thousand Leones) and above. The high market price has driven customers away, and tough times are visible in most market centres in the city and provinces.
A trader in clothes, Mabinty Kamara says that sales have considerably fallen to a record low owing to the high prices. “In the past, I used to sell between Le3, 000, 000 (three million Leones) and Le4, 000, 000 (four million Leones) a day. Now, I cannot even sell Le400, 000 (four hundred thousand Leones). Customers are running away from the high prices,” Mabinty lamented at the appalling situation.
As prices of goods rise to unbearable heights, so is the transport fare in the country soaring. Movement from one point to another within the city has been made extremely difficult. Prices cannot just fit pockets, and drivers do not reach passenger’s destinations. Sometimes, they resort to unexpected changes of direction with intent to extort or exploit.
The situation remains tougher for those venturing to travel to the provinces. The fare from Freetown to Kailahun in the farthest East today is tagged at Le400, 000 (four hundred thousand Leones) excluding the return trip. What a big blow to Sierra Leoneans? Before 2018, Le70, 000 (seventy thousand Leones can take one from Freetown to Kailahun.
It is a different case under Presidential Bio as fares for movement from Freetown to other parts of the country remain high. To be on the safe side, many Sierra Leoneans have cut off trips from either the provinces to Freetown and vice versa. It goes without saying that the hikes in prices owes it to the uncontrollable foreign exchange rate for which Sierra Leone is well known.
Currently, 2, 300, 000 (two million, three hundred thousand Leones) chases a US$100, a very big margin when compared to the old days. Before 2018, just Le700, 000 (seven hundred thousand Leones) goes into US$100. Although two finance ministers and one Bank Governor have been set aside, the exchange rate and the economy still remain in deep mess.
At this stage, it it is also safe to say that Bio’s government has run out of options: it can neither control inflation nor stabilise the exchange rate. Sierra Leoneans, at this stage, are in dire need of another President who can fix the economic problem. These apparent weaknesses render Bio’s second-term questionable.
Many do not question Bio’s policies but question his personal judgment about what prompt him to go for another. The answer lies in the hands of the voters.