By Alpha Amadu Jalloh, “The Fox”
Well! Well!! Well!!! Mr. President, as we say in Krio, “Yu Na Man, Yu Na Man O!” You almost made me reconsider speaking out today. But honestly, Mr. President, are you out of your mind? How dare you place Dr. David Sengeh, a man with little political depth, as chairman of the SLPP’s constitutional review committee? Mr. President, what’s really going on? Are you so removed from the realities of your party?
Let me draw a comparison with the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. As his term neared its end, he stepped back and allowed the SLPP’s leadership to manage party affairs. Sadly, today’s SLPP is filled with yes-men and women, individuals who have turned you into some kind of political colossus, a leader who walks all over people. These party members, with their blind loyalty, have enabled you to insult the SLPP’s legacy, a party that used to be driven by wisdom and integrity.
But now? Oh Ya, men like Dr. Prince Harding, once stalwart figures in the party, allow themselves to be manipulated, bending to your will and that of the First Lady. It seems they believe their political survival hinges on staying in your good graces. Without you, they act as if they won’t see the next sunrise. It’s disheartening, to say the least.
Mr. President, I wonder if you even realize how some of these sycophants really feel about the way you’ve gutted the SLPP. You’ve transformed it from a proud party of intellect and tradition into a machine that serves your personal interests. You parade around, boasting to all who will listen that you’re the best president Sierra Leone has ever had. You’ve even dared to call yourself the “Father of Democracy.”
Really, Mr. President? Are you the Father of Democracy while you manipulate the system at every turn to suit your own ends? The audacity! What have you done to make anyone believe this self-proclaimed title? You stand on shaky ground within the party, and the old guard is beginning to see through your facade.
It’s not just the party you’ve lost touch with. Your insecurity around “Da Smol Borbor Dae,” Dr. David Sengeh, is glaring. What happened to the experienced lawyers and political heavyweights within the SLPP? “Na wetin Gbain Catch Yu Pa”? Even seasoned figures like Dr. Prince Harding and Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who once propped you up, now look on in quiet disbelief. You act as though the SLPP is an inheritance, a family heirloom handed down from your father.
Let’s be clear, Mr. President: the SLPP doesn’t belong to you. It is the people’s party. You are merely its steward, a figurehead at best, entrusted with maintaining the party’s legacy. But instead of upholding the party’s values, you’ve manipulated it into a shadow of its former self. The press, too, seems to have succumbed to your influence, as most media outlets have been cowed into silence. Where is the bold journalism? Where is the press that will challenge you on your glaring missteps?
Take your recent trip to London as an example. I watched in disbelief as you delivered a speech filled with stuttering and disjointed thoughts. It was painful to watch. How can you stand before an international audience with the world watching and deliver such a performance? Mr. President, why do you consistently place yourself in positions where you embarrass Sierra Leone? Do you even read your speeches ahead of time? While flying first-class on your chartered flights, do you ever think to practice your delivery?
Do you care at all, Mr. President? “Yu Lek True?” Or do you just enjoy the charade? Because, Mr. President, you shame us each time you stand on those international platforms and struggle to string your thoughts together. I’ve seen the looks on the faces of foreign diplomats when you start stammering. They exchange awkward glances, half in pity, half in disbelief. And why shouldn’t they? They know you’ve likely paid to secure your place at the podium, while true leaders command attention for free.
Contrast your speeches with those of a true statesman like President Obama. He walks away from any public forum with respect and admiration, his words carefully crafted to inspire. Meanwhile, you pay your way onto the stage, only to fumble through speeches riddled with lies and self-praise.
Let’s talk about your “Big Five Policy Projects.” You parade them around like they’re groundbreaking, but in reality, they have little to no impact on the average Sierra Leonean. The farm you boast about on AYV TV? How many people are actually benefiting from it? Not many, I assure you. It’s all just smoke and mirrors, Mr. President. You and your minions appear on TV, lying to the people of Sierra Leone about policies that do nothing to improve their lives.
Until you start to be honest with yourself and the people, you’ll remain isolated in your delusion. Your inner circle won’t tell you the truth because they’ve gained so much from your leadership. But the rest of us? We see the cracks. And we won’t stay silent much longer.
Mr. President, you need to change course before it’s too late. Those sycophants in your cabinet and around your wife may prop you up for now, but the people of Sierra Leone are watching. “Dem Ol Don Gains Wit Yu Leadership Ya,” and your time is running out.
The question is, will you listen before it’s too late? Or will you continue to lead us down this path of ruin?
