By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, in our previous discussions I started to talk about your wife, which you kicked against, but I must speak the truth, even if it is uncomfortable for you to hear. We have spoken about governance, corruption, infrastructure, and the mishandling of the country’s affairs. But there is one matter that continues to hang over your presidency like a dark cloud: your wife, First Lady Fatima Bio. Mr. President, it is unfortunate that since you introduced your wife to the Sierra Leonean political landscape, we, the people, have not known peace. Respect for the office of the First Lady, which should symbolize dignity and grace, has been shattered by her actions, and the role has been reduced to one of controversy and discord.
Let me make one thing clear, Mr. President: this is not a personal attack on your wife, nor is it a vendetta against her simply because she is the First Lady. It is her behavior, her arrogance, and her constant disregard for the people of this country that I cannot overlook. She has repeatedly acted in ways that do not reflect the Honor and humility we expect from the spouse of the head of state. In fact, she has become a symbol of everything that is wrong with the state of our leadership.
Mr. President, you must surely remember the day when your wife sat comfortably in the State Lodge, calling for mob justice against individuals who opposed your presidency. This was not a private conversation overheard in passing; it was a public spectacle. We all saw and heard it. The First Lady of a nation, a role that should be defined by civility and advocacy for peace, openly encouraged violence. This is not only unbecoming of her status, but it also puts the lives of citizens at risk. She has taken on a role that does not belong to her, and you, Mr. President, have allowed this to happen under your watch without so much as a word of correction or rebuke. How can the wife of a president, who should be promoting unity, be the one calling for division?
There are numerous reports of your wife requesting emoluments and favours from your ministers in exchange for their access to you. Mr. President, this is not a small matter; it is corruption at its most basic and shameful level. Instead of advocating for transparency and good governance, your wife has become part of the very system of patronage that has destroyed public trust in leadership. She uses her proximity to power not to uplift the nation but to enrich herself and extend her influence. Yet, again, you have done nothing to stop it. This silence from you, Mr. President, speaks volumes. It tells the nation that either you condone this behavior or that you are powerless to stop it, neither of which is acceptable.
Your wife has taken to referring to herself as “Her Excellency,” a title that is traditionally reserved for heads of state. Mr. President, is this not a mockery of the office of the First Lady? She is neither elected nor does she hold any constitutional authority. This title is not hers to take. Yet she parades around the country and abroad, presenting herself as someone with powers far beyond what is proper for her role. This is an insult not only to the people of Sierra Leone but also to the institution of the presidency itself.
In a particularly revealing interview with a Gambian journalist, your wife was asked about her contributions to nation-building. Rather than speak with humility about the work she might have done, she openly declared that she would not sacrifice her own “hard-earned” money for the people of Sierra Leone. Mr. President, let me ask you this: What kind of mother refuses to sacrifice for her children? Your wife likes to present herself as the “mother of the nation,” yet here she was, plainly stating that the people of Sierra Leone are not worth her effort. This is a damning statement from someone who is supposed to care for and represent the people.
Your wife’s much-publicized “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign, which claims to protect young girls from abuse and exploitation, has become nothing more than a one-off public relations exercise. After distributing a few menstrual pads in a photo-op event, the campaign seems to have all but disappeared. No sustainable infrastructure has been built to continue supporting these young girls. Instead, it appears that the entire project was nothing more than a ploy to generate international attention and donations. Where is the accountability for this project? Where are the results?
Women’s organizations across Sierra Leone have been muzzled under your wife’s influence. Rather than allowing these groups to operate independently and advocate for women’s rights, your wife has taken control of the narrative. She travels around making grandiose speeches and accepting awards that are little more than tokens of flattery. These so-called Honors are designed to stroke her ego, but they do nothing for the women of Sierra Leone. Women who should be empowered to lead and effect change have been silenced, afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation. Your wife has, in essence, hijacked the women’s movement in this country.
Mr. President, your relationship with the United States, particularly through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), has become deeply problematic. It is as though you have mortgaged our sovereignty for a few coins. The American ambassador, David Bryant Hunt, now acts with such boldness and authority that one might think he is the true head of state. He feels empowered to speak and act as he pleases, knowing full well that your government is beholden to foreign interests. Have we, as a nation, become so desperate that we are willing to sell our future to the highest bidder?
Mr. President, I implore you to take responsibility for your actions and the actions of those closest to you, particularly your wife. The First Lady’s behaviour has brought disrepute to your presidency and to the nation. She has overstepped her boundaries time and again, yet you have done nothing to rein her in. This is not about me or anyone else being against your wife; this is about the dignity of Sierra Leone and the expectations we have for those in positions of power.
For once, Mr. President, stand up and be the leader that Sierra Leone needs. Take control of your presidency, remove the undue influence of your wife, and focus on the real issues that affect the people. Sierra Leone deserves better than this, and so do you.
