By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, theft, bullying, and lying have fast become the unfortunate symbols of your government. I often wonder how you manage to go to bed at night with all of this on your conscience. Oh, forgive me, my mistake. I know you probably don’t get much sleep, right? After all, running a country must keep you up all night, racking your brain for ways to solve the pressing issues that haunt Sierra Leone, day after day. Or maybe that’s what you tell yourself when the weight of our nation’s problems starts to feel too heavy to ignore.
Mr. President, I didn’t mean to flatter you, just pull your leg. I’m quite sure you don’t spend a second thinking positively about the advancement of Sierra Leone or its people. I wish you did. But, as always, I try to be fair. I don’t speak out of anger, and no, I don’t have a personal issue with you. I wish it was that simple. This isn’t about me or you; it’s about the people, about the promises that were made, the ideals that have been squandered, and the future that looks increasingly bleak under your administration.
We have spoken about many things in Sierra Leone, Mr. President, yet we have barely scratched the surface. If you think this is as bad as it gets, brace yourself, “Wi nor Begin Yet O.” The rot runs deep, and you can trust me to keep speaking up. My head isn’t a vault for your secrets, and I’m certainly not one to leave the truth buried. I will call things by their names, and I will do so correctly. Today, Mr. President, it’s time we talk about the ugly truths surrounding your government, the unchecked power, the hypocrisy, and the betrayal of the very values you claim to uphold.
Mr. President, let’s not beat around the bush; rumours have been swirling about the tension between you and your wife. It’s hard to hide such things when the excesses are so public. People say that it’s like trying to give a name to an old dog when you should have done so when it was still a puppy. If you force the name on it now, all you’ll get is a bite. And in this case, the bite is coming from all sides. The people know, Mr. President. They’ve seen the way things have spiralled, and they’re talking.
And now, let’s talk about your Minister of Works, Dr. Dennis Sandy. The accusation of him attempting to rape, if not outright raping his stepdaughter, is a stain on your government that you have failed to address. This young woman, after numerous attempts by your government to silence her, finally broke down and spoke her truth to the public. Now the cat is out of the bag. Yet, here we are, and Dr. Sandy remains in his position, untouched and unscathed by the law.
Why, Mr. President? Why is this man still in your cabinet? Why is he shielded from accountability while the cries of the victim go unheard? Sandy has become synonymous with controversy, and yet you refuse to act. Your government’s silence on this issue is deafening. Mr. President, why not tell the people the truth? Why not admit that Dr. Sandy is “untouchable” because of the many secrets he holds about you and your wife’s dealings? The people know it already; it’s no longer a secret. His loyalty to you goes beyond public service; it’s about self-preservation for both of you.
Mr. President, we both know that I’m no sycophant. I’m not here to sing your praises or pretend that things are fine when they’re not. But you like my company, don’t you? Or at least, you pretend to. You may think you can hide the cracks in your administration, but the truth has a way of seeping out, no matter how much you try to suppress it.
For all the noise and pageantry around your government’s supposed commitment to women’s rights, “Hands Off Our Girls,” and all the slogans your wife parades, it rings funny when we see figures like Dr. Sandy continuing in their positions unchallenged. It reeks of hypocrisy. Your administration claims to prioritize women, yet when one of your ministers stands accused of sexual violence, you do nothing. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice for the victim? You have failed not only as a leader but also as a man who claims to champion the rights of women.
We see you, Mr. President, and we watch with scorn. Dr. Sandy manages most of your properties, doesn’t he? Many of which are suspiciously listed in his name. Your hands are tied because if you were to fire him or let him be investigated, he would spill everything. So, you protect him at all costs. But let me tell you, Mr. President, this is no longer a secret. Everyone knows. We are just waiting for the day you are out of power, because believe me, “Ar Sweh to God, Bra Wan Penny nor Go Lef Na Yu Han.”
Yes, Mr. President, you and your wife may be enjoying yourselves now, jet-setting around the world, accumulating wealth, and indulging in luxuries. But make no mistake, 2028 will come, and the people will not forget. Your days of impunity are numbered, and the long arm of justice will catch up with you. Every penny you’ve squirreled away in Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Lebanon—yes, we know about those too—will be frozen, and it will be returned to the coffers of the state.
Right now, you may laugh and brush this off as idle talk, but there is nothing idle about the power of the people when they’ve had enough. So, enjoy what you can now, Mr. President; eat, fly, and indulge, but know this: the reckoning is coming. The people will not allow you to walk away scot-free when the dust settles.
For now, you may continue to live in the bubble of power, shielded from the consequences of your actions. But one day, when that bubble bursts, you will face the full weight of justice. The people of Sierra Leone deserve better. They deserve leadership that stands for integrity, for justice, and for the welfare of all, not just a select few. They deserve a government that doesn’t hide behind lies, corruption, and impunity.
Mr. President, can we talk? The clock is ticking, and the people are watching. O. lest I forget, Mr. President, do you want to tell Dr. Gilpin of Rokel Commercial Bank that he will be our point of discussion tomorrow, Insha Allahu, “Mek Ar Laf Smol Ba, Mi Laf Nor Wel Bete Tiday”
