By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Okayyyyyy, Mr. President, today is going to be a special day again in our friendly but honest discussions. So, Mr. President, you’ve done it again! How come you’ve failed to follow the prescribed resolutions of the Tripartite Agreement? No, Mr. President, don’t start with that sweet talk, trying to steer me away from these issues of paramount importance in the advancement of Sierra Leone as a country. Today, we need to have a serious conversation.
Let’s get to the heart of the matter, Mr. President: why, oh why, do you consistently place Dr. David Sengeh as chairman in every given opportunity? Why? Is there no one else qualified in your government or our country? Mr. President, the Tripartite Agreement was led by two co-chairs during the deliberation process, and yet you decided to unilaterally place a member of your government at the helm of its implementation. This agreement was between two political parties, the SLPP government and the opposition APC. So how can you claim ownership of it? How can you manipulate it to serve your purposes?
And what about the articles that call for the release of political prisoners and settle personal disputes you, your government, have between the leaders of both government and the opposition? What about the reforms in the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), which remains packed with your loyalists who do your dirty bidding? Mr. President, it is sad and disappointing to witness your refusal to follow this agreement to the letter. You are treading on dangerous ground, and trust me, people are noticing.
Let’s talk about this fixation you have with Dr. Sengeh, Mr. President. It seems you believe he has a monopoly on knowledge, as if he alone is capable of handling the challenges our nation faces. I’m not saying Dr. Sengeh isn’t talented; he clearly is somehow, but he is not the only one. There are countless people in Sierra Leone, even within your own cabinet, who are more experienced and well-versed in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and governance. Why are they being sidelined? Why do you insist on placing all your eggs in one basket?
Mr. President, I’ll tell you this plainly: you are treading on a very thin line. Within your own government, there is growing discontent. There are whispers—no, not just whispers, but side-chats and outright gossip. Your party members are seriously unhappy with how you are managing the peace process and undermining the stability of our nation. Oh no, Mr. President, do you mean to tell me that you don’t know? Come on, really? You want me to believe that all is well in your party and government? Please, let’s not kid ourselves.
If you were truly aware of what was happening, Mr. President, you’d know that the amount of backbiting and distrust within your government is so high that if you sat quietly and listened, you’d be compelled to resign. Yes, Mr. President, I said it: resign. You have failed in many ways, and the seeds of that failure were planted by none other than yourself. You think you can control the current situation the way you got into the head of Valentine Strasser and undermined SAJ Musa back during the NPRC days. But this time, it won’t work. You did it then, during the NPRC regime, and to be honest, Mr. President, “Yu Bin Congosa Bad!” You mixed up things and sowed discord.
You tried to create a president from within your own family; yes, you did try imposing your brother, Steven Bio, who suddenly became a rich man on the National Unity Party (NUP). But no one ever really knew how he got his wealth, did they? If it weren’t for people like John Karimu and the late Dr. Ramadan Dumbuya standing in the way, who knows what could have happened? And since then, you’ve carried a grudge against those men. “Bra Ar Sabi Ol Tin.”
But let’s return to present, Mr. President. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is tagged to the Tripartite Agreement. Believe it or not, the Americans have tightened the knot, and I know you’re feeling the pinch. But this situation is no one’s fault but your own. You’ve dragged your feet at every turn, trying to buy time, but it’s not going to work. You could have turned to Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, your UN specialist, the so-called “Prince,” to help navigate this, but instead, you’ve chosen to handle it your way, thinking you can outmaneuver everyone.
Let me remind you of something, Mr. President: sometimes the things I say aren’t just for talking. Sidi Yaya Tunis, in his recent grilling on AYV TV’s “Hotseat” by Mamajan Jalloh, brought up a critical point that you have yet to address clearly: the missing prisoners from the Pademba Road Correctional Center. After the chaos that ensued following the November 26th, 2023, so-called attempted coup, but these prisoners have been missing since 2022, your government claimed that many prisoners escaped, but to this day, their families haven’t received any proper explanation or closure. Where are these people, Mr. President? “Na Yu Bin, Lock Dem Up!” The families of these missing individuals are still waiting for answers. Will you provide them?
Finally, Mr. President, I offer you some sincere advice as a friend and fellow Sierra Leonean: be more open and allow those with the right expertise to do the work. You cannot continue to reduce governance to just you and your wife, with Dr. Kandeh Yumkella the “Prince” and Dr. David Sengeh “Samson.” There is a wealth of experience and competence in Sierra Leone, people who can help steer this country in the right direction, if only you’d let them.
Meanwhile, the APC is making significant progress. They are using the Tripartite Agreement to their advantage, while you’ve been dragging your feet. The moral guarantors of the agreement are in Sierra Leone as we speak, evaluating the progress, or lack thereof, on your part. Have you done anything to show you are serious about this agreement? Or are you simply hoping to buy more time until it becomes too late?
The writing is on the wall, Mr. President. You cannot continue to govern in isolation, relying on just a few loyalists. Sierra Leone deserves better, and you must do better. It’s time to come out clean, face the realities of your governance, and give the people the leadership they deserve. If not, the consequences, both political and social, will be yours to bear.
