By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, how are you doing in Apia, that beautiful island known for its fresh winds and coconut trees? I imagine you’re soaking in the Pacific air, far removed from the daily struggles of the ordinary Sierra Leonean. Yet, once again, you find yourself at another global gathering of “leaders of do-nothings,” people who excel in talking but achieve little for their citizens. But then again, you belong to that club, don’t you, Mr. President?
Today, I want to bring to the attention of the people of Sierra Leone something unusual regarding our First Lady, Fatima Bio. Now, don’t get me wrong, Mr. President, I respect people’s choices, including their decisions to change their religion. After all, religious freedom is a fundamental right. However, I smell something fishy when I look at the first lady’s recent and very public proclamation of her devout Islamic faith. Since you assumed office, she has been at the forefront of promoting Islam, making grand appearances in hijabs, and preaching piety. Why the sudden spotlight on her faith, Mr. President?
Forgive me for airing your dirty laundry, but this reminds me of former Vice President Victor Foh’s situation under President Ernest Bai Koroma. Although it’s not part of our Constitution, there’s a tradition in Sierra Leonean politics that if the president is Christian, the vice president must be Muslim, and vice versa. We saw it during the Koroma administration, and we see it now under your leadership.
What’s really interesting, though, is that in Fatima’s case, there seems to be a smoking gun. Is it possible, Mr. President, that she is positioning herself for something much bigger? Could it be that she is preparing to be Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella’s running mate? The man some call “the prince,” the one who seems determined to become president at all costs? He knows well enough that the SLPP Constitution requires that a flagbearer be a member of the party for at least five consecutive years, and yet he continues his crusade as if that clause doesn’t exist. But back to your wife, could she be eyeing the position of vice president, strategically aligning herself with Yumkella?
Let me be clear: the rumors have been swirling, Mr. President. It’s no secret that your relationship with your wife has hit the rocks, and it appears that she’s going her own way, perhaps chasing ambitions that don’t align with your plans. You are in Apia, and she’s halfway across the world in Utah, USA. What does that say about the state of things at home, Mr. President?
And what of your current vice president, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh? Here is a man who has been by your side through thick and thin, defending your administration even when it meant damaging his own credibility. He has been loyal, stood by your side, and now what? Will you cast him aside for the ambitions of others?
Mr. President, I must ask you: Why don’t you focus on leading the country and leave when your time is up? Why not allow the party’s leadership to handle the next phase instead of maneuvering behind the scenes, clutching at power while the country drowns in poverty?
Speaking of poverty, Mr. President, how do you feel about the International Monetary Fund’s latest report, which lists Sierra Leone as one of the two poorest countries in the world? Our per capita income stands at a shameful $430. Yes, Mr. President, $430! War-torn countries like Somalia, Sudan, and even Palestine, ravaged by years of conflict, have higher per capita incomes than Sierra Leone. Imagine that. A country so blessed with natural resources, yet we languish at the bottom of the global economic ladder.
And where are you, Mr. President? Instead of addressing the dire needs of the people, you’re off flying across the globe, attending international conferences, and launching one fake project after another, all to maintain the illusion that things are improving. But we both know the truth, don’t we? These projects are nothing but smoke and mirrors, designed to make you look good in the eyes of the few who praise you.
Meanwhile, back home, your people are suffering. Inflation is spiraling out of control, jobs are scarce, and public services are crumbling. Every day, Sierra Leoneans watch as their country falls further into despair while you travel the world, spending public funds that could be used to alleviate their suffering. How does it feel, Mr. President, to be living so far removed from the realities of the citizens you were elected to serve?
You’ve created an environment where it is better to tell you lies than to speak the truth. Loyalists who dare to criticize you, even constructively, are sidelined, and those who sing your praises regardless of their incompetence are rewarded. This culture of sycophancy is destroying Sierra Leone, Mr. President. And let me remind you, history does not judge kindly those who surround themselves with flatterers while their country crumbles.
I hope you enjoy your time in Apia, Mr. President. I imagine the warm winds and palm trees must provide a pleasant distraction from the harsh truths facing Sierra Leoneans. But while you’re soaking up the sun in the Pacific, remember that back home, we’re watching. We’re watching as you fritter away your time and our resources, jet-setting from one international gathering to another, while Sierra Leone slips further into poverty.
Your people deserve better, Mr. President. They deserve a leader who stays with them during their most difficult times and who prioritizes their needs above all else. Instead, we have a president more interested in foreign trips and global conferences than in fixing the disasters back home. You were in Samoa when the IMF report dropped; do you even care?
And I hear you’re already planning your next trip, perhaps to Sri Lanka? How convenient. It seems you’ve turned globetrotting into an art form. But eventually, the music will stop, Mr. President. Eventually, you will have to return to Sierra Leone and face the people you’ve abandoned. And when that day comes, I hope you’re ready to answer for your actions.
Good luck to you on your travels, Mr. President. I sincerely hope you find what you’re looking for out there, because back here in Sierra Leone, all we see is a leader lost in his own ambition, disconnected from the reality that his people face every single day.
