By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, once again, we find ourselves in a familiar situation. I warned you about making that trip to Ethiopia for the African Union Summit, but you went anyway. I don’t understand your obsession with travel. It’s as though you must always be out and about, grandstanding on the international stage. This restlessness is concerning; it’s almost as if you have a need to constantly prove yourself by being visible, not to us here at home but to audiences abroad. Back from Samoa and the United States, you had dived straight into a new local conference on what I termed “boto bata” initiatives, only to take off again on another round of mysterious travel. Where to this time, and for what real reason, Mr. President?
The word on the streets is troubling; they say all these constant journeys are not just for conferences. There are rumours that you’re quietly positioning Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, often referred to as “the Prince,” and Dr. David Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s own tech “whiz-kid,” as potential successors. Now, Mr. President, have you really thought this through? Have you spoken with your Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the man you once called your “trusted lieutenant”? Dr. Jalloh is the one you’ve publicly described as humble, smart, and loyal. Surely, he deserves to know where he stands amidst all this supposed plotting for succession.
Let me be frank, Mr. President. There are certain realities you cannot ignore. The Fula people, as you well know, form the third-largest ethnic group in Sierra Leone. But their importance isn’t just in numbers alone; it’s in the electoral landscape. The Fula people are among the most politically active and have some of the highest numbers of registered voters. Have you considered the backlash of sidelining them if Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, a proud representative of the Fula community, is passed over for someone else? Do you genuinely believe that you can manipulate the SLPP National Delegate Conference to simply impose your preferences, be it Yumkella or Sengeh, as the chosen flagbearer?
Make no mistake, Mr. President. I’m no professional political analyst, but anyone with a finger on the nation’s pulse can see that your best hope for the SLPP’s victory in 2028 is Juldeh Jalloh. Even then, it’s a 50-50 chance, but Jalloh has a far better chance to defend your government’s record than a candidate hand-picked through backdoor maneuvering. He has earned his stripes, and more importantly, he has earned the trust of those who know him and believe in his integrity.
Beyond the succession games, there is another troubling issue: the unsettling display of financial power by Mohamed Sidy Tunis. His free-flowing wealth is causing whispers across the country. I’ve received anonymous tips suggesting that his generosity is fueled by support from Chinese interests, specifically Leone Rock Metal Group. Yes, Mr. President, you heard that correctly—the same Leone Rock that has embedded itself so deeply in Sierra Leone’s resource sector is, apparently, ready to bankroll Tunis’s political ambitions.
In case you’re unaware, Mr. President, there is a growing sentiment among the people of this country that Chinese interests are buying up more than just our natural resources. Many believe they are now attempting to buy influence at the highest level of government. And to make matters worse, it seems that some within our government, like Mr. Tunis, are happy to take the cash being thrown at them, no questions asked. The Chinese are treating this as a long-term investment, one that they expect to pay off handsomely should Mr. Tunis somehow finds himself elevated to the presidency.
But while the Chinese play their game, we have to consider other “hawks” watching, notably the United States. If I may advise, the Americans would do well to keep an eye on Mr. Tunis’s extravagant spending. This is the same man married to our current Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis, and yet he’s somehow managing to throw around money at an alarming rate. I’ve heard that institutions like UNIMAK and IPAM have already received sizable “donations.” Who is next? And, more importantly, where is all this money coming from?
As for the Anti-Corruption Commission, one would expect them to be all over this kind of issue. And yet, what do we see? Nothing. Why, Mr. President? Is it because Sidy Tunis is your friend and a one-time NPRC blue eye boy; I recall him being very instrumental in the NUP days to help your brother Steve Bio to that party? Is this why there seems to be no oversight on Mr. Tunis’s suspiciously abundant finances? If Kaifala is serious about fighting corruption, why hasn’t he demanded an inquiry into Mr. Tunis’s finances and donations? The Anti-Corruption Commissioner has failed to address the most obvious, glaring cases of misuse of influence and power, but when it comes to cracking down on the small players, he’s swift and decisive. This inconsistency is appalling, and people see through it.
Mr. President, with all due respect, this is a ticking time bomb. The people of Sierra Leone are not blind. They see this rigmarole, this circus of influence peddling, backdoor deals, and unchecked spending, and they are not amused. Some of the hard-liners within the SLPP, men who once believed their time would come to lead, are watching with bated breath, waiting for the slightest opening to stake their own claim.
Let’s not forget the delicate position of our security apparatus. While you’re busy crisscrossing the globe, who is keeping our nation secure? The presence of foreign military forces, like ECOWAS troops, only further undermines our sovereignty and independence. You’ve politicized our police and military forces, and now, with so much external influence, I fear we are slipping back to the days of rampant partisanship and instability that defined the Siaka Stevens era.
This is not a game, Mr. President. The stakes are too high, and the eyes of Sierra Leoneans are firmly on you. The ordinary people who have been suffering under the weight of inflation, lack of job opportunities, and broken promises will not easily forgive you if you allow outside interests to further erode our nation’s stability and independence. Whether it’s the Chinese making inroads or politicians throwing around ill-gotten wealth, the people have had enough.
Mr. President, you must reconsider your actions. Curb your obsession with traveling, ground yourself in the realities of the nation, and address the urgent issues plaguing our society. You have a chance to make things right, but it starts with facing the truth and putting Sierra Leone’s interests above personal ambitions and outside pressures.
So, Mr. President, If you are listening, let’s talk!
