By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, today I come with my head spinning like a tornado, ready to address everything and anything related to the welfare of the people. It’s not out of disrespect but out of sheer frustration and despair, fueled by the cries of a nation left behind. Mr. President, that document called the “Finance Act 2025” is poisonous, a recipe for chaos, and I warn you now, “Yu Go Tel Mi Sae Ar Bin Tok Am.”
Let me start with the basics, Mr. President. Life in Sierra Leone is spiraling from bad to worse. Our nation teeters on the edge, and your Chief Minister has the audacity to look people in the eye and declare, without flinching, that there is enough food in the country. He boldly referenced your ill-conceived “Feed Salone” initiative, claiming no one has dropped dead on the streets of Freetown, which means the people are fine and getting their basic needs met. Really, Mr. President? Is that so? The truth, however, paints a grim picture.
In the bustling streets of Freetown and the neglected villages across this country, hunger is etched into the faces of our people. Children go to bed with empty stomachs, parents scavenge for their next meal, and your government shamelessly pretends all is well. This disconnection between your administration and the realities of ordinary Sierra Leoneans is alarming.
Mr. President, the “Poisonous Finance Act 2025” explicitly states that government wage bills consume 45% of domestic revenues and warns that the current trend is unsustainable. You and your Finance Minister knew this reality, yet you have found creative ways to compensate your loyalists, friends, and family members. How can you justify expanding the payroll when our economy is gasping for air?
Mr. President, we’ve seen the proliferation of positions and appointments that serve no real purpose but to reward party loyalists. Mr. President, do we really need embassies in Morocco and Tunisia and others of no economic benefit to our country? when we already have diplomatic missions in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to cover the middle east? These redundant posts drain scarce resources from a country that cannot afford them. Every new appointment, every unnecessary ministry or department, is an additional burden on the backs of our poor citizens.
Mr. President, your actions have turned governance into a game of patronage, where loyalty to the ruling party outweighs competence and merit. This practice not only suffocates our economy but also erodes the trust and hope of Sierra Leoneans, who feel increasingly abandoned by their leaders.
Mr. President, your “Feed Salone” initiative, which was supposed to be the backbone of food security, has become a national embarrassment. Instead of addressing the root causes of hunger, your government has weaponized propaganda to cover up its failings. The Chief Minister’s statements are a clear reflection of this strategy, denying the existence of hunger because no one has collapsed on the streets. “Bo Na Wae Pipul Begin Fodom En Die Na Trit Go Mek Una Kno Sae Hangry Dae”?
Mr. President, let me tell you this: hunger doesn’t always manifest in dramatic ways. It gnaws silently at the resilience of our people. It’s the mother skipping meals so her children can eat, the farmer unable to afford seeds, fertilizer and equipment for the next planting season, and the youth leaving the country because there’s no future here. Your Chief Minister may not see it, but the people do, and they are tired of the lies. “Da Markit Woman Wae Sell Dis Week Next Week E nor Get Ade Money Fo Buy Markit Everyday Na Dat Dae Hapin”
Mr. President, we must come to the sobering realization that your administration has failed the nation. You face a crossroads: either step up and lead with integrity or step aside and pave the way for independent Sierra Leoneans who truly mean well for this country.
Mr. President, leadership is not about consolidating power or ensuring loyalty from your inner circle. It’s about making sacrifices for the greater good of the nation. It’s about listening to the grievances of the people and acting decisively to address them. It’s about prioritizing national interest over personal gain or political survival.
Yet, your government has chosen the path of self-preservation. Instead of reducing waste and curbing corruption, you continue to create unnecessary positions and expand your bloated administration. Instead of addressing the systemic issues that keep our people in poverty, you focus on maintaining a facade of progress that crumbles under the slightest scrutiny.
The state of our economy is another glaring testament to your government’s failure. Inflation has reached unbearable levels, New Leone has lost its value, and ordinary Sierra Leoneans can barely afford the basics. Meanwhile, the wage bill continues to balloon, not because of investments in health care, education, or infrastructure, but because of the incessant need to placate your political allies.
Why, Mr. President, do we continue to operate like a nation with unlimited resources when the reality is the opposite? Why are we wasting money on redundant embassies, lavish government spending, and unnecessary travel? These decisions are not just irresponsible; they are immoral.
Mr. President, bold times call for bold decisions. If you cannot steer this ship away from the iceberg, then it is time to consider an early election. Open the door for leaders who have the vision, competence, and will to lead Sierra Leone out of this abyss.
This is not about political partisanship or personal vendettas; it’s about the survival of our nation. Sierra Leone needs leaders who will put the people first, who will prioritize transparency, accountability, and development over political games.
Mr. President, I know my words today may seem harsh, but they are the truths from the bottom of the hearts of Sierra Leoneans. We are tired of being told to wait for better days while our realities worsen. We are tired of leaders who prioritize their own interests over the welfare of the people. We are tired of empty promises and misplaced priorities.
The people of Sierra Leone deserve better. They deserve leaders who will fight for them, not against them. They deserve a government that will address their needs, not dismiss them. They deserve a future filled with hope, not despair.
Mr. President, it’s not too late to change course. The road ahead is difficult, but it’s not impossible. Acknowledge the failings of your administration, take responsibility for the mistakes, and work tirelessly to correct them. Reduce the size of your government, cut wasteful spending, and focus on initiatives that truly benefit the people.
Listen to the cries of the hungry, the frustrated, and the disillusioned. We are not your enemies; they are your people. We are the reason you hold the title of president.
In the end, history will judge you not by the number of awards you collect or the speeches you give, but by the lives you touch and the legacy you leave behind. Mr. President, can we talk? Because time is running out, and the people of Sierra Leone are watching.
