By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Ahaaaa, Mr. President! So “Dem Don Begin Doc Man Dem Slap Even Na Yu Office”? How did we get here, sir? I can barely fathom the gravity of this: a former minister allegedly slapping a sitting minister within the sacred confines of the Presidency itself! Such a brazen act of disrespect and lawlessness screams of deeper issues within the very heart of your administration. Mr. President, as the custodian of this government, how did your face look in that moment? perhaps? Whatever it was, it reflected a monumental failure of decorum and discipline at the highest level of leadership.
Mr. President, when such events unfold at the apex of power, they signal something profoundly troubling. “The center can no longer hold.” It’s the very sign of a crumbling administration. “Things are falling apart,” as Chinua Achebe aptly described. A government marked by revolving doors, endless reshuffles, and unchecked chaos is a government teetering on the brink of collapse.
Why, Mr. President, are the people you’re appointing to key positions so unfit for the tasks at hand? Look no further than our diplomatic missions. Sierra Leone is blessed with seasoned diplomats and experienced professionals who have represented this nation admirably in the past. Yet, instead of leveraging their expertise, you’ve chosen to hand over prestigious assignments to the United Nations, the United States, and France to individuals who appear to be ill-prepared for their roles.
These appointees, rather than making meaningful contributions to our foreign policy and national interests, seem to treat their roles as mere stages for grandstanding. Some don’t even know where to begin. Meanwhile, critical relationships with powerful nations are mismanaged or ignored, and the credibility of Sierra Leone on the international stage is slowly but surely eroding.
Take the case of our foreign minister, who has suffered a recent accident. “Da Wan Dae Sef Na God Nor Mor Go Help Am.” Mr. President, it is heartbreaking to see that even in his vulnerable state, he has not been given the opportunity to properly recover or perform his duties without constant hurdles.
Instead of reducing the burden on the economy and ensuring competent representation abroad, you’ve chosen to expand the government further, opening more embassies, appointing more staff, and sending whole families abroad at the expense of the Sierra Leonean taxpayer. Cleaners, cooks, school fees for children of appointees—it’s all being financed by the Consolidated Fund, which is already under severe strain.
“Mr. President, Mi Mot Full.” The anticipated reshuffle of your government was supposed to bring relief. You loudly proclaimed that you would reduce government waste, trim the fat, and cut down on unnecessary expenses. Yet what do we see today? A government larger than that of the United States, which has only 15 cabinet positions. Compare that to your administration’s ever-growing 60-plus cabinet members, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Mr. President, every move you make to expand this bloated government drives us further into the abyss of economic ruin. The people of Sierra Leone are asking, “Na Di Reshuffle Dis?” Where is the accountability? Where is the austerity you promised?
Oh, God of Justice and Mercy, we turn to You now. What have we, the people of Sierra Leone, done to deserve this? Our cries of frustration grow louder by the day, yet we see no change in the trajectory of this administration. Mr. President, your leadership has reached a point where only divine intervention can save us.
Instead of focusing on critical reforms to steer the nation in the right direction, you’ve chosen a path of self-inflicted complications. Every decision seems designed to exhaust the last vestiges of hope that the people have left. Mr. President, you are suffocating the economy, breaking the spirit of your citizens, and tarnishing the legacy of those who came before you.
Mr. President, can we talk about priorities? While ordinary Sierra Leoneans are grappling with poverty, hunger, and unemployment, your government seems preoccupied with wasteful expenditures and political theatrics. The long-overdue cabinet reshuffle has turned into a spectacle of mismanagement, with positions being shuffled like a deck of cards, bringing in new faces but no meaningful changes.
How do you justify the endless cycle of appointments that add no value to the nation? The people were hoping for bold steps to address corruption, streamline government, and boost efficiency. Instead, they got more of the same bloated, disjointed administration that cannot function cohesively.
Mr. President, when leaders lose the respect of their teams, disintegration is inevitable. If slaps are being exchanged in your office, what does that say about the culture of governance under your watch? The cracks are showing and they are widening.
This is not just a crisis of governance; it’s a crisis of confidence. If the very people you entrust with leadership cannot respect each other or the office they serve, how can ordinary Sierra Leoneans respect their government?
Mr. President, it’s not too late to salvage what remains. Take decisive steps to restore order within your administration. Reduce the number of ministries and cabinet positions to reflect the dire state of our economy. Let seasoned professionals take the reins in key roles, especially in foreign missions. Foster accountability. Ensure that every member of your government upholds the dignity and decorum required of public office. Refocus on the people. Address the pressing issues of poverty, healthcare, education, and unemployment that plague this nation.
The people are watching, Mr. President. They are tired of empty promises and endless excuses. They demand action, and they deserve better.
Mr. President, can we talk? This is not about scoring political points or assigning blame; it’s about saving Sierra Leone. The chaos within your administration reflects deeper systemic issues that must be addressed immediately.
The people of Sierra Leone are resilient, but their patience is not infinite. They are watching closely, hoping and praying for a change in direction. The question is, will you listen, or will you continue down this path of destruction?
“Papa God Help Wi, Wi Dae Beg.” Sierra Leone deserves better. Over to you, Mr. President.
