By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, here I am again today, meeting you with a heavy heart and a mind in turmoil. I find myself compelled to speak out, not as an enemy of the state, but as a deeply concerned citizen who loves Sierra Leone and yearns for a future free from the chains of corruption and mismanagement. I come to you not with malice but with a sincere plea: can we talk?
I am disturbed by the recent developments that have once again cast a dark shadow over our beloved nation. The world watched with astonishment when the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security confirmed that his government had officially requested the extradition of Jos Leijdekkers, also known as Umaru Sheriff, from Sierra Leone. Rather than addressing this matter with the urgency and transparency it so desperately requires, your administration’s handling of the case has only further complicated the situation. The Inspector General of Police, whose duty is to uphold justice, has contributed to the confusion by throwing ice water on a problem that already threatens to drown us in disrepute.
It is alarming that, in this era of digital information, a simple search for “Sierra Leone” now brings forth images and headlines dominated by drug trafficking and criminality. This is not the narrative of a nation rich in history and potential. Instead, it is the story of a country besieged by scandal and mismanagement, a narrative that is being written by those at the helm of power. Mr. President, many of us Sierra Leoneans no longer believe in the notion of a “fountain of honour” that your office is supposed to embody. Instead, what we witness is a leadership that seems to have lost its integrity and the trust of the people.
The controversy surrounding Jos Leijdekkers, Umaru Sheriff, is not merely a legal or administrative matter; it is emblematic of the larger malaise that afflicts our government. How is it that an individual whose very name has become synonymous with illicit activities is allowed to roam free on our soil? How is it that the Sierra Leone Police, capable of extending their reach as far as Guinea Conakry to arrest our citizens deemed criminals, appear to be impotent when it comes to apprehending a man with such a notorious reputation? The answer, I fear, lies not in the failings of our law enforcement but in the troubling nexus between political power and personal interests.
Take, for instance, Mr. President, the blatant discrepancies surrounding the whereabouts of Jos Leijdekkers. It is a matter of public record that despite credible leads, leads provided by individuals like Mr. Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, the police have inexplicably claimed that they cannot locate him. This refusal or inability to produce evidence is not only a failure of duty; it is a betrayal of the public trust. If our institutions are to serve as the guardians of justice, they must be capable of acting impartially, without succumbing to the influences of political expediency.
And then there is the personal dimension that cannot be ignored. It is no secret that Jos Leijdekkers has been seen and known to be involved with your daughter, Agnes Bio. This connection, however tangential it might appear to some, smacks of a conflict of interest so grave that it undermines the very foundations of our justice system. How can a man in your position claim to be the custodian of our nation’s honor when his family is entwined with individuals whose actions directly compromise that honor? Moreover, what of your daughter? Has she been interviewed by the police, given that she is reportedly the closest to this controversial figure? The silence on this matter is deafening, and it leaves the people wondering if justice is being applied selectively.
The implications of allowing someone like Jos Leijdekkers to evade justice are profound. Each day that passes without a clear, decisive action sends a message to the international community: that Sierra Leone is a nation where power protects the powerful and where the rule of law is but a distant memory. It is not merely a matter of national security; it is a question of our international standing. How can we expect foreign governments, investors, and even our own citizens to have faith in a system that appears to prioritize personal connections over the principles of accountability and transparency?
Mr. President, consider, for a moment, the recent revelations concerning the methods of entry and exit in our country. The Inspector General of Police recently stated that there is no record in our immigration system detailing how Jos Leijdekkers entered Sierra Leone. In an age when our borders are supposed to be under constant surveillance, such a glaring oversight is unacceptable. Do not offer the excuse of “porous borders,” Mr. President, for it is a tired and inadequate justification. Every failure in securing our nation’s borders is a direct reflection of the administration’s inability to safeguard our citizens.
Worse still is the report that suggests Jos Leijdekkers might have left our country under circumstances that are disturbingly opaque. Rumor has it that he traveled to Tihun in the same helicopter that once ferried you and your family on official business, a detail that raises more questions than it answers. Is this mere coincidence, or does it point to a deeper, more troubling connection between your travel arrangements and the freedom with which this controversial figure moves within and beyond our borders? Such connections not only fuel speculation but also erode any remaining public confidence in the systems that are supposed to protect us.
Mr. President, the selective application of justice is a poison that corrodes the soul of any nation. When high-ranking officials shield individuals with dubious pasts because of personal or familial affiliations, they undermine the very fabric of our society. The people of Sierra Leone have a right to demand accountability, to insist that every citizen, regardless of their connections, be subject to the same standards of law and order.
I understand that the burdens of leadership are many and that the challenges facing our nation are complex. However, leadership is not about choosing the easy path of silence or complicity. It is about facing the hard truths, even when they are uncomfortable, and taking decisive action to right the wrongs that have been allowed to fester. Your silence, your evasiveness, and your failure to address these pressing issues only serve to deepen the crisis of confidence that is gripping our country.
The international community is watching, Mr. President, and every decision you make in the coming days will either restore faith in your leadership or further entrench the perception of corruption and negligence. The legacy you leave behind will not be defined by the accolades of your supporters but by the tangible actions you take to address the very real problems facing Sierra Leone. It is time to put the nation’s interest above personal or political concerns.
I call upon you now to initiate a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the matter of Jos Leijdekkers. This investigation must be free from interference, impartial, and, above all, committed to the truth. It is not enough to offer vague statements or to hide behind bureaucratic excuses. The people deserve to know how and why someone with such a checkered past was allowed to infiltrate our borders and whether there is any truth to the allegations that his movements were in some way linked to your own travel arrangements.
Furthermore, your administration must take urgent steps to overhaul our border security and immigration systems. Every loophole, every oversight, must be closed, not only to prevent further breaches but also to restore a measure of confidence in our ability to govern effectively. The time for complacency is over; the safety and future of our nation demand nothing less than a full-scale commitment to reform.
Mr. President, can we talk? This is not just an invitation for dialogue; it is a demand for accountability. The people of Sierra Leone are no longer willing to accept a system in which the powerful manipulate the levers of justice for their own ends. We stand at a crossroads, and the path you choose will determine the future of our nation. Will you continue to allow personal interests to override public duty, or will you take the bold, necessary steps to restore integrity, transparency, and justice?
History is watching, and so are we. The decision is yours, and the consequences of inaction are too grave to ignore. It is my sincere hope and the hope of every Sierra Leonean that you will rise to this challenge, reaffirm your commitment to the principles of good governance, and lead our nation into a future where justice is not a privilege for the few but a right for all.
Let this be the turning point, the moment when Sierra Leone reclaimed its honor. For the sake of our future, for the sake of justice, and for the sake of every citizen who believes in the promise of this great nation, I urge you to act decisively and transparently. Stop traveling into a realm where the rules no longer apply, and instead, return to the path of true leadership, one where every citizen is valued, and every act of corruption is met with an unwavering commitment to accountability.
Mr. President, the conversation starts now. It is time for change, it is time for action, and most importantly, it is time for Sierra Leone to be led by a leader who truly embodies the spirit of justice and integrity. Let us talk and let the talk transform into action before it is too late.
Na Di Wod Dat O, Na Fo Tumara Bambai. Nor Say Ar Nor Bin Warn Yu!
