By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family, as well as to every member of your government, including all missions representing Sierra Leone around the world. This holy month calls for deep reflection, compassion, and sincerity, values that I hope will guide the leadership of our nation in these trying times.
Mr. President, today, I wish to acknowledge the growing political prowess of your wife, Mrs. Fatima Bio. What a masterstroke she pulled on the eve of Ramadan with that TikTok message addressing the issue of Hawa Hunt. The way she positioned herself and presented Dr. Sylvia Blyden as an angel incarnate was truly a fascinating display of political maneuvering. These two women are playing on the psyche of the people with such skill that it leaves one marveling at their strategic capabilities.
Sir, perhaps it is time you took a page from Mrs. Bio’s book. She is getting good at this game. However, let us not ignore the fundamental reality: No one dares to arrest Hawa Hunt without orders from above. That is a fact. And while it is good that Fatima Bio has decided to act magnanimous, perhaps in a bid to maintain her image as the so-called President of African First Ladies, we must not forget her tendency to take advantage of situations to advance her personal agenda.
Let me be clear: I am completely against Hawa Hunt’s behavior. She went too far and deserved some form of discipline. However, this should have been treated as a civil matter, not one handled as though she had committed murder or an act of state subversion. The treatment meted out to her is a real violation of the laws of the land. It is alarming how selective justice has become in Sierra Leone. One law applies to those in power and their allies, while another is ruthlessly enforced against those who dare to challenge them. Is this the democracy we claim to uphold?
Since it is Ramadan, a time of mercy and justice, I am pleased to see your government advocating for women. But Mr. President, what about the women of Mousavi village in Bonthe? Why are they being terrorized by the police and military? Why are their husbands and sons being arrested simply because they have raised concerns over the Chinese mining company operating in their community?
Mr. President, I am not sure whether you are aware of this situation. If you are not, then it is time to take action immediately. If you are aware and have chosen to remain silent, then I must express my deepest disappointment. Are you deliberately allowing foreign entities to violate the rights of your own people, your very own kin? If so, then I fear you are making a grave mistake.
They say charity begins at home. Mr. President, no amount of gold could ever make me stand idly by while my people suffer. I would never allow anyone, local or foreign, to trample on the dignity of those to whom I am connected by blood and by duty. The people of Bonthe deserve better. They deserve a leader who will stand up for them, not one who turns a blind eye while their lives are upended in the name of foreign interests.
“Paddy man, yu get fo tinap o en address dis wahala.” This is not the time for hesitation. Your leadership will be judged by how you respond to the cries of the oppressed. If you truly believe in justice, then prove it by protecting your people.
Mr. President, I will visit you again tomorrow, Insha Allahu. We have so much to discuss about EDSA, Guma, housing, Karpowership, and Bumbuna. These are matters of urgent national concern, and the people of Sierra Leone deserve answers. Until then, may this Ramadan inspire you to lead with fairness, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the well-being of all Sierra Leoneans.
