By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, what a week for former President Rodrigo Duterte. I am sure he is your friend, or maybe you have met him, or at least you have read his story in the news. Mr. President, the world has turned upside down for Duterte because of his extrajudicial killings of innocent Philippine citizens. About six to eight thousand people were killed under his rule, accused of being drug dealers or consumers, leaving their families in pain, without a place to seek justice. At the height of his power, Duterte felt invincible, acting with impunity. He believed he was untouchable.
Mr. President, why am I bringing this to your attention? It is to remind you that even if you manage to stay in power forever in Sierra Leone, the long arms of the law will eventually catch up with you. Justice does not operate on the timeline of a single presidency; it waits patiently, and it always arrives. I do not know what interactions or discussions you have had with Prosecutor Karim Khan at the International Criminal Court (ICC), but I can assure you that, based on what has happened under your tenure, you could one day face prosecution.
Duterte’s daughter is currently the Vice President of the Philippines, but did that stop him from being arrested? No. Even if you had the power to place your own father, may he rest in peace, as the President of Sierra Leone, he would not be able to prevent your journey to The Hague if justice demands it. Mr. President, history has shown that leaders who act with impunity, disregarding human rights and the rule of law, ultimately face consequences. Justice may be delayed, but it is never denied.
Mr. President, Duterte was a fearless man, but guess what? On his way to The Hague, he confessed. He was not as invincible as he thought. His own daughter, the vice president, traveled to see him, but she was denied access. Her status meant nothing when it came to accountability for crimes committed. Mr. President, no one is above the law.
Here is another truth, Mr. President: do you know who arrested Duterte? The very police force he once commanded with an iron fist. The very officers he used to terrorize the people were the ones who eventually apprehended him in the name of Interpol. They took him away like an eagle snatching a chicken from the ground, swiftly and without mercy.
Mr. President, let this be a lesson to you. The same security forces you now use to suppress and intimidate the people will not hesitate to turn against you when the time comes. If you don’t believe me, may God grant you a long life so that we can all see the ending together. The police you believe are loyal to you today were once loyal to the APC before you, and to the SLPP before that, and to the APC before that SLPP, and so on. Their loyalty is not to you; it is to whoever holds the reins of power at any given time. This is the cycle of history, and yet, you seem determined to ignore its lessons.
Mr. President, I know you do not like me. I know that my words unsettle you. I bring you facts and realities, and that makes you uncomfortable. But I care little if you place me on your new list of perceived terrorists, for that list was made for people like me, those who dare to speak the truth in the face of tyranny.
I must also ask you, Mr. President: Did you send Fatima Bio to Kono to insult and threaten Dr. David Moinina Sengeh? Is this the kind of leadership you want to be remembered for, one that uses threats, intimidation, and abuse to silence dissent? A leader who governs by fear is a leader who has already lost the people’s trust.
Let me remind you about Jos Leijdekkers, a name that still lingers in the minds of many Sierra Leoneans. Who gave him Sierra Leonean citizenship? Who authorized those who facilitated it? Who granted him our passports? And beyond him, how many other criminals have been given our passport under your administration? The silence from your government on this issue is deafening. The people are still waiting for an answer.
Mr. President, you still have time to rethink the path you are taking. History is filled with leaders who believed they were untouchable, only to fall when they least expected it. Take heed, for the winds of change are always blowing, and they do not favor those who govern with impunity.
