By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, what a way to end the holy month of Ramadan. Wow. Mr. President, it appears as though your government can’t go a day without birthing a new controversy. From one scandal to another, we’ve watched this administration spiral into a chaotic drama that could make Nollywood jealous. But this latest one, this national embarrassment, takes the crown. And at the center of it is your “Chairman of Everything and Anything” and self-proclaimed Presidential Adviser Extraordinaire, now popularly known as Senior Man.
Yes, Mr. President. Nor to me say oh! That’s how he referred to himself. The Senior Man. Your closest ally. Your trusted adviser. The man supposedly sent to sanitize your government has become the symbol of everything wrong with it. But don’t be in a rush to respond just yet; we have plenty to unpack today.
Let me start with Senior Man. Mr. President, I am sure people in your government and even within the SLPP itself have warned you repeatedly about Dr. Kandeh Yumkella’s desperation for power. In fact, I would not be surprised if you yourself, seated in the solitude of the State House, watched his viral video rant against the now-defunct former Ambassador Alimamy Bangura and felt a shiver down your spine. That wasn’t politics; it was raw, unfiltered venom.
This is the same ambassador who is now allegedly under investigation for drug trafficking in Guinea while he served as our country’s envoy. And yet, following his dismissal, you appointed his immediate replacement, none other than the biological brother of the Senior Man himself. That’s right. Stroke or no stroke, Senior Man’s brother was parachuted in to represent Sierra Leone abroad.
Why, Mr. President? Why did you do that? You and I both know what that is. That’s nepotism in broad daylight. The kind we used to criticize when others were in power. You have effectively rewarded Dr. Yumkella for what appears to be a personal vendetta. A vendetta so intense that he now believes he can control who has the right to speak, to move, or to associate with others within the SLPP.
Mr. President, what Senior Man is doing is a blatant abuse of power. He is trying to weaponize his position in your government to settle old scores.
Did anyone tell Dr. Yumkella that Ambassador Alimamy Bangura is still the substantive SLPP District Chairman for Kambia? That means the man still has legal and political standing to promote his party’s agenda in that region. Has anyone whispered to Senior Man that in a democracy, a person is not guilty until proven guilty? Or are we now rewriting the rules of justice to accommodate Kandeh Yumkella’s grudges?
Let’s be real here. Even though Alimamy Bangura is allegedly under investigation, do any of us truly believe that he’ll ever see the four walls of a courtroom under this administration? Of course not.
Na buff case. The man is SLPP. Just like Alusine Kanneh, who is also linked to drug activities, yet he strolls around Freetown like a celebrity.
Mr. President, members of the SLPP both at home and abroad are now demanding the dismissal of Dr. Kandeh Yumkella. And rightfully so.
His recent behavior confirms what many of us have long suspected: this man lacks the emotional maturity, the moral compass, and the political discipline to be in any position of influence, let alone serve as Presidential Adviser. His actions are not only shameful but also dangerous. He is dividing your party at a time when unity is most needed.
Let me remind you, sir: the root of this whole issue stems from a long-standing personal grudge. The day he was locked out of the SLPP office during his early return to the party, it was Alimamy Bangura who stood as gatekeeper. That image has haunted Senior Man ever since.
And until he sees Alimamy Bangura humiliated, destroyed, or removed, he will not rest.
Mr. President, if he can be this angry and obsessed with the man who kept the gate, imagine the grudge he might hold against you, the one in whose name the gate was kept shut. Let that sink in.
Kandeh Yumkella still harbors deep resentment toward you, Mr. President. Don’t be fooled by the smiles and the handshakes. There’s a bad heart hidden underneath that imported suit. A quiet vengeance waiting to surface.
But let’s talk solutions, Mr. President. The first step is to publicly distance yourself from Dr. Yumkella and his toxic brand of politics. His behavior is not just undermining your authority; it is eroding public trust in your government.
Secondly, you must revisit the ambassadorial appointment in Guinea. If the current appointee is truly incapacitated, then he has no business representing our country. There are many qualified Sierra Leoneans who can fill that role with competence and dignity.
Thirdly, the SLPP must conduct an internal audit of its leadership, especially in volatile regions like Kambia. If you let personal rivalries hijack party structures, you will be planting seeds of division that will be difficult to uproot before the next election.
Let us also be honest about the drug menace in this country. It has reached an epidemic level. And your administration cannot afford to be seen as shielding people accused of involvement, no matter how politically connected they are. Sierra Leoneans are watching. The international community is watching.
As we conclude the holy month of Ramadan, a period that calls for reflection, humility, and justice, it is disheartening to see pettiness and vengeance dominate our political discourse. The people are fasting not just from food but from hope. They are yearning for a government that serves, not one that settles scores.
Mr. President, you still have time to redeem your administration, but only if you start making decisions based on principle, not personal loyalty. Firing Dr. Yumkella may be painful politically, but it is necessary morally.
Because every day you keep Senior Man in that position, you are not just endorsing his behavior; you are telling the nation that this is what leadership looks like.
And we both know it isn’t. So, Mr. President, we will leave it here today. I have to attend to other commitments. But just know that if you think you are the most vindictive man in the SLPP, you’re joking. The senior man is playing a long game. And in that game, he sees everyone, even you, as a piece to be sacrificed.
Mr. President, be warned. And be wise. Till next time.
