By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Yesssss, I said it; indeed, it is coming to pass. Mr. President, destination SAMOA (CHOGM) in the Pacific. Did you ever think of the idea of visiting the site of the Kissy disaster before embarking on your frivolous world tours? Mr. President, how come, as the so-called “Fountain of Honor and Justice” that you always claim to be, you show little regard for the title? Are you not human enough to at least declare a National Day of Mourning for the souls of the Sierra Leoneans who lost their precious lives in the Kissy building accident?
Mr. President, when I say you are heartless, you think I hold a personal grudge against you. But let’s be honest, Mr. President, what business do you have attending the Samoa Commonwealth Conference (CHOGM), which many of us see as nothing more than a waste of time for the idle? And forgive my audacity, but are you among the idle ones?
We all know you won’t be flying on a commercial flight like the rest of us. No, you’ll be on a chartered flight, traveling almost 36 hours from Sierra Leone to the Pacific Island of Samoa. To do what exactly, Mr. President? What is it that requires your immediate presence on the other side of the world, leaving behind a country drowning in sorrow and despair? “Bo, Mr. Maada Bio, Na Wetin Really Na Yu Problem Wit Dis Fly-Fly Biznes?”
Mr. President, aren’t you tired of being at every party and gathering? Don’t you think people must be exhausted seeing you everywhere, at every event, in every foreign capital, at every international meeting? “ Pul Na Doe Yu Dae Dae, Berrin, Yu Dae Dae, Marade Yu Dae Dae, Dog Die Sef Yu Go Reach Dae.” Mr. President, you’ve become the face of travel ads, not for tourism in Sierra Leone but for your own international escapades. Leaders around the world must see you as a figure who thrives more on aimless globe-trotting than on serious governance. “Yu Dae Behave Lek Wae Munku Bos Pa Matches.”
Mr. President, who are your advisers? Oh, forgive me for even asking, sir. Everything in your government rests on your wisdom, as you alone seem to have a monopoly on knowledge. My mistake, sir, please don’t be angry with me. After all, I’m just your boy, your close ally, speaking to you as we always do.
But, Mr. President, isn’t it time to use the funds you’re squandering on these lavish trips to instead support the victims of the Kissy disaster? ‘ Bra, SAMAO far O’. Besides, we have an ambassador based in China, a region close enough to cover these island nations. Why not send him or at least your Vice President on a commercial flight, reducing costs? Or better yet, send the Foreign Minister instead, just not Dr. David Sengeh, because “E too Get False Life.”
Speaking of distractions, Mr. President, do you genuinely believe that your X (Twitter) post about a one-on-one phone call with King Charles is cause for celebration in Sierra Leone? We are not impressed. We are hungry, sick, and unhappy. “Man Dem nor Gladi O.” Since the birth of your white elephant project, Feed Salone, not a single grain of rice has reached the market to ease the hunger pangs of the people. None. Nada. The rice that’s being produced under this grand scheme seems to only be feeding one household: yours.
And, Mr. President, forgive me, but have you looked at yourself lately? Do you realize how much you’ve grown in size? Sometimes, when I see you walking, it feels like a pregnant woman headed to the labor room. Are you exercising at all, Mr. President? Because with that type of structure and size, a heart attack could be lurking around the corner. You eat too much, and without exercise, well, you know the consequences, sir.
But let’s return to the serious matter at hand. You expect us to celebrate a supposed phone call with King Charles. Really? Let me be blunt: no one here believes you. You know why? Because there’s no way for us to verify it. Just like Donald Trump once claimed that Prince Charles and his late wife, Princess Diana, bought a condo at Trump Tower, a story no one could confirm because the Royal Family never addresses such falsehoods. So, like Trump, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but you owe us one, Mr. President.
Let’s not lose focus, though. You’re gallivanting off to Samoa while your own people are suffering. Why not instead spend some time in the disaster zones here in Sierra Leone, comforting the victims’ families and ensuring that their needs are met? Where’s your humanity, Mr. President? These are your people, the very ones who put their trust in you to lead them through thick and thin.
And if you must travel, why not travel for causes that directly benefit Sierra Leoneans? Why not cut down on these excessive trips abroad that accomplish little but inflate your own image? You’ve become a caricature of a leader, a “laughingstock” for the world to see. While your counterparts are focused on solving domestic problems, you’re more interested in photo ops and shaking hands with foreign dignitaries.
We are fed up, Mr. President. The nation is tired of the empty promises, the extravagant lifestyle, and the blatant disregard for the suffering of the people. Your constant travels will not save this country; they only deepen the divide between you and the ordinary citizens struggling to survive. The Kissy building accident should have been a wake-up call, a moment to pause, reflect, and take decisive action. Instead, it seems to be just another event in a long list of tragedies that you choose to ignore.
But remember, Mr. President, history is watching. The people of Sierra Leone are watching. You will be judged not by the number of stamps in your passport but by the lives you save, the people you uplift, and the nation you serve.
