By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Welcome back, Mr. President! I hope you had a very wonderful sojourn in Dar Es Salaam. But, Mr. President, what is seriously baffling me is the quietness that you have demonstrated in recent days. Not even your presidential spokesman, Yusuf Keketorma Sandy, nor your social media man, Myk Berewa, has said a word. Their silence is deafening. It is worrying. They have all gone dead silent. Why, Mr. President?
I know, I know, I have been told that you are not in the mood to talk. But, Mr. President, allow me to jog your memory a bit. Do you remember the leadership of the late great Dr. Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabbah? Under his watch, when SALPOST disgracefully disposed of mails belonging to Sierra Leoneans who had registered for the American Diversity Visa (DV) Program, there was an uproar. President Kabbah, may his soul rest in peace, addressed the nation and did not shy away from condemning the perpetrators. He called their actions “bad hearts.” That is the kind of leadership people expect. Not silence. Not avoidance. “Nor Balance Wi Sir”
Just very recently, President Étienne Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo had to leave a conference abruptly to return home when rebels entered Kisangani in Goma. That is leadership. He knew his people needed him. He understood the gravity of the situation. But, Mr. President, why are you so worried? What is keeping you so silent? Is it the problem that has emerged through your daughter’s husband, Jos Leijdekkers? Or is it the rumors floating around social media and the streets?
Mr. President, our country is awash with drugs; KUSH and cocaine have taken over our streets. It is an open secret that Sierra Leone has become a major transit hub for international drug trafficking. Mr. President, your family members have been linked to these scandals plaguing our country. This is not just street gossip; these are serious allegations that require answers.
Mr. President, you have some explaining to do, sir. Yes, sir. Why would I not say so? Tell me, Mr. President.
Mr. President, I recall a time when you had no reservations about threatening people. But today, I only ask for transparency. If these are mere allegations, then let an investigation prove them wrong. If there is truth to them, then the law must take its course. That is the essence of democracy. That is the essence of good governance.
Mr. President, I am not against you. Neither am I against any of your family members. But, Mr. President, your wife has been the first to abandon you in times of trouble. Have you been briefed about how quickly she distanced herself when the news broke? “Mr. President, Lord have mercy, your wife has washed her hands clean of this.”
Did you see how Dr. Sylvia Blyden was ready to take Umaru Fofana head-on over this? Yet, your own press secretary, Yusuf Keketorma Sandy, has been missing in action. Mr. President, what exactly are you keeping him as your press secretary for? What is his role if, in times of crisis, he cannot speak to the nation and provide clarity on behalf of your administration? “Instead, Una Lef Chernor Bah fo go create more doubt”
Mrs. Bio has distanced herself, Mr. President. She has denied ever knowing or meeting Jos Leijdekkers. If this is the case, then we must ask: who, then, facilitated the relationship?
Mr. President, your daughter must face an investigation. That is the first thing. Secondly, you must immediately order the arrest of Jos Leijdekkers while the investigation is ongoing. Mr. President, your family is not above the law. Not even you, sir, are above the law. You must also face parliament to answer questions about your connection to Jos Leijdekkers and explain how this scandal has dragged the good name of Sierra Leone through the mud.
Mr. President, I advise you to get a solid panel of lawyers, lawyers who are well-versed in international law. You will need them. Mark my words, Mr. President, because this is bigger than you think. One day, while you are on one of your numerous travel escapades, you could be arrested for violating international drug laws.
Mr. President, do you remember Manuel Noriega? Do you recall how he was arrested and removed from Panama’s State House? This is not the first time a sitting leader has found himself entangled in international law enforcement issues. Are you also aware of the prosecution of Hunter Biden, the son of U.S. President Joe Biden? This should serve as a warning that even powerful families are not immune to legal accountability.
Mr. President, you must tread carefully. If you attempt to protect Jos Leijdekkers by negotiating a swap for Adebayor, then I assure you that you are putting yourself in a very dangerous position. The international community is watching.
Mr. President, Sierra Leoneans are tired. We are exhausted by the corruption, the scandals, and the never-ending mismanagement of our nation’s resources. And, to make matters worse, you keep leaving the country at the slightest opportunity. We thank God you have decided to return home this time. But what have you brought back for us? What developments can we point to from your travels? Or was it just another waste of taxpayers’ money?
Mr. President, we have another very important discussion tomorrow, Insha Allah. Tomorrow, we need to talk about the funds you have been collecting in our name. Where have they gone? Because, quite frankly, we have not seen or felt any tangible evidence of these funds on the ground.
So, Mr. President, I urge you to prepare yourself for this discussion. The people of Sierra Leone deserve answers.
Until tomorrow, Mr. President “Tumara wi go tok ya.”
