By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, here we go again. Another day, another trip. You pack your bags, jet off to another country, return home briefly to reshuffle your cabinet, appoint minions or family members into major offices, and then, just like that, you disappear again. Mr. President, “wetin yu feel sae wi be ba”? Do you think we are fools? Do you believe Sierra Leoneans do not see the pattern of your governance, one that prioritizes personal interests over national progress? We have watched you move like a tourist rather than a leader, making grand speeches abroad while the people you swore to serve continue to suffer.
Mr. President, our ears have been stretched waiting to hear from you about Jos Leijdekkers and your daughter’s marriage with Jos Leijdekkers, yet you have said nothing. The silence is deafening. Sierra Leoneans have long learned to expect little from their leaders, but even by those low standards, your refusal to address this issue is disappointing. Mr. President, transparency is not a luxury; it is a duty. If you have nothing to hide, why not speak? Why not tell us the truth? Because right now, Mr. President, silence looks a lot like guilt.
But let’s move on to another matter, one that affects the daily lives of every Sierra Leonean, the energy crisis. Mr. President, Kandeh may not hold the official title, but we all know he is the “De Facto” Minister of Energy. If he is not, then why is he wielding such influence over that ministry? If he is actually responsible, why has he not taken the necessary actions to bring meaningful change to the energy sector? “But na so so labo e dae pan, e busy dae read e profile dae tel wi but e forty years’ experience na UN bra na light wi want wi don taya wit di boku labo”
The people are tired of living in darkness, of paying for electricity they do not receive, and of watching their children struggle to study under candlelight while government offices remain brightly lit with generators running at their expense. What exactly is your plan, Mr. President? Because the people are tired of hearing promises that never materialize. They are tired of EDSA’s erratic rationing plan that serves only the elite while the common people remain trapped in a cycle of blackouts and frustration.
Mr. President, let’s talk about your current trip to Barbados. What exactly do you plan to say at the conference? Have you prepared a speech, or will you, once again, improvise your way into yet another international embarrassment? The thought of you sitting next to an eloquent and well-spoken leader like Mia Mottley is genuinely concerning. Mr. President, “Ar Sweh to God If Yu Stoma Yanda wi go mek Palava.” If she speaks before you, I beg you, just remain silent. Save us all the secondhand embarrassment of hearing you stumble over your words while attempting to appear knowledgeable.
The truth, Mr. President, is that you crave the limelight, yet you lack the substance to justify your presence in it. Your leadership has been a tragedy for Sierra Leoneans, a thorn in the lives of those who trusted you to bring change. The reality is you have failed us. You have failed to bring meaningful economic reform. You have failed to uphold justice and transparency. You have failed to provide even the most basic services, yet you continue to travel, to take awards, and to bask in international recognition while your country crumbles.
Now, let’s talk about your wife. Since she has been throwing her weight around in the name of advocacy, we have made a formal request for her to lead us in a million-man march against EDSA and the Ministry of Energy. If she is truly the people’s advocate, let her prove it. Mr. President, “Lent Wi Fatima Leh Wi Go Demonstrate becos wit am wi nor need clearance from Police.” If she
Stand with the people; let her march with us. Let her demand better electricity distribution, demand that EDSA stick to its rationing schedule, and ensure that citizens receive the services they pay for. Mr. President, we are warning you now, if EDSA continues to rob us by making us pay for top-ups without receiving electricity, “Wi nor go Tek am na dem hand O.”
And while you prepare your speech for Barbados, remember one thing: we will be watching. We will be listening. And we will engage Barbadian social media to expose every falsehood, every exaggeration, and every untruth you dare to utter on that stage. Mr. President, tell the truth. Because if you don’t, we will make sure the world knows the reality of your leadership.
Mr. President, can we talk?
