In Pursuit of Fairness, Mr President

Last week, I wrote a piece that was published in most of Sierra Leone’s online and print media reminding the president about “The price and implications of our democracy”. I discussed a series of issues including the many broken promises of the APC government and focused on the blatant disregard by the APC government of the principles of good governance, namely: free press, and the violation of human rights (natural or as stipulated by the Sierra Leone 1991 constitution). The points raised were no fabrications but facts to which the average Sierra Leonean is privy. It is unfortunate that for some commentators, my pointing out the failures of our democracy under the APC government makes me guilty of tribalism. That none of the commentators disputed the facts and reasoning that informed the said article demonstrates that the tag, “tribalism” is conveniently attached to any view that does not cohere with rosy misrepresentations of the reality of life in Sierra Leone under the APC.  (Photo: Alimamy Jaiah Kaikai, commentator on good governance and development)

The threats to our democracy are evident: APC supporters have attacked SLPP offices in Sebgwema, Bo and Freetown, and nobody called that tribalism. When a few weeks ago State House apparently called the national radio station (SLBC) to interrupt Dr. Blyden’s exercise of her free speech rights and her contribution to the dialogue on nation building, nobody called it tribalism. When APC operatives led by the President’s main bodyguard, Idrissa “Leather boot” Kamara, has led brutal assaults (including rape) on peaceful Sierra Leoneans (from SLPP HQ to the Kenema Power Station), nobody has called it tribalism. He still flamboyantly flaunts himself majestically around the President with impunity as the president conducts the nation’s business even in diplomatic circles.

The APC government has maintained an unstated policy of hiring predominantly northerners in the country. Membership of the APC seems to be the major qualification for appointments: citizens suspected of being SLPP supporters or sympathizers have been sacked with impunity without regard to due process and law.  The command and control of security forces have been predominantly vested in northerners, so that, for instance, the deputy inspector General of police Oliver Somassa, with a wealth of experience under his belt and capable enough to head the police force, was skipped over by president Koroma for a junior northerner, Mr. Francis Munu, nobody has called that tribalism. Major General Nelson Williams’ replacement as head of the army with a northerner and with two northerners close to the APC placed in charge of personnel recruitment and logistics nobody is calling it tribalism. During the SLPP government of president Kabba, the SLPP had the choice of appointing only southeasterners to the head of security apparatus as well, but the Kabba presidency instead opted for a regional balance and qualification in post war Sierra Leone in the name of peace and national reconciliation and appointed Braima Acha Kamara, a northerner to head the police and General Sam Mboma as head of the army. Perhaps that’s what you expect of a wise leader who is firmly vested in the core democratic values of fairness and equal opportunity.

Government investments and development projects have an unashamedly bizarre northern bias at the expense of the south east and the best interests of the country as a whole, yet no APC supporter is calling it tribalistic. That President Koroma has not even pretended to right the blatant ethnic imbalance of his cabinet for the last 3 years nor comment on these multiple discriminatory and unfair practices indicate that the president cares less at the implications of his deliberate policy choice. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report highlights kindred historic social and economic injustices as being among the key triggers of the Sierra Leone civil war. But yet still, despite this frightening historical precedent, APC elements always run riot with the word “tribalism” and point accusatory fingers at anyone whose views they perceive to be sympathetic to the opposition SLPP. But the facts of life in Sierra Leone speak for themselves. There is this old Creole adage that says “tell fren true nor dae poil frenship.” Until we, as Sierra Leoneans, face our problems with courage, the struggle continues.

Many people who voted for the APC did so in the belief that President Koroma is an agent of change – a change to good governance, probity, respect for human rights, and free speech. President Koroma has embarked on and is carrying out some of the projects of the past SLPP government. It will take honor and integrity for the president to admit that. It also takes honor and integrity as well as an inherent sense of fairness and justice to use all the human resources available in Sierra Leone without regard to region, ethnicity, or affiliation with the APC party and government. President Koroma, admit that the SLPP government secured funding for the massive infrastructural projects in the country and started them. That will not take anything away from your commitment to completing each of those projects. Governance is about continuity and using the best elements of the previous government’s program and policies.

As President Koroma nears the crucial 3 year benchmark for the country’s transformation that he had set, Sierra Leoneans will remember more hours of electricity in some parts Freetown (although in no other part of the country) and the completion of the roads projects started by the SLPP. But they will also remember that the price of rice has risen from Le60,000 to Le145,000; political violence by APC thugs has resurfaced; rape and crime are at an all time high; multi-million dollar corruption scandals and the unexplained flight of the corruption czar as well as his imminent replacement with a northerner from Bombali from the president’s alma mater; the fidgeting of institutions of governance; general oppression, and threats of democratic freedoms and spaces do not augur well for our country. President Koroma, our rights, liberties, and entitlements to food, water, medical and other services, and a better quality of life as Sierra Leoneans are non-negotiable. President Kennedy, in his inaugural address acknowledged these freedoms and told the world that, “the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the (divine) hand of God”.

That is why I urge all Sierra Leoneans to unite in asking the president to commit in his actions and policies to grant those rights to his fellow citizens. In that way, we all can be his cheerleaders in 2012. But if the APC and its supporters are confident that the President is safe in his driver’s seat after the 36^th gear (month) of slow driving, decides to continue ignoring our pain and cries, fails to heed to our calls for sanity in governance, or maybe finds comfort with the present trend of events, then we shall wait when he negotiate his final turn in the 60^th gear and we shall surely pass judgment that is just and fair to all Sierra Leoneans.

We must not relent to bring matters of state to the fore that we know are legitimate and proper. Peace and national security is of first importance. We are determined to continue our efforts in the media and elsewhere for the good of Sierra Leone. While the guns may be silent in Sierra Leone, our next challenge is in the hearts and minds of her children. Our democracy would be rounded when all can serve the land that we love faithfully without fear or favor.

By Alimamy Jaiah Kaikai, Houston, TX

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