Let’s talk some politics

Travelling around the city of Harbin in China, seeing development at its highest level made me to remember my darling Sierra Leone. I left Harbin July 2009 and came back September this year, I can authoritatively say on my return, I saw the visions and innovations of leadership in display as development which is an on going process can be seen, felt and taste in this part of the world on a daily basis.

Well in this part of the world they don’t talk politics because what comes out of their mouths will definitely be implemented to the letter; they talk policies and innovations because their leadership is very innovative and dreams a lot. Because of his dreams, China is now the second largest economy, the world’s factory and the highest creditor to the United States. The word ‘change’ is not in their vocabulary because it is always easy to speak and it is always empty. They don’t talk politics but policies.

So it is because of this I would want us in Sierra Leone to talk some politics (even though we are not politicians) as we reminisce a little and prepare for 2012 whether the political speeches will get the best of us or we get the best of them as we will try to think rationally and look for better options that might start pulling us from the depth of poverty by them talking policies rather than politics.

Tejan Kabbah in his era said “I will build a bridge between Freetown and Lungi”; I will turn Pademba Road Prisons to a shopping Mall, and barely two months to his retirement he was at it again telling Sierra Leoneans that he will construct a fly-over at Lumley. These were political vibes that we will listen to until we die.

And there came the great ‘fine boy’ Dr Ernest Bai Koroma who told us that the economy was in shambles and he will build a strong economy and a bag of rice will cost half the Le60,000 in 2007. He said SLPP were very tribalistic, “When I go to State House I will make sure all appointment is done country wide irrespective of region and tribe”. “There will be no sacred cows in my government, and will run the country as a business”, and I will not move out of Goderich until the Peninsula road is completed. The latest courtesy of Awareness Times, built a school in a magazine rather than the Kailahun the school is suppose to be, good politics on show.

And my dear colleague and father who never stops amazing me was talking politics again in the last few days when he denied that a minister appointed as ambassador is not demotion. Kotor IB’s brain is running flat these days he needs some political cure because if a minister who was reporting to the president now reports to another minister what do we call it; a promotion Kotor? IB stop talking politics and also trash wake up from the slumber you are in and remember you were a fine journalist. You either shut up or learn to speak the truth! Oh these our politicians they will not stop amusing us.

This will not stop I bet you; come 2012 there will be more of these political speeches from all the aspirants and we will continue to laugh our hearts out, because after the elections, maybe Sierra Leone will be worse than before.

As I enjoy this political talk I want to quote what Winston Churchill said about politicians, he said and I quote “The ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year; and to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.” This is a true saying of our politicians. Laugh with me if you know it’s true.

Politicians, it doesn’t matter which party they belong to; they have two remarkable characteristics – verbal diarrhea and selective amnesia. The former is very important to walk their way into power and the latter is a defense if and when they are asked to account for the byproduct of the former.

Former president of France, Charles De Gaulle, is reported to have said, “Since a politician never believes what he says, he is surprised when others believe him”. When elections brood across the nation, it distributes gifts to all Parties and the politicians speak in political tongues.

In those days if a political ‘perspirant’ (a man or woman sweating to get elected) promises your community a bridge, don’t bother to remind him that there is no river in town, if you do, he will promise you one, after all he was only giving a political speech.

Parties in opposition easily catch the verbal diarrhea and notoriously refuse a cure. Listen to SLPP members daily as they bring out the wrongs and chant the change song they hope for, come 2012, ‘sharp 12’.

When Edward Langley said “what this country needs are more unemployed politicians”, I don’t think he envisaged the situation in Sierra Leone where they make radio stations, masquerade parlors and there party offices parliament and do three things only, talk, talk and talk. The talk itself is not the problem, but the irresponsible criticisms bordering on dishonesty and the avalanche of promises which they wish everyone forgets as soon as they get what they want – power. Alhaji Alpha Kanu was the best speaker in 2007, promising heaven on earth; “APC we nor dae tiff or lie”. Through the magic of radio, the criticisms and promises drown all good judgment, but don’t remind him of his speeches as he is now a minister and one of the richest Sierra Leonean (courtesy of his ministry); and also because amnesia is a remarkable attribute in politics.

The biggest problem with political speaking is when it becomes a substitute for the real job. When you acquire the habit, there is the tendency to continue politically speaking even after you acquire the power you so perspired for. I’ve never understood why this government converted three years SSS program to four at a time that our systems seemed to have adjusted to the three years. Why the government did give a one million Dollar duty free to an ordinary company? Why would they spend Le300 million to inaugurate Bumbuna when it can’t even serve the entire Western Area?

In this age of pluralistic media where the Internet, Radio, TV, Newspapers, etc compete to be the first to deliver the political talk to the homes of every Sierra Leonean, one phrase that will be heard several times in every home is “the President, Ernest Bai Koroma…” It is therefore not funny when SLBC sometime ago used the opposition story as lead news which got Kortor IB Kargbo infuriated and said it openly that what they did was wrong. So he quietly designed the SLBC job for Gbananom Hallowel who was always with him talking politically of how Ernest has changed the face of Sierra Leone positively, and how Tejan Kabbah was a wreck (e pot don bwel).

As is usual with our politicians, politically speaking is the solution. I want to believe that SLBC who received salaries through Ministry of Information will work very hard come 2012 to suppress the opposition, may be they will try to play safe by giving them few minutes so that they too can give us some political vibes.

Let me end by giving you my dear readers some quotes as food for thoughts as we prepare for 2012 because we are bound to learn more from our politicians and trust me you will always remember this piece that I was definitely correct in writing it.

George Orwell says Political language . . . is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.

This writer is unknown but he says Politicians are like diapers.  They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.

This is what Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard says – We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.

The great Plato says – Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.

Clarence Darrow writes – When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I’m beginning to believe it.

Remember, come 2012 they will be ready to give us political vibes, it is left with us to accept or reject because in order to become the master, the politician poses as the servant. But we will always want to vote for the best man, but he will never be a candidate, because we have plenty of confidence in this country, but we are a little short of good men to place our confidence in.

Politics always have the tendency to separate us and keep us from one another because we find ourselves on opposite camps, but remember that nature is always and ever making efforts to bring us together.  Come 2012, don’t allow them to bring separation between you and your relatives or friends.

Finally as I close let me close with the great Chinese leader Mao Zedong who said Politics is war without bloodshed, while war is politics with bloodshed.

Let us all be cautious and don’t allow the politicians to use us against one another because after the result they are gone and we are left healing our wounds. Keep your political thoughts to yourself and avoid arguments with friends or else …

Austin Thomas, China

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!

© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.