Independence Day: time for celebration or political calibration?
The euphoria that is oozing among Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad, in anticipation of the country’s 50th. Birthday has been the talk of the town in all spheres since the beginning of 2011. Sierra Leonean groups all over the Diaspora have been pumping valuable man hours to make this an occasion that will last in the memory for years to come. To all those who, in their own little ways, have been making their own contributions, I say well done for doing us proud. For some of us who were not born or old enough to remember what it meant to be independent 50 years ago, the celebrations can only be imagined. April 27 1961 marked the day when the country politically broke the shackles of colonialism and assumed the reins of self determination. It marked the point of departure from when a few well fed, pot-bellied, thoroughly moustached and bearded men decided to carve out the destiny of a whole continent in 1884, in a dimly lit dungeon of a room that vaguely passed for “the Berlin Conference”. (Photo: Abdulai Mansaray, author)
On the 27th April this year, Sierra Leone would have had 50 years of the freedom to rule itself. As history teaches us, this freedom was a hard fought thing, as freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; but must be demanded by the oppressed (Martin Luther King). You don’t have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being. It is therefore unquestionable that today’s celebration should be dedicated to all those who fought for the independence we enjoy today. This brings to mind our forbears like Sir Milton Margai, Siaka Stevens, Leopold Senghor, Samora Mitchell, Nelson Mandela, Sekou Toure and Kwame Nkrumah, not forgetting all the negritude writers that graced the face of the continent; at a time when the whole of Africa was undergoing a period of self actualisation and political emancipation. How far we have come on the road this sacred goal is open to individual opinions.
To many people, freedom meant immediate betterment, as if by magic. With freedom came power. But today, many people see independence as middle class blasphemy, because we are all dependent on one another. As we celebrate this epoch making moment, Sierra Leoneans should remember that without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence. This brings into perspective, the President, Earnest Bai Koroma’s call for attitudinal change in the Sierra Leonean psyche, for without this, the country will continue to wallow in the cesspit of corruption; which has been the cankerworm for the country’s economic malaise. Sadly, corruption became the most infallible symptom of our constitutional liberty.
With the dawn of independence came democracy. But if we are going to safeguard democracy; we must have an unadulterated sense of independence, self respect and oneness. The greatest gift that we can give our children is the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence. That is what our forbears bestowed on the present generation. Many people will proclaim to die for independence as a point of aspiration, but will sadly, not waste a second demolishing it brick by brick.
To many people, independence in Sierra Leone has not achieved the goals of its African freedom fighters like Kwame Nkrumah. It has not been all rosy and plain sailing as the cost of freedom can be high. Those who fought for our independence were ready to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend and oppose any foe .We owe it to them to ensure the success of liberty. But liberty cannot be preserved without the general knowledge among the people. Some see economic independence as the foundation of the only sort of freedom worth a damn. Against this background, some schools of thought have seen our independence as a curse than a blessing; forgetting that “the boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave (Thomas Jefferson). But with our enviable blessings in resources, it is easy to see why some people maintain this view.
The economic situation has not been kind to the majority; no wonder some people have been clamouring for a return to colonial rule. This was more so evident after the intervention of the British to save the country from the jaws of destruction that was unleashed by a bunch of deranged psychopaths, courtesy of Charles Taylor and Foday Sankoh. You can be forgiven to see such views as short sighted and rightly so; but this was a manifestation of frustration and anger at the status quo, where more than half the population don’t have a hope in cat’s hell to live a better life. These were people who followed the adage that “it was better to be a king in hell than to be a slave in heaven”; as we remain surrounded by water everywhere but not a drop to drink (metaphorically). It is easy to take liberty for granted when you have never had it taken away from you. But people of such views should remember that it is only in return for death, destruction and grief as gifts, can we see the paradise of independence. That is the price that our forbears paid for the independence we are planning to celebrate today; for you cannot build character and courage by taking away man’s initiative and independence. Liberty can be dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have; in spite of its relativity.
Sierra Leoneans must be the change we want to see in our country. It is therefore imperative to all well meaning citizens to see this occasion as not only one of celebration, but also one of reflection. Many organisations have sprung up with full itineraries for the celebrations. Sadly enough, there have been reports of some people trying to hijack this moment as a platform to pursue, preserve and promote insidious political gymnastics. Sierra Leone’s independence celebration is about Sierra Leoneans, for Sierra Leoneans and by Sierra Leoneans. This does not mean that friends and partners are not invited. The greatest mistake is to see this occasion as a party political occasion. This is not about The APC, SLPP, Independent or even the Loony party. Accusations have been flying around that members of certain political parties are gesturing for ownership of the occasion.
It is obvious that we have a ruling party that is in situ at this time. But this does not and should not in any way be seen or used as the APC Party’s independence celebration. It is not the SLPP party’s independence celebration. This is and must be a celebration for all Sierra Leoneans, irrespective of creed, sex or political affiliation. It should be celebrated in the spirit of nationhood and oneness. Considering what the country has gone through in the last decade, it will be ill advised to take liberties with this occasion; for there is nothing with which it is dangerous to take liberties as liberty itself. Thankfully today, we have peace and peace is liberty in tranquillity. Unfortunately, abuse is the very hallmark of liberty. We should be talking about liberating minds as well as liberating our society; for liberty of the individual is no gift of civilisation or a political party. The SLPP Party should not hijack the celebrations simply because Sir Milton Margai, the midwife of our independence was a member; and the APC should not do so because it is the current landlord of the country. The celebrations belong to every well meaning citizen. True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what is right.
So as fellow Sierra Leoneans, The call for attitudinal change has never been more poignant. This should mark the Eureka moment for the whole country. Although it is a momentous occasion, we need a collective balance sheet of how far we have come as an independent nation. It is a time for reflection and the dawn of a new direction. Attitudinal change should be the watch word. We cannot be separated in interest or divided in purpose but should stand together; for any unity which does not have its origin in the multitudes is tyranny. United we stand, divided we fall. Even the weak become strong when they are united. Sierra Leoneans have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common national society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by our ethnic, linguistic, religious, tribal and political diversities that enrich our lives. So let the flags fly, let the drums roll, and let us savour this moment with reckless abandon. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, Sierra Leone is still a beautiful country. Let’s be cheerful and strive to be happy (Desiderata).
Happy 50th Independence Birthday to one and all.
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