What is this talk about a mass protest?
I recently wrote an opinion under this column which I titled “Where is Sierra Leone’s Civil Society?”
In that article, I raised a number of observations concerning the activities of our so-called civil society organizations most of them surviving from international donor support and purporting to be representatives of the suffering masses.
In my opinion, I singled out certain individuals and organizations erroneously or otherwise perceived to be the voice of the voiceless. I even singled out and chided the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) for having betrayed the cause of the people and might lose its grip on the seat of power it was fighting back to reclaim.
I raised my concerns against the background of a country edging closer to social and economic disintegration while all of us stand by timidly and watch our country fall apart due to bad governance. I argued that these individuals or groups of individuals had sold out to politicians and have therefore remained largely impotent as they can literarily back without biting.
Interestingly, less that twenty-four hours after that publication (May 10, 2011), I read a press release originating from some civil society activists calling themselves National Youth Coalition (NYC) who must have read my concerns and decided to take the bull by the horn.
The president of that organization is the youthful Ishmail Al-Sankoh who I admire most for his courage. The fact that he has come out openly to issue an ultimatum against a government many believe he is closely related to is highly commendable.
I hold the view that if he remains firm and unwavering in his resolve and succeed in mobilizing the masses against the current state of affairs, the suffering masses of this country would add more grease to his elbow.
I am not stating here that it is Ishmail alone that would push this venture to a successful end. It will be the business of all Sierra Leoneans to support this cause and redeem the downtrodden from both physical and psychological deprivation.
It is often said that he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. This time round one does not need to wear the shoe to know where it burns. Even without wearing it, by the look of the shoe, one can sense where it pinches.
In other words, in the current state of things, even without saying it, one knows where it pinches hardest. Very few Sierra Leoneans can hit their chests and say all is well with them. We don’t envy them neither admire them in any way. Time will always tell.
However, it is because of this troubling trend of things that the coalition of youth activists are now saying enough is enough; the government should reverse the decision to increase the price of petroleum products. The youths are even suggesting that the price should scaled down to Le4,000 per litre from the present Le5,000.
Failing to do so, the coalition has given a 21-day ultimatum after which Sierra Leoneans in their thousands would spilled out onto the streets in mass protest over the unwelcome increase.
So far so good!
But I have my own little reservation about the proposed mass strike action. Would it work? I dare ask. This question need not arise, in the opinion of many, because every one is feeling the pinch.
That’s true, but would the strike action take place? I have earlier mentioned Chairman Al-Sankoh’s affiliation with the APC government. He is a by-product of that regime. Therefore, what would stop the powers that-be to call Sankoh aside and halt him mid-way in his advancement, saying to him “Hi, guy, you are one of us, don’t set the people against us. If we go down, you are going down with us. Here, take this little token and forget about your damn protest…”
I am not speculating or casting aspersion on the integrity of the NYC Chairman. He is a decent young man. I am merely thinking aloud.
Looking beyond the personal motive of the organizers of the protest action, I am also concerned about the overall attitude of the average Sierra Leonean. I say so because the western area in particular abounds with political sycophants who can betray any genuine cause so long as it affects the interest of their masters. The APC government always lays claim to it dominance in the western area including the capital, Freetown. Their sympathizers might have a different view of what affects the generality of the populace.
We have heard them saying ‘let’s be patient, the president is doing his bit’. There are others who may be feeling the pinch but would rather remain silence so long as any mass action does not affect their livelihood. These are the hypocrites, the ‘how-for-dos’ who might be hard to deal with more than the APC operatives.
I have the feeling that the proposed nationwide protest might succeed in opposition strongholds like the south and east of the county, but what about APC strongholds in the north. The story might be different there.
My question again, would the likes of Ishmail Al-Sankoh succeed in their endeavour, genuine though it might be, in the midst of a totally dispassionate support of what could be a worthy cause?
However, no matter how my APC sympathizers will view the situation, the hardship is biting; things are getting rough and unbearable. We are being pushed to a wall where the only option is to rebound. And if this happens it will be catastrophic for the APC government.
In the beginning it was all ‘hosanna!’; today we are beginning to cry ‘crucify them all!’
Let’s hope the government will listen and avert the looming crisis.
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