Re-dissecting President Koroma’s 51st Independence Anniversary’s Speech and Proving his Critics Wrong
April 27th 2012 is fading away in the not too distant pages of history. Sierra Leone became 51 years since independence and as usual, the day was commemorated in a special way as is often the case. But a certain feature which always forms part this celebration is the independence speech of His Excellency the president which is often broadcasted to the whole nation via radio and television. This speech is also often translated in some of the local dialects for the grassroots people to get a glimpse of whatsoever the president says. (Photo: Abraham Karl Samura, author)
This year’s speech was peculiar in several ways with several thematic issues highlighted. But at the end it, several criticisms were sparked from various quarters notably from the SLPP and PMDC parties. Several points were raised by some high profile members of these parties geared toward rendering the speech redundant. I was personally compelled at this latter time to go back into the content of this speech to set the records straight and prove such critics wrong. This is not to say I am allergic to criticism especially when it has do with the way president Ernest Bai Koroma is governing the country. What I abhor is subjective and destructive criticisms especially so when it has the tendency of blurring the minds of right thinking people of the country. When criticisms are made to make unfounded political gains detrimental to the progress and prosperity of the country, it is worth stating that such criticisms should be debunked and rendered impotent and doing so is a national service. I have been writing expressly on the development strides of the APC under the leadership of President Koroma which is by no means an attempt to praise sing but to give what is due to Ceaser. In some of these articles, I have stated categorically that what has been achieved so far by President Koroma are not only pathways to the country’s future prosperity, but strong foundations that succeeding governments will certainly build upon. Coming back to the April 27th Independence speech, it is worth noting that the president could not have said less than what was contained in the speech. Systematically, the president highlighted issues which are of present day realities. The first thought provoking statement the president made that caught my attention was that the 51st year Independence anniversary is also the ‘very first year’ of our journey into a future in which we have collectively vowed to become an advanced economy and a donor nation.
President Ernest Koroma: Visionary
This is prophetic in a way but only people with sensitive spiritual eyes could actually see it because such a statement could easily be brushed aside by a mundane, ordinary myopic man or woman. It reminds me of a statement which the renowned Bishop Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel often states that “If it is in your head, it is in your hand”. What in essence he is saying is that great works and outstanding accomplishments where first conceived from the mind before being put into effect. It goes without saying that without a clear vision there can be no tangible achievement. The president was also quick in his speech to note that, “God has blessed us with the resources to achieve these aspirations”. In relation to the aspect of laying the foundation for the prosperity of the nation, a portion of the speech reads; “ We are laying the foundations, and together we will continue along this chosen path of transformation. The sighns and achievements of this transformation are visible everywhere. From the Wilkinson Road in Freetown, to Tikonko Road in Bo, from Kombema Road in Kenema to tekoh Road in Makeni, we are moving forward with constructing first class roads. We are constructing streets in Kailahun, Moyamba, Port Loko, Magburka, Koidu and Freetown; we have built highways in every region and we are building more everywhere.” This section of the speech it seemed sent shivers down the spine of the above mentioned critics who wasted no time to remark both on the print and electronic media that nothing has been achieved on road construction as the government has not even constructed up to four kilometers of road. This was passionately remarked by the PRO and Member of Parliament of the opposition SLPP in the person of honourable Tamba Sam in a Lunch Time Break interview on the SLBC Television few days after the speech was read. In the same vein, two PRO’s of the Peoples Democratic Change Party also lambasted the speech on the AWOKO Newspaper of Tuesday May 1st 2012 edition stating that the much talked about roads are incomplete and have exceeded the completion date. Well, I would only like to remind these two of the words of Harece which states “dimidium facti qui coepit hebet” meaning – he who has begun has the work half done.” This is just to let them understand that the fact that the president could venture to undertake and priorities road construction alone has the works half done, in due time such roads will be things of the past. The president was not also minimal with words when he mentioned the construction of the $100 million dollar worth foreign affairs building being built by the Chinese at Tower Hill, the Audit Service Building around the same vicinity and the various business plazas being built in the regional capitals of Bo, Makeni, and Kenema. The critics failed to mention these ventures as worthy for these will remain long after President Ernest Bai Koroma may have left power. The president also highlighted the billions of Leones being given to District and City Councils for projects in their locations and which is also done without considerations to what regions it goes. This is geared towards enhancing the devolution of functions and the decentralization of resources for national development could they refer to this as bogus or a properganda? If they say yes to this then I have the moral high ground to question what kind of leadership such people want to provide this country with. On gender empowerment, the president despite the enormous challenges faced by women, the president was sensitive on the important role being played by women in his government. The head of the judiciary is a woman, the head of the country’s electoral commission is a woman, as the president saw the need to maintain her there. Sierra Leone can boast of the first female Brigadier General in the sub region in the person of Brigadier General Kestoria Kabia. The current Acting Head of the Country’s Revenue Generating Agency is a woman, to name but few. These are all vital state institutions that are being manned by women. The possibility of women attaining the 30% quota in governance is a reality based on the willingness of the president to see it happen. Why didn’t the critics disprove this fact? The answer is simple, it would like proverbial who baboons expose their backsides pretending not knowing it if they should regard this as a propaganda. But another important issue also addressed by the president is that of service to the nation. The recognition of the roles of lecturers, teachers, doctors, nurses, youths, imams, pastors, market women, fitters, drivers, farmers, san miners, bike riders and even stone breakers is noteworthy as each of these are part of the whole and without which will render the society dysfunctional.
To be continued…
By Abraham Karl Samura
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2012, https:. All rights reserved.
