Open Letter to President Ernest Bai Koroma

Dear Mr. President,

It is April again, another independent’s day approaching. April 27th 1961, a day when Sierra Leone gained its political and economic freedom. This day of celebration marks Sierra Leone adoption of the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. On 27th April 1961, Sir Milton Margai, the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone on that day raised the GREEN-WHITE-BLUE (national flag) so proudly. It was assumed that Sierra Leone will be free from colonial interferences into our social-economic issues, being free from our slave masters will bring UNITY, FREEDOM and JUSTICE but yet the REVERSE. On April, 27^th Sierra Leoneans observed this day throughout the country with flag-hoisting ceremonies (GREEN-WHITE-BLUE, and no other flag), parades and cultural events. We celebrate this day by displaying the national flag (GREEN-WHITE-BLUE, and nothing else) on our attire, accessories, homes and vehicles; by listening to patriotic songs, watching patriotic movies; and bonding with family and friends devoid of tribes, regions, religion, party belonging or gender.

On this day, all Sierra Leoneans must be considered one; we must all sing the same National Anthem and same National Pledge with one voice. On this day there is no northern Sierra Leonean, no Southern Sierra Leonean, no Eastern or Western Sierra Leonean, no Green Sierra Leonean, no Red Sierra Leonean, No Tribal Sierra Leonean (Mende, Temne, Madingo, Fullah, Loko, Limba, Creole etc.,) but a PATRIOTIC SIERRA LEONEAN. PATRIOTISM BRINGS THE UNITY IN OUR DIVERSITY. For there is no such great and powerful word in this world as PATRIOTISM, Patriotism must be a lively sense of our collective responsibilities. According to DAVID EHRENFELD, Patriotism is the admission that people who share a land, a place, a history and have a special obligation to that place and to each other.

Mr. President, one thing I always ask myself is the essence of Sierra Leones independence, was it necessary? If the answer is yes, what have we achieved during this 53 years since then? Where is the stability in governments, the socio-economic independency? Where is the freedom we opted for, the unity among Sierra Leoneans, where is the justice for all? To be the gaining of independent to Sierra Leone was a misfortune. The very day Sierra Leone gained independent, instead of building on legacies left by our colonial masters we started destroying foundations for the country’s stability, UNITY never; FREEDOM a challenge; and JUSTICE selected few. I’m writing this letter because Sierra Leoneans no longer work in the country’s interest. People in charge think they are greater or most powerful and blessed ones among others. Do they think they’re demi-gods? Some take party bigger state or national issues. Instead of working for the nation’s interest they put party first. I believe and convince that all Sierra Leone must have a common interest and work for the good of all. IS IT THE REGION, TRIBE AND PARTY FIRST OR THE COUNTRY??? The tribal, regional and party Dichotomy is too much; really alarming. That’s why I’m writing this letter. Since then I have seen many state issues being politicized.

I have seen national stadium being painted party colours instead of the national flag (GREEN_WHITE_BLUE). Party or state?
I have seen party challenging the Anti –Corruption Commissions to court. Party VS state functions??
I have seen the historical and traditional cultural activities (Paddle and Lantern) rebranded to a party. Tradition or Party???
I have seen the biasedness of state media showing a loyalty to party against state. State VS Party or undue influence?
I have seen a priest being rejected in a region of this country just because he belongs to the other tribe. I guess Jesus Christ wasn’t a Sierra Leone but we all accepted him. Religion VS Region??
I have seen partial development of the country, with one region benefitting abundantly whilst others feel none. Region VS National Development or Decentralization???
I have seen students’ scholarships and Government grants-in-aid awarded base on party affiliation. Equal right VS Party or Human Resource Development??
I have seen Jobs offered by nepotism, regional discriminations, or party caucus.
I have seen parliament taking decisions to suit party against the people they represent. Constitutional infringements!! State VS Party?
I have seen justice been twisted, selective justice, civil activists dumbed and deafened, democratic institutions politically blinded.
I have also seen Natural Resources exploited, and not reflective on the people or country. Minerals mined and exported, yet far greater part of Sierra Leoneans still poor and miserable.
I have seen and have seen and have seen……………many to name.

This is truly unprecedented Mr. President. Unfortunately, the country’s fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law, national cohesion, cultural values, equal right, justice, and personal freedom are under attack by the nation’s own government. Instead of our politicians fostering a politics that enables people to help them, they are loaded with a politics that destroys value, divides people, spreading tribalism, raises costs, hinders innovation and relegates millions of citizens to a life of poverty, dependency and hopelessness. We are living in a society where our elected officials believe that people’s lives are better run by politicians and regulators than by the people themselves. Those in power fail to see that PATRIOTISM breeds UNITY, UNITY breeds FREEDOM, FREEDOM breeds JUSTICE. UNITY, FREEDOM and JUSTICE are the essence of what it means to be a SIERRA LEONEAN. The Love of UNITY with COMMON INTEREST should be the Sierra Leone ideal. Obviously, if we want to restore a free society and create greater well-being and opportunity for all Sierra Leoneans, we have no choice but to think Sierra Leone as an entity with one common interest. Patriotism and the LOVE FOR ALL (All for one and one for all) must be practiced and promulgated to all. Yeah, that’s what I thought, and what I believe in. We should start thinking about the next generations and not the next elections. Let us put our country first, embrace all as an entity, and think SALONE. Let us forget about crude politics, put party aside and every one must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

“Loyalty to country should be ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, only when it deserves it.” Mark Twain

Mr. President, your supporters and your oppositions may argue over whether you have done well or not, but they both agree on one thing: you are a figure of great significance and immense power. With this power and significance only you can redesign the future at the moment. The future of this country lies on your table and your decisions; you are the present architect to the country’s fate. No matter whatever development of any state, if there is no unity among its denizens, all else will be lost. A divided nation is never stabilized. There is disunity at all levels, tribal segregations, regional divisions, nepotism is so high, corruption at peak, poverty increasingly increasing and justices under attack. All these serve will serve as peril to your legacies. No society will surely flourish if the far great part of its population is divided, poor, depressed, corrupt, and unpatriotic. These are recipes for chaos or civil disobedience.

Mr. President, your legacies will be defined by these small things. Your promises during your campaign —the infrastructural displays, the free medication hype, the city’s electricity excitation will all fade and replaced by the conniving partisan machinations to define your tenure if we remain divided. And believe me only you will take that blame. Just as the people say “DI PA DAE WOKE”, so we will say again “DI PA NOR TRY”. It’s a blame game, and the leader takes both the good and the bad. Every president has a moment that encapsulates their time in office. So were our late Prezos, the promised end justifies the means. A truly flourishing society is based on a vision of respect and unity for its entire people, and what they value. In a truly free society, any business that divides its customers will fail, and deserves to do so. The same should be true of any government that divides its citizens. Unity and collective interest promote the geopolitical and economic stability of a state. Obviously, no government could possibly run citizens’ lives for the better. The more government tries to control, the greater the challenges.

As long as there is disunity and regional nomenclature in our country we will find it difficult to appreciate or enjoy any kind of development. We will start enjoying this country the moment we start thinking we are all one. If only you can bridge the gap between regional differences; tribal indifferences; be everybody’s keeper, letting what is good for Yeabu is good for Monjama, believe me Mr. President Sierra Leone will be a paradise that other countries will emulate, and there will be peace, justice and freedom for all. There will be less violence, less corruption, development will increase incessantly, there will be jobs, our youth will be reformed and peace will prevail from generations to generations. The integral part of all these is the change of attitude. WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDE and embrace UNITY.

Thank you and God bless you and God bless Sierra Leone and its habitants.

Sabugorhindo Dauda Vaffie Sheriff
Freetown, Sierra Leone

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