Mahmud Tim Kargbo: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 16 August 2020:
The Koroma administration failed to deliver its manifesto. It completely failed in creating a conducive environment for its successor to flourish – whether APC or SLPP.
I encourage you to fact check to ascertain the reality behind the massive propaganda the Koroma administration engaged in, instead of concentrating on delivering their manifesto. Check the former prresident’s Attitudinal and Behavioural Change Agenda, as well as his Agenda for Prosperity and make your judgement.
Also include in your fact checking, the handing-over statement of his predecessor, who mentioned in his handing-over statement the many roads the APC was to later claim they constructed.
Whilst Bio should not use this as an excuse because he was well aware of the problems he was to inherit before aspiring for the presidency and promised to fix them, Bio never inherited the good achievements Koroma inherited from his predecessor.
T
ejan Kabbah worked for his successor, but Koroma (Photo) never did, especially if one is to take into consideration the increased prices of raw materials in the world market when he took power in 2007.
Bio inherited so many wrongs in the public institutions that were meant to assist him with a timely delivery of his manifesto. And this is what he should have told the people rather than making the many promises he knew he will not succeed in delivering.
Well, some say its politics, but academics call it perjury. This is because academics speak truth to power and believe spinning cannot just work in a situation where the majority of your people are living in abject poverty.
As a matter of particularly importance, “Bio once said the economy is not lying, if it’s good the majority feel the positive impact of the economy in their pockets”.
This and many more from his manifesto are testaments supporting the argument that Bio knew about the state of the country he was to govern when he asked the people to vote for him two years ago. So, Bio has no excuse – he must deliver.
Sadly enough, Bio has fallen for the ‘bait and switch’ strategy employed by the APC and forgotten about his manifesto, only to focus on proving that he is a ‘strong man’ rather than a leader that believes in democratic reforms, based on established principles for the good of all.
The reality is that when you inherit a very weak economy, poor democratic institutions coupled with massive corruption in all fronts, the first thing to do is, with the help of your like-minded people is to sell your ideas and win minds before declaring war on corruption.
Remember, corruption is a criminal offence that has no expiry date, but Bio’s presidency is time bound. The corrupt few and very powerful in society are inter-connected. They can be in your party or the opposition, but they are always very willing to form the axis of evil to resist call for change irrespective of the cost. This is what Bio is facing currently.
His failure to rally like-minded people all over the country behind him regardless of their political affiliation, region, and tribe to fight against corruption without fear or favour is costing his government dearly. And to make matters worse, to believe his team in opposition was tough and upright to resist corruption temptation is also wrong.
That is why gains made by the ACC in fighting corruption are not reflected across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This is so because heads of these institutions are playing tribal cards, nepotism, and regionalism in hiring people for top positions. (Photo below: ACC boss Kaifala handing over cheque to Bio).
It must also be mentioned that Koroma used the same strategy of hiring people in key positions that served his personal interest instead of the general good. The ACC also need to up its game in fighting corruption within the ruling SLPP. They seem not to be catching the ACC’s interest.
It is important to underscore the point that in a BBC interview, Bio once stated his reason for the massive sacking of top civil servants was his fear of sabotage. I must respectfully state that the prevailing reality is different from what the President said in that interview.
Those sackings should have been done within the ambit of the law rather than outside the law, especially as the President repeatedly talked about lawlessness in the country. In maintaining law and order, respect for the law is what counts.
The networks formed by the corrupt and immensely powerful are always ready to fight back when they feel threatened by any President. Mark my words, they may be serving Bio’s government, but that does not necessarily mean they are sincerely committed to his cause. People that have nothing positive to offer the government have surrounded the president.
And since they have nothing positive to offer, they are busy offering mixed colours of troubles. These can be in the form of praise singing, bootlicking, black magic voodoo, and corruption. They have succeeded in surrounding Bio with their evil tricks to an extent he now finds it very difficult to move out of their dangerous trap.
After reading some of these articles I would advice the author or rather the writer of this article to make CONCERTED effort to have an appointment to see the president IN PERSON as a CONCERNED citizen,so you can talk to President Bio.Talk to him about some of these issues you pointed out here and even more.I want to say and I hope I am right that you CARE MORE for mama SALONE even more than some of of those in positions; and I hope you can get the ear of the president and talk to him as a GENUINE CONCERNED HELPFUL CITIZEN.
Sometimes criticizing alone is not enough, even with a constructive one like yours.But offering result – proven ideas,tips,solutions, and strategies in meeting the challenges of an ever rapidly changing society can HELP significantly in guiding and guarding the ideals of a growing and better nation. The leaders in this century NEED help from ALL AVENUES in solving the growing challenges of these times. Sometimes they have to go outside of the box and listen to the ordinary man. I pray President Bio gives you audience and listens. AMEN!
I do not understand if Mr. Gaza is from Palastine or some where around Mexico, welcome to the jungle. Bio is not a bad man. Every president or leader of a free world must be surrounded with friends and some foes. Too many APC members are surviving steadily right now in this SLPP gov’t, and we knew that there are some secret spies as well.
I am glad you made the remarks of swearing the past leaders for what they have done to this rich country of all mineral deposits, including the previous regime APC. If God answers your prayer its gonna be a disaster.
Bio himself is a bad Man. These are the people who stole our country in the name of power. God will never forgive all presidents of Sierra Leone who have hands in disturbing that country.
Disappointing stuff. President Bio is the worse President we’ve ever had and he is not surrounded by bad actors in my view. Is the writer trying to drag our brilliant former Commander in Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone’s Armed Forces and the most successful President ever in the history of our country, into the present political and economic mess, created by President Bio and his Bio SLPP kakistocracy? Comparing Sierra Leone’s most no nonsense President ever, with his clean human rights record second to none, with that of a Bio SLPP kakistocracy engulfed with selective corruption justice, violence, barbarity, gross human rights violations and loads of ministers without constituencies is unacceptable to me? God bless, guide and protect former President Ernest Bai Koroma. See you soon.
This article is a classic example of an ‘opinion’- the least level of evidence in academic circles. It reads well. It makes bold statements. But it does not offer a shred of evidence.
Andrew S Kaikai, you left no room for anyone to disagree with you – except those who always see things from an emotional and sentimental angle. Indeed dedication and patriotism are the key pillars that are missing for our country to stand strong, tall and big. Allow me to contend that the key reason why these pillars are always absent is that the leadership is not clean. A clean leadership always hold the moral high ground from which it can determine the course of things. And the rank and file cannot dare not cough any objection or opposition because there is no conduit for it. This is the position which the Tanzanian President, John Magufuli holds. Ministers and civil servants are terrified of him, he gets rid of them on the spot for poor performance. As Minister of works, John Magufuli operated with exceptional cleanliness. That’s why now that he is President no one can challenge him on corruption.
You could not be more right Mr Kaikai that unless the findings of the Commissions of Inquiry are effected to make culprits return to the State what they have stolen, we shall go nowhere in fighting corruption. President Bio may well be stalling because of the fear that if SLPP were to lose the presidency in 2023 to APC, he and his entourage would be strung up the nearest lamp post. APC ruthlessness is legendary. This is why I believe that the only way we can begin to overhaul the system is to give KKY a stab at the presidency – if only for five years.
Your friend who told you that there are more phds in the country than rats is an acute and precise observer. However these phds have forced some of us to question whether they genuinely worked for their phd or they bought it from the open market. Their performance cannot be made to go parallel with their possession of a doctorate degree – they simply don’t match.
This article is supposed to portray the present predicaments of Maada Bio’s administration, but more than half of the piece is about the shortfalls of the previous government. The reality is Maada Bio (and his Finance Minister, JJ Saffa) categorically bragged and boasted that their adadministration will rectify the ills of the economy they inherited within 6 months in office. Though, they have spent that particular period swindling the little goodies that the APC left by recklessly travelling all over the world and fleecing state coffers. And to nobody’s surprise, over Le14 billion of taxpayers money was unaccounted for within that period.
Former President Earnest Bai Koroma’s administration hit the rocks on the 7th year of tenure amid the outbreak of the Ebola pandemic (2014-2016), in addition to the global fall in commodity prices, including iron ore. Prior to this, Sierra Leone’s economy was the highest growing in Africa notching into double figures; all cylinders were firing: exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, employment and as well as the feel-good factor. At the end of the pandemic, Koroma only had about a year to fix up the devastated economy. Any competent and reasonable Economist will tell you that this was not feasible, especially considering the phenomenon of time-lags. To be precise, the situation was made worse when financial institutions including, IMF and World Bank deceitfully deserted Koroma’s government, at the eleventh hour, to effect a regime change. STRANGE.
On the contrary, Maada Bio has spent most of his time trying to decimate the main opposition APC party. In actual fact, he has taken the fight directly to the supporters of the APC party – by apprehending, detaining and killing them with impunity. And, it is alleged that Maada Bio’s government is now indulging in witchcraft, voodoo and other fetish means in order to cling on to power. Amazing! The ship that was due to depart within 6 months is still at anchorage, undergoing serios repairs whilst reploting its direction. The lost direction?
President Bio is an Executive President. If his administration does anything right, I praise him; anything wrong, I blame him. Why does he continue to retain Ministers in office who publicly commit criminal offences? One threatened to harm and/or kill SL citizens in Makeni – he is still retained in office. Another – Denis Sandy – walked into a Magistrate Court with his gunman to publicly side with three accused because he admitted publicly that he authorised their criminal conduct – he is still retained in office. These gross misconducts circumstantially implicate President Bio! These are all not good for Sierra Leone!
Hmmm, interesting opinion piece albeit its obvious half baked nature and its incoherentness, particularly in the analysis of previous regimes economic accomplishments. Contrary to the author’s insinuation, since our nation’s return to democracy, each successive regime have inherited an abysmal economic situation, with the incoming regime usually having little to nothing to start with. In 1996, while our nation was still engulf in a civil war, we had our first democratic elections with president Kabbah of the SLPP emerging as the winner. Our nation was declared officially war-free in 2002 with president Kabbah reelected for a second term. Between 2002 to 2007, millions of dollars (if not billions) were poured into our nation by our international partners to assist in our country reconstruction, disarmament, and rehabilitation of ex-combatants.
Besides the institutionalize reforms in the likes of NRA, NASSIT, NACSA, ACC, and a couple of road constructions, the Kabbah regime left our nation’s economic in total shambles, thanks to the rampant corruptions within his officials with billions of Leones meant for our nation’s reconstruction siphoned. The only money EBK partially inherited was funds set aside for our massive loans monthly repayment to IMF, with our country being a beneficiary of the impoverish nation’s loan forgiveness scheme.
Government being a continuation scheme, successive regimes have indeed acquired both bad and good policies of previous regimes, infrastructure projects not excluded. In terms of the EBK regime, while one can argue there were widespread corruptions in almost every sector, road constructions and other infrastructure projects was one area were the regime scores higher grades. Now, with equivocal terms, it’s a fallacy to state that, all of the construction project implemented by the EBK regime was the handiwork of the Kabbah regime. The truth cannot be so far off. In terms of president Bio surrounding himself with unpatriotic elements, my only take to that is, a leader with wisdom, good sense of judgement and determination to succeed, will never allow any rogue elements to derail his/her vision.
Mr Kargbo, your piece is well written and understandable by a common person like me. But, I beg to state that unless we adhere to the findings of the many COIs and make the culptits to pay the price, things are going to remain the same. All parties need to come forward and atone for their crimes against the people of Sierra Leone. They must return all embezzled funds to the state treasury. You see sir, “monkey see, monkey do”. If the prior administracions are left to keep their ill-gotten wealth, why should future administrations not do so?
Furthermore, Sir, to save this country, we must do an unbiased analysis of why Sierra Leone is still a needy country. A friend who recently visited the country told me that there are more phds than there are rats in Freetown. We have the resources, all we need are dedicated, patriotic and God fearing sons and daughters of the land to be in control.
The facts remain sierra leone with all its natural and human resources, and the size of its population, the climate and everything else we have going for us, should not be a poor country period. I am not trying to down play the effects of the civil war, but if we compare Sierra leone to Rwanda, which suffered a genocidal attempt to wipe out a whole ethnic group in 1994, today the country has recovered from such trauma, and has become one of the fastest growing economies in the African continent. All credit goes to president Paul Kagame, who has dragged his country out of depth of abyss, and made it what it is today.
The problem with president Bio and former president Bai koroma, its very difficult to distinguish between the two of them, when it comes to policy statements, and how to move the country forward .Under their watch corruption is rampant. To put it bluntly, they are not principled . They want to satisfy everyone, and end up satisfying no one. To be a good leader, you have to have the following qualities: Confidence, honesty and integrity, sticking to your decisions, however unpleasant or unpopular they maybe, demanding accountability from your subordinates, inspire others, commitment and passion for your country, which I found wanting under president Bio. Good communication.
Again the president has shown he lack this ability. A good leader should also display EMPATHY to his subjects. It is not part of president Bio’s DNA, Paolo conteh, the riots in Makeni, pademba Road massacre etc . The president should be made aware he is surrounded by people that tend to undermine his efforts. After all he is the one that is elected by the people of Sierra Leone. To that end he is accountable to us, not the tribalistic elements that surrounds him. He should work for the interest of Sierra leone, not the interest of his small clique. After all the buck stops with you. May God bless Sierra leone.
Gentlemen – come out,come out wherever you are,we miss your usual predisposed superficial utterances on this glorious forum.(lol)Who ran you off Mr Alusine Fallay?Was it the brazenly sharp-witted Sahr Matturi or the no-nonsense straight-talking Alimamy “The Illustrious”Turay? And where is Mr SLPP Coleman himself that is always wrapped up in his prejudicial vibrant intimidating green colors without fear,but with an unmatched fervent attitude of tireless fervor and loyalty to the outdated ideas of the inglorious SLPP?(lol)
Young4na the ‘Incomparable’ i thought your were duly advised to handle these cry-babies gently and with care because they are as tender and soft as muffins and as breakable and fragile as glass.(lol)SLPP fascists are you no longer loyal to the bone and marrow to your regressive aggressive tribal throne?I guess not!Its now clear to me that this President is beginning to see that he had long been surrounded by raving and ranting vultures that were raised and nurtured in the gloom and doom of frightening darkness instead of in the beauty and exhilarating splendor of Majestic light.
Its time to cut them loose.Gentlemen – come out from within those depressing miserable shells of yours and take responsibility like gallant men for your long list of abject humiliating short-sighted failures.(lol)
Hahaha Mr. Stargazer, our distinguish friends who have opted to worship mere mortals, with loyalties to their party rather than country, are shell shock in realizing that, their propagandist approach to every incident of national concern, is becoming more and more unattractive. Their only recourse is to withdraw and crawl back into their alternate universe of cloud cuckoo land where schizophrenia reigns supreme.
What’s the update on the Lungi bridge project? This has been a Proposal by the former President and current President. Was there ever going to be a bridge? Please advise.