Dr Samura Mathew Kamara: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 02 January 2022:
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, I greet you all in the Name of ALMIGHTY GOD and in the Name of ALLAH, and I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Once again, we are at the cusp of a New Year, and as expected, it is a time for introspection; a time to reflect and to plan; a time to identify our lapses and to make amends. Above all, a time to be thankful and to pray for better results in the days, months and years ahead.
I must say with a heavy heart that, last year was especially difficult for families up and down the country, particularly those that lost loved ones to the fire disasters at Suzan’s Bay and Old Wharf in Wellington. I pray that God Almighty gives the dead eternal rest and console their surviving families. The scale of destruction is mind-blowing.
This was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which also caused several deaths of our compatriots, and serious disruptions in our livelihood management systems. I call on all of us to continue to pray for the dead. And to handsomely support the victims and surviving families by any means possible.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, as we mark the end of 2021, we are also marking the beginning of the end of arguably the most extraordinary, challenging, unprecedented and repelled regime in living memory in our country.
The conscious policies of generating tribal and regional divide; of an administration anchored on persistent hate, blame and vengeance; of political intimidation, arrests, incarcerations and harassment of opposition members; of deepening state capture of both public institutions and strategic business enterprises; of human rights and constitutional violations; of overzealous Police brutality often meted against peaceful demonstrations, and of untold hardship and deteriorating social and economic conditions.
In almost four years of the PAOPA New Direction 5-year term, beginning April 2018, we have painfully witnessed and unbearably suffered from the effects of a complete reversal of the bold and envied achievements which this country had made in 15 years of post-conflict reconstruction since 2002.
During this 15-year period, we reflected on the perceived root causes of the devastating civil conflict, and then worked assiduously for, and enjoyed the fruits of our labours and endeavours on peace building and peace consolidation; on the re-establishment of national cohesion; on a successful restoration of local government, civic rights and authority and supremacy in public governance; on increased access to and marked improvement in the delivery of basic services, in particular, healthcare, education, water and sanitation; on regenerating inclusive economic growth and participatory governance; on youth development and women empowerment; on political and religious tolerance, open government, media freedom and mutual respect between government and the people; on greater accessibility to predictable and stable electricity; and on turning the entire country into an extremely busy works yard for the construction of many kilometres of quality highways as well as city, town and rural road networks.
It goes without saying that in these 15 years of post-conflict reconstruction and nation rebuilding, especially in the last ten years of APC rule, this war-torn country, Sierra Leone, made a solid footing on the path from war to peace, democracy and socio-economic recovery. Sadly, by the poor administration of this PAOPA government over the past 3-4 years, we have witnessed a deliberate and systematic deterioration and the re-birth of those major factors that were blamed for our 11 years civil conflict.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, the Year 2022 is a defining year for our democratic process. The forthcoming Local Council elections in 2022 and the Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2023, put us on the world electoral barometer once again.
Our country today is clearly not the Sierra Leone we knew 3-4 years ago. We continue to be painfully haunted by the glaring electoral disruptions by government operatives at several by-elections, including in Kabala, Tonko and Freetown.
In today’s world, one political party cannot use violence and intimidation to suppress or disenfranchise political opponents or of any citizen whatsoever. It is therefore imperative that we create and allow an atmosphere that will ensure free, fair and unpolluted elections in 2022 and 2023.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, when I vied and contested for the Presidency of this country in 2018 under the only credible and development-focused political party in the country, the All-People’s Congress, the APC. I came to you with a genuine image of a humble, unassuming, nonviolent, tolerant, caring, corrupt-free and listening President to be. I gave you hope for creating much better and fulfilled livelihoods and, going forward, building the Sierra Leone we are all yearning for. I had the strong conviction to lay to rest those factors and forces that often ignite and warehouse political tension, national disunity and national destruction, which clearly defined the eleven years civil war.
And in the same vein, end the marginalisation of vulnerable groups in society and the disproportionate allocation of public resources, largely driven by partisan affiliations and influences. I was hoping to govern with a human face, and to re-prioritise national cohesion and broad-based development, and living no one behind, including in policy design and decision-making processes, over petty partisan considerations, selfish interests and transient power grab.
As the SLPP government was sworn in on 4th April 2018, albeit at a non-traditional location, I was cautious but hopeful that the new regime would undertake a sober reflection of their promises made during the campaigns, even though many of us knew that such promises had no strong technical and realistic foundations.
They were underpinned by false and shallow professional findings and assumptions. No wonder the experience of many “Broken Vows”.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, as I vie once again for this High Office, come 2023, through the Mighty APC party, I would like to renew and reaffirm my commitment and conviction to you to earnestly and selflessly work towards building The Sierra Leone We Want – a Sierra Leone where freedoms and civil liberties, as enshrined in our Constitution, as well as where national unity and cohesion are once again restored and enjoyed by all and sundry; where basic services are materially restored; where a heavy burden of mis-governance is emphatically put behind us; where we can rebuild and re-entrench mutual respect in all our dealings with each other; where public institutions are brought back to their respective original mandates and unbiased operational and technical competences, principles and ethics; where each one of us, irrespective of tribe, region or political sympathies, is engaged as a valued stakeholder in national development; where women and the youth enjoy equal opportunities and achieve gainful and fulfilled livelihoods; and above all, a Sierra Leone where we can sacrifice to grow to love and care for each other. And these must go beyond any underlying legal provisions.
Furthermore, in 2023 and beyond, we are confronted with the huge task of ensuring an urgent reversal of an extraordinary weak socio-economic performance record in the past 3-4 years. With the pandemic still lingering around us, compounded by the many infectious viruses that still prevalent in our environment, the challenging task of protecting our health and livelihoods, while ensuring recovery of our economy, also lies ahead.
We remain challenged by endemic poverty, high youth unemployment, serious environmental disaster threats and very poor international rating. For the many structural and sectorial deficits, which certainly require re-engineering and new pathways, access to affordable housing, transportation, quality education and health care remains extremely challenging.
Many of us are strenuously scavenging for light and clean water supply on a daily, if not, hourly basis. Road infrastructure remains as it were at the end of the EBK administration in 2017, while the voracious ravaging of our forests, with its attendant destruction of roads and the environment, has climbed to unprecedented heights under this PAOPA regime. We are quickly running down the clock on climate change.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, the year 2023 is fast approaching, and the need for us to make the right choice of leadership for the ensuing 5 years cannot be over emphasized. I was even hopeful that this PAOPA Government would be tired of arrogance and become accommodating to opposing views and treat the opposition as part of Government.
My hopes were based on the expectation that a government which has so badly failed and disappointed even its supporters, moving towards an election year to seek a renewed mandate from the people, would see sense in making a U-turn and focus on those basic livelihood issues that continue to put the minds of Sierra Leoneans into contemplation.
Unfortunately, the conduct of this PAOPA SLPP Government in its existence is nothing but an intensification of these odds. From improperly and unconstitutionally suspending an Auditor General, with a high national and international repute, to attempting to run away with a Mid-Term Population and Household Census which makes no sense and from which even some of the staunchest of our nation’s development partners as well as vibrant and people-centred civil society organisations and the Consortium of Progressive Political Parties in the country had course to challenge its unprecedented occurrence, its technical inadequacies, and suspected political abuses, infractions and infringement of rights, only reinforce that this government is past praying for, and has no listening ears or respect for voice, legitimacy and relevance of its people and development partners.
With over 40 years of experience, delivering for this country, before, during and after the 11 years senseless war, I know that opportunities are always possible and can be created and exploited only with the right leadership- a leadership with an undisputed and excellent track record of vision, experience, intellectual competence and management skills.
Ensuring peace, security and national cohesion is the bedrock of sustainable development thus, allowing institutions to work independently, encouraging inclusive governance, freedom of speech and expression, Parliament and the people being able to hold the Executive accountable, and creating the right environment for productive investments, trade and business enterprises. I understand the socio-economic impact and multiplier effects of affirmative action on gender and youth empowerment and of positive responses to climate change.
These are key development areas that can contribute immensely to the socio-economic well-being of this nation. To all comrades of the APC. It is now more urgent than ever before that we must all work for party unity and support each other. This is the call from our people because only when we work and support each other great things happen to this country. Our party belongs to the grassroots, and they are calling for the APC family to come together.
They trust in us to be able to work as one in the interest of the country, and we must not fail them. In closing, I heartily welcome and embrace the birth and subsequently, the strong leadership of the Consortium of Progressive Political Parties,
and the founder membership of the APC in that institution. CoPP will undoubtedly refresh our democratic pathways and bring into these, invaluable inputs for delivering a better democratic Sierra Leone.
I want to reiterate my sincere appreciation to those individuals and the many voluntary groups, organizations and associations, at home and abroad that have supported my strive for the Highest Office in the country. It is your sustained trust and confidence in me that have and will continue to keep me strong.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, I want to assure you that under my leadership, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our votes and our democracy will be protected in the 2022 Local Council elections and the 2023 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
I thank you very much. God Bless Sierra Leone! God Bless you all, and God Bless the APC.
My only prayer is may God spears our lives to witness this day, November 2023 and I believed it’s right there at the corner, only He has that knowledge whose going to witness, see and vote that day. This is my message to the APCs, and that message would never change” campaign with your 11 consecutive year achievements, tell the voters what you did for the country if they convinced, you don’t need to tell them how to vote folks!. A real truthful campaign message is an achievement goal, maybe not now but years to come. You ignored and refused to make a perfect selection with a person who will stand toe to toe, and win the comes 2023 election because of his tribal status, RIP to APC period, Bio is our next commander in chief come 2023 presidential election.
Coming here insulting Bio and it’s SLPP gov’t, it is just waste of time haha, have you ever seen Bio talking nonsense? even a smile is hardly for him to let alone self praise, He’s a decisive leader every country should proud of. Leaders around within the region have experienced how intelligent you are, my question now, how your critics seeing this development? how are they reacting, are they proud of you as well?. Sometimes I don’t feel good when an intelligent APCs hailing and praising for the most honorable man” Dr. Yomkella”, they knew none of them have love for this man, he is been accused as the caused for their defeat, don’t even think that he’s a fool no. Stay tune I’ll be back
An end of year message from Dr Samura is reminiscent of a manifesto blue print that is full praise for past achievements of the APC party in helping put in motion the healing process our country was desperately crying out for at the end of the eleven years of the brutal RUF civil wars, that was still in working progress. Unfortunately all the good work that was put in has been tossed aside by Bio and his cronies. And is all down to Bio’s actions which has put our country in danger of revisiting that horrible tragedy because his government continues to make the same mistakes, that gave succour to Foday Sankoh’s band of rebles with a cause to justify the unjustifiable that started the war on that fateful day in 1991.Athough his speech was full of facts and sound bites, we can see how Dr Samura is trying to create a clear blue water between Bio’s one directionless vandetta politics, and his aspirations for Sierra Leone.
One has to have a hole in the brains to believe the public pronouncements of politicians. Being economical with the truth is part and parcel of politicians DNA. This speech might as well been delivered by Presidential aspirant candidate Bio before the elections of 2018.His criticism most have been directed at the former president Enerst Bia Koroma. Today the shoe is on the other feet. We don’t need speeches, we need real actions not just by words. Even an unborn Sierra Leonean knows our country’s political, economic, spiritual and social problems by heart. Sweet talking Sierra-Leoneans in the hope of getting to power is what our politicians are good at. And once they are in power, and faced with the mountains of problems created by corruption, they seem to suffer free from collective amnesia, like all the problems they identified whilst in opposition, have disappeared in thin air.
So if Dr Samura is serious, he needs to map out what President Samura will do in his first hundred days. We knew what Bio did. He was engaged in no winning political fights in Parliament and the courts with the opposition. And that set the agenda of his accomplishments so far. And to date it has define his presidency. We don’t need an other reenactment of the Bio road show circus. We need real change that will make a difference in people’s lives. Is time to give a woman the chance to run the affairs of the state of Sierra Leone.
Happy New Year 2022 from i and my wife to all the wonderful people of my beautiful Sierra Leone.
Quite a memorable speech by Samura Kamara, if short on substance. His and APC supporters must be quite pleased with him, probably seeing it as a befitting speech to bust open the gate of the elections season. Usually a maiden speech deals with the bridgeheads from which sustained attacks will be launched. Dr Kamara seems to have some destructive missiles at the ready to both attack and defend.
This is discerned through the boldness and daring nature of the speech, inviting the Paopa government to send their thugs, Sovula and all, to arrest him, and haul him away to CID, where Femi Claudius-Cole, Dr Denis Bright and others, have been guests in the last few weeks. This is not to forget Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, who remains locked up in prison, despite being granted bail.
The political life of Bio is at stake. The first signs that it’s being snuffed out will be in the local councils’ elections. SLPP can forget about greater Freetown and especially the indomitable Mayor Yvonne Arki-Sawyer, whose authority is constantly being undermined by SLPP. The people of Freetown are about to lecture Bio and his SLPP that they are unqualified to carry The Mayor’s handbag.
Sadly, however, APC and SLPP will never win me over. I prefer Dr Yomkella. There’s an urgent need to overhaul the entire political system and Dr Yomkella holds the key. Speeches, similar to that of Dr Kamara have been heard by us for more than sixty years. Their emptiness pervades every sector of our nation. We need to stem the tide.