April 1, 2021
By: Dauda Buanie Sheriff (Gbatima)
Let me start with a popular aphorism “Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are!” I am neither a Jewish prophet nor a Christian, but this adage can be seen to be in tandem with Proverbs 4:23 when Solomon asked us to guard our hearts with all diligence; for out of it are all the issues of life.
Even though I am badly hurt as a proud Mende man I would not emphasize the emotional injuries Madam Aki-Sawyer’s tribal bigotry has caused me and many other Mendes in Sierra Leone including those in the All People’s Congress (APC) Party. The Tweet by Dr. Sylvia Blyden is ‘good to go’ to inform her that she has done worse than all other “APC-ians” in terms of tribal discrimination against one of the largest tribes (if not the largest) in Sierra Leone with huge amount of gallant man-power that have contributed and are still contributing to development of the country including the Metropolitan City of Freetown. The only thing I want the Mayor to know is that, we (Mendes) are now aware of the fact that as long as she remains Mayor of the City, it is highly likely that Mende property owners in Freetown are not guaranteed their safety; hence, they can be unjustly treated at any time. Therefore, it can be reasonably justifiable to say, we are paranoid with our security.
Moving forward, I am not Keketoma Sandy ESQ, who is the Government’s Spokesman, nor Lawrence Lahai Leema, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party Publicity Secretary, or Mohamed Rahman Swarray, the Minister of Information and Communications but the Government’s intention to de-politicize the Local Councils is now reasonably justifiable. The APC Freetown Mayor’s statement for not employing any “Buwah Biseh” in Freetown City Council (FCC) could be a well-orchestrated plan by all APC Local Councils and to also not work with the government of Sierra Leone so that they (APC) will come back to power sooner. No doubt the Makeni Local Council did not wholeheartedly welcome the distribution of the Free Quality Education learning material.
The government’s stance has always been — and I am pretty sure still remains– that de-politicizing these councils will encourage willingness of all councils to work in line with the Central Government’s vision to speedily transform the story of the country, thereby alleviating poverty, sectionalism, tribalism and dogmatic political orientations in all districts.
Almost all opposition parties have seen this attempt by the Government as a step to encouraging dictatorship, hence bringing a One Party System of Government back to Sierra Leone. But as a Critical Thinker, the government’s opinion to allow people contest independently for local council’s leadership is a manifestation of the genuineness of the Central Government to ensure that development has equally and equitably taken place across the country. It is of course true that institutional influence is a critical component that steers our decision making. Therefore, a Local Council Leader wishing to be re-elected is highly likely to listen to the dictates of their Political Parties than that of the National Development Agenda. The reason is an attempt to go against the doctrines of their Political Parties will be tantamount to denying them symbols hence highly likely to be kicked out of power.
The pattern of voting per symbols over per competence in the electioneering processes of Sierra Leone cannot be over-emphasized. This pattern has truly denied competent people of representations at both Local and National levels of political representation.
I am pretty sure Madam Mayor might have said those words to satisfy her political demigod-alike-leaders so that she can be given another chance to lead as the Mayoral Candidate for APC in the next election.
I am therefore calling on the eloquent Former United Nations High-flying Diplomat, now Leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party in Parliament, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella to rethink and withdraw his party’s stance in the debate and to also rally behind other sober opposition political parties that play constructive opposition role to use the Madam Aki-Sawyer’s scenario in order to disagree to agree with the Government that we need to kick out political party representation from our Local Council Politics.
daudabuaniesheriff@gmail.com.
+23276281898.