Yes, a LEASH! We are sick and tired of hearing their hate-mongering and violence-inciting speeches. We must remember that “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers” (African Proverb).
We at Mama Salone Blog are very concerned and forced to write about this issue, as we see looming violence and mayhem brewing in the Land that We Love.
Since your address to the nation a few days ago, it appears that many of your ministers and party loyalists are taking your words to be a command for them to wage war on the people of Sierra Leone.
You or they might say that their target is the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), but as we all know, violence and mayhem do not know the difference between red and green, do not care about gender, do not care about age, and do not care about the language you speak.
The chairwoman of the women’s wing of your party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), in an audio message sent out around April 30, 2020, she is heard saying, ‘what a leader says, becomes policy,’ which she followed with many threats, including, ” we will begin to hunt your leaders…SLPP has women who have guts and minds…”
It is unfortunate that the only time a woman is taken seriously in Sierra Leone’s political arena is when she displays thug-like behavior. The past APC regime had their so-called Iron Lady minister, who did nothing good for the people but wreaked havoc on them in so many ways.
We were hoping to see a cadre of more professional and compassionate women in your regime.
We know that the chair woman’s suggestion is generally not true in the rest of our social world, but she makes it sound as if it is the policy of your party that when SLPP leaders say it, party loyalists must act on it. We have seen this policy play out in the last few days since your national address, which you concluded saying,
My Government will hit hard and it will continue to hit even harder until this fight is won because this is a fight for the unity, stability, development, and the future of the only place we call home. It is a fight that we must fight and it is a fight that we must win.
Since this speech, we have seen videos of your ministers and party loyalists, talking to communities and social media, with messages that are causing anxiety for our people. Our people remember very well that the decade long war that killed thousands and left thousands more with no legs and arms, first started in both our country and neighboring Liberia, with macho speeches from leaders, rebels, and politicians.
Before the first gunshot or grenade in Sierra Leone in 1991, we first heard tough speeches from Charles Taylor, Samuel Doe, Foday Sankoh, Joseph Momoh, etc., all promising tit-for-tat, an eye for an eye, etc.
WHERE ARE THEY TODAY! They are, for sure, not talking tough anymore!
Surely, as a post-conflict nation, we should have learned some of the many mechanisms available for maintaining peace and security. Tough-talking ministers and party loyalists are not among those mechanisms; in fact, such tough-talking officials and supporters do more harm than good. They are instead, inciting violence more than curtailing it.
The people of Sierra Leone are sick of conflict! We are hungry for food, healthcare, and education for our children. Our last concern should be the rivalry and fighting that is going on between the two main political parties that have not necessarily provided our basic needs.
The ordinary people of Sierra Leone, 70% or more of who are in abject poverty are not going to act as judges between political parties; that is why we have the judiciary. Displaying and giving speeches about waging war on APC is tantamount to waging war on the people of Sierra Leone, who always suffer the worst outcome.
The past regime of the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), spent over a decade looting the country’s resources, enriching their leaders, ministers, and network. Today, as they enjoy their loots, wherever they are, the people of Sierra Leone continue to languish in hunger and disease.
Mr. Bio, you took over two years ago and the people are still waiting for their basic needs to be met. The last thing we need is for SLPP to use APC as an excuse to add mayhem to our plights.
Interestingly, the two main universities of Sierra Leone, FBC, and Njala, both have Peace and Conflict faculty; some of their former administrators and faculty are in your administration. Where are they in your search for a solution for peace and security?
Sierra Leone Minister Threatening Violence
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 
The conclusion of your piece makes me laugh when you suggest to President Bio that he must find a better way for his self serving ministers and party loyalists earn their checks , positions and favours in order to leave the people in peace. It’s a fine piece.
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Their main reason for their zealous attitudes is to keep their positions and source of income.Thanks!
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