A Peace Conference for Bruised Egos While the People Pay the Price
The nation is not an ego-management service for its political class. Political leaders should not expect public applause merely for agreeing to speak to one another. Dialogue is part of their responsibility. Restraint is part of their responsibility. Putting the country ahead of personal grievance is the minimum standard of public office, not an extraordinary act of generosity.
When political relationships break down, citizens should not become the collateral damage. Nor should a nation’s attention be held hostage until powerful personalities have received enough reassurance, recognition or ceremony to put their differences aside.
This is not an argument against peace. It is an argument against political hypocrisy dressed up as national healing.
#SLPP | #APC
The Harvard Account Excuse: A Masterclass in Arrogance
Chief Minister David Sengeh explained on Radio Democracy 98.1 FM that his salary is paid into an account opened for him while he was a student at Harvard. Another person has managed that account since he was 19. He says he does not personally access or manage the account that receives his government income, which is why he does not know the amount.
If this is the mindset of anyone who hopes to one day lead the motherland, Sierra Leone should take notice: leadership is not a title, a résumé, or an elite education. It is accountability, especially when the question is as simple as, “How much of the people’s money are you paid?”
#OutOfTouch | #SierraLeonePolitics
Out of Touch: A Chief Minister Who Does Not Know His Own Salary
Out of Touch: The exchange with Umaru Fofana of AYV during the wide-ranging interview may have revealed more than an awkward answer. It may reflect an underlying attitude, a sense of insulation from the everyday realities confronting ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
When a Chief Minister says he receives a salary but does not know its amount, many citizens, especially those grappling with rising living costs and demanding accountability from public officials, may reasonably see the response as disconnected from ordinary life.
#OutOfTouch | #SierraLeonePolitics