21/02/2022
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE IN SIERRA LEONE AND ELSEWHERE IN AFRICA.
The absence of pertinent features as well as other critical parameters of a responsible and good government such as open, accountable and transparent credentials in all state apparatuses have elluded not only this country for decades but other countries in the African continent as a whole. Therefore, the emerging socio-political and economic impacts copuled with blind syncophancy have not not only been adverse but still manifesting themselves even as I write. As such, the trickling effects of bad governance coupled with the everyday negative realitiess and other vices have continued to plunge our nation into the abyss of social deprivation and malaise. As such, the retrogressive acts of the powers in the mix of blind and syncophsnt support base have also overshadowed our overall sense of sane judgement for the common good of all. As a result, this mean acts of the powers that be, have, in no small measure, equally impaired our socio-cultural behaviour and character thereby destroying the reasoning capacity in our genuine but deceptive bid to build a peacefull and cohesive nation. As a consequence of this singular act bordering on this type of governance, our country has been submerged into complete retrogression; hence years of total backwardness. So, in order to chart a workable way forward, our institutions of government must embrace the fundamental attributes of responsible and good governance in all spheres of our statehood. This, in essence, simply implies that any semblance of the 'animal farm' type of governance must completely as well as stoutly be checkmated and even avoided. Because, it has clearly come to light over the years that the acts of bad governance and syncophsntic behaviour for various considerations, in our body politics and state administration both locally and nationally, have continued to place Sierra Leone and the rest of Africa to the bottomless pit of political repression, uncertainty and the eventual lack of development.
In fact, it is without doubt that politics, for many Sierra Leoneans today, has become the only rewarding enterpise into which everyone is eager to invest. Because it is perceived as the easiest way for those that are willing to craftly invest into it can be rewarded handsomely. Thus, in the process to get the pre-requisite platform to undertake such investments, the drive to obtain the necessaray academic qualifications had made education a public commodity on sale. Long before now, it was asserted by some politicsl class in Sierra Leone that education was not a right but a privilege. As a result, today our society is filled with non-performing economists, medical doctors, teachers, lecturers, all classes of engineers, lawyers, magistrates, judges, journalists, civil society activists and so on. So, if Sierra Leone and the rest of Africa were to belong to an ideal class of civilized and progressive nations then the basics of responsible and good governance must steadfastly be upheld. Secondly, equality before the law and equitable distribution of our national resources must not only take centre stage in our governance mechanisms but must also be the order of the day. For this to happen unhindered, the rule of law must equally and consistently be applied and firmly upheld. As a matter of fact,, the applicable rule of law must never be shrouded into unnecessary bureaucratic manoeuvrings, in the name of 'following the due process of the law'.
Certainly, so to speak, there has and will always be abounding facts on display that will adequately give rise to an outline of our evolving nemesis. In fact, these abounding facts can, at the same time, help us evaluate the truth or fallacy of these weird assertions. But to actually ascertain the real truth bordering on these assertions, we need to ask ourselves why, irrespective of our abundant natural and human resource capacities do we always have to borrow money from international financial institutions let alone seek material as well as expert assistance for our national development agenda. We even pay obeisance to the international community for handouts. For this and other reasons, it is my held belief that government operatives in all institutions of governance must be responsibly mindfull and at the same time prudent in the management and distribution of our national resources as well as wealth created including those entrusted into the care of the powers that be for the benefit of the people in Sierra Leone. At the same time, it is also my argument here that the necessary corrective and transformative measures that would have long been taken to improve the quality of our educational landscapes and standards never took place. Instead the reliance on the archaic wrote system in place of a viable scientific research, technical and entrepreneurial standards, has not stood the test of time. But, funnily the visible exchange of money in place of the rigorous acquisition of quality education in places of learning has continued to ruin our educational landscapes. These lapses as a direct result, have always led to the outright neglect of positive reforms in all sectors of government including public institutions. This is so, because we have lacked creative and innovative professionals who only care about lining their pockets or swelling their bank accounts with ill-gotten wealth stolen from the pepple. In that vein, the resulting social consequences have been immense. For instance, the quality of education acquired by our university graduates as at today has not only been appalling but their job perfomances have also been beyond expectations. These, as well as the naked abuse and violations of the fundamental and basic human rights of the powerless Sierra Leoneans without connections by those in power, have always exercebated our adverse social, economic and political challenges nationwide in diverse ways and across the continent.
Therefore, from the emerging trends, it is also my candid opinion that the unfolding realities in our social, economic and political landsacpes must not be allowed to continue to evolve. Were these to continue without appropriate and drastic measures to reverse the effects of the emerging negative trends, the future of our upcoming generations will not only be bleak but very uncertain. Therefore, any move, through not only advocacy but pioneering by reputable as well as upright citizens and civil society organisations, will be ideal. It is even certain that any reform put in place to change the overall and emerging social dynamics will heartily be embraced by uoright people with distinguished personal integrity on display. This will surely mean that every sitting government must assuredly efface the old order of governance by responsibly upholding the tenets of good governance. Anything short of this will continue to spell doom in Sierra Leone and the whole of Africa. In fact, any political party in power must also endeavour to reorganize its party structures to ensure that not only fully paidup party echelons and cardholders are to be the main beneficiaries of our national wealth but every eligible voter within and outside the party in power.
So, in order to effect greater reforms and endearing transformations with emerging results, cultivating the culture of making sure that all persons irrespective of their age, social, economic and poltical status must be subjected to the laws of the land. This can even be considered as the ideal move in the right direction. So, for the move to succeed, any sitting government must equally ensure that prior consultations with and meetings between the people and their representatives in Parliament must be held on regular and periodic basis. Such constitutional provisions will ensure that the governed do not only participate fully but are included in the governance process of the state. This model of participatory and inclusive governance measures will also give the people the assurance that political power does no longer lie in the hands of just one person or group of persons but all of them without discrimination. This will then serve as a safe anchore from which steady and smooth steering of the ship of the state will ensure a healthy and peacefull sail devoid of vicious bumps and cracks.
So, in order to get to this level, other salient constitutional provisions denouncing clique, regional and tribal sentiments and considerations rather than educational qualifications including acquired skills and job performance standards for occupying or holding public offices must be set as the standard criteria. This, in essence, will simply mean that people with the same or diverse skills sets and education seeking jobs and other state benefits, irrespective of their ethnic, region, political party and other advantages are accorded the same and equal opportunity devoid of any seeming hidden agenda based on personal or parochial considerations.
Contrary to this perspective, it is very obvious that in Sierra Leone today anything under the sun is possible. This status quo can strongly be attributed to diverse and evolving socio-political and economic realities. These can be as a result of the power edge and blatant corruption including abuse of public office by those at the helm of affairs at all times. In fact, it is very uncommon to see political party echelons and other cardholders of a sitting government subjected to any form of legal scrutiny either by the police or the judiciary for offences committed against other citizens or the state. To mention just a few, the mysterious death of a journalist in the recent past as well as the recurring human rights abuses against helpless citizens (women) by our legislators without legal recriminations for a redress or remedy to restore their human dignities are glaringly disheartening. But on the contrary, the same scenario will never be the same for party(ies) members in opposition. So, can it then be deduced by stating that we are in a banana republic where nothing works for the common good of all but only for the very selected few. And that there are different laws for the powers that be, the rich, those with strong social connections and the poor at the same time. This is a clear pointer that law and order are only uoheld when the poor and hapless are in rhe mix or but twisted in favour of certain classes of people.
It is, therefore, an open secret that the presence of the evolving realities have had very negative impacts on the lives of majority of Sierra Leoneans across the board. If this trend were to be honestly reversed by selfless, uoright and God-fearing people with sound mind in power as well as those holding public offices, the positive impacts such moves will create will be overwhelming. But alas, even though some moves are being made to change the dynamics of governance ; it is very clear that the impacts of good governance will continue to ellude us for the longest of time. Because there seems to be no visible and transformative signs at the end of the tunnel for the good of all. Therefore, my honest conclusion on this issue is bordered on the fact that the polarization of diverse groups of people for selfish interests and agenda have often led to bad governance; where the masses are just mere political prawns. For they are always used and dumped with reckless abandon. As such, the clamour and urge for even the brainless who have the required financial backing or might, political power and connections can go to any length to buy their ways into all institutions of learning in order for them to become part and parcel of the selected few.
But with all intent and purpose, the resolve of the masses will one day overcome the excesses of the powers that be. As the yearn for good and responsible government operations will surely prevail over evil.
