Concord Times (Freetown)
Pel Koroma
2 September 2008
opinion
Lack of energy and steam to contain the heat while in opposition mostly led to the cooption that laid the foundation for the derailment of democracy in Africa.
According to history, democracy in Sierra Leone suffered a setback due to the lack of formidable and well meaning opposition.
The Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) lost elections in 1967. Instead of organizing themselves as an alternative to the inexperienced All Peoples Congress (APC) government, their leaders spent considerable time trying to apportion blames for their defeat.
These internal scuffles depleted the opposition. The struggle for leadership within SLPP played into the hands of APC members who cunningly wooed materialistic and fame-hungry politicians to join the APC fold.
By 1978, subsequent elections after 1967 (73, 77) saw SLPP crumbling, giving way to one party rule. The attainment of one party rule in Sierra Leone could be partially heaped on SLPP. As an opposition party, they failed to organize themselves out of selfishness and callousness. Politicians of those years could not afford to be in opposition because their political ideologies were built on sandy soil.
It is clear that even though both political parties have common ideas to provide social services, the dichotomy between the two parties still hangs out.
Modern democracy could now be measured by the activities of the opposition groups. But is the SLPP ready to create an alternative to the current "global" gridlock the country has found itself? SLPP members should know by now that they owe this nation an obligation as a nationalist party. The party should be a symbol of hope for the people of Sierra Leone. SLPP has always created the differences whenever in governance. But the party went into oblivion in the 1970s, without reminiscing on their fall in the late 60s, to build a better future.
The fear now is that the nation's ship has nearly hit the rock since SLPP lost elections and that is why the people still look to SLPP as a delivering party. But the party is now marred by confusion and financial mismanagement.
Former leader Tejan Kabbah is being blamed for leaving the party in a disorganized state for power fury and extreme elitism to thrive.
President Ernest Bai Koroma is aware of the importance of organized and formidable opposition in modern day democracy. He believes he will only succeed in governance with the help of sincere opposition which is ever ready to provide alternative solutions.
In this drive, President Koroma was bold enough to have personally reinstated the opposition radio station at the Youyi building. He urged the opposition to be after him in a positive way which he believes will showcase the strength of the nation's newly-born democracy.
"It appears there is no opposition in our democracy. The parliamentary representatives in opposition need to be sincere and poignant. They should be sensitive to the current placations the people are grappling with. It is only a very strong opposition that will save this country from reverting to the old APC draconian rule," says Alpha Sesay.
He went on to say that SLPP could have been very powerful if serious-minded people were allowed to spearhead their activities. "This is so because the nation is starving for justice. If measures are not taken, the peace and tranquility SLPP pioneered for the nation will surely go down the drains and restructuring the failed state after 30 years of face-down would be a Herculean task" Many people know what SLPP stands for since its inception. Suffice to say that despite the fact that Tejan Kabbah loosely led the party, it still upheld democratic tenets which brought respite to the people.
National unity was forged by SLPP and it endeavoured to ensure that women and children get a fair share of democratic dividends. SLPP domesticated international laws which gave way to free speech and association and level-playing field to equally compete economically. During the SLPP era, development of human resource was a priority as they introduced free BECE and WASCE exams. Of course tertiary institutions got increased support from SLPP.
It is also to the credit of SLPP that refugees and internally displaced people were hurriedly resettled and ex-combatants quickly reintegrated into the society as an indication of a committed and responsible government.
The police and the military regained their rightful place in our society during the 10-year reign of SLPP. Recently, the APC government commissioned the Vice President Office which was built by SLPP - a case that the party was determined to resurrect the damaged infrastructures from the havoc inflicted by the civil war.
The success of institutions like NASSIT, NacSA and NRA were all initiated by the opposition SLPP government. The party always has people to be proud of -Think Tank of the nation.
"But Tejan Kabbah's legacy needs to be destroyed once and for all. Politics is a very serious career especially in impoverished countries like ours. The opposition should help the government to succeed. Let people give chance to those that have the gift and ability to achieve what others could not," said Mohamed Kpaka.
The party has been on the brink of collapse since it lost elections last year and this will not augur well for the nation. "SLPP in opposition should now think about leaders that are people-friendly, not arrogant and elitist types. We want down-to-earth leaders who are ready to listen to park boys and not just ignore them because they are not educated. But it is supposed to be the responsibility of politicians to understand where we are coming from and to be very watchful of where we are heading. Educated politicians should stop bluffing their illiterate brothers. Instead, they should be sensitive to the unfortunate situation of their fellow countrymen rather than just amass wealth at their detriment," Joe Turay expressed.
As once said by a British diplomat in Kenya that 'Kenya politicians eat like gluttons only to vomit on the feet of donors,' African politicians should be ashamed of their corrupt practices. They should stop shaming their fellow countrymen on whose behalf they are soliciting these funds from donors yet the poor people are left in the cold while the bulk of these monies are starched in foreign accounts.
"It is expected that SLPP members should remain in their party. They should stop the bootlicking now to the government as it will surely weaken any serious opposition," observed an SLPP supporter.
But where are the Kanja Sesays, Ali Banguras, Momodu Koromas, Justin Banguras, John Karimus and the Francis Kaikais amidst these bashings their party is going through? It is expected that these people should focus on the well-being of the party because it was the SLPP that brought them to prominence. They should not shy away for they had purported to be 'do or die' members of the party. The party needs to be placed on a better footing.
"Let the secretariat be very serious about the idea I am about to propose. Let the secretariat announce an account number for SLPP so that ordinary members will contribute to the Le 145 million the party owes Sierra Leone Commercial Bank. I am certain that within 48 hours, SLPP members countrywide will contribute over Le 200 million. If only the right message is designed and passed through the right media, we will contribute towards liquidating the debt. We love our party. Whatever happens, the affair of the party is our affair. SLPP is still a very popular party and, in fact, that will be a way of testing the popularity of our party .The leaders should not be ashamed to tell us to contribute nationally. I have the full confidence that Kailahun and Kenema districts will get the needed Le 145m to offset the debt. SLPP is in me and I will die for it. Being that it is in me, I believe my offspring will maintain the values of SLPP as a political party," said Bagie Farma.
It is believed that SLPP is a broad-based party. What about the membership in the diaspora? What is their contribution to the sustenance of the party? The secretariat has been keeping sealed lips just as Prince Harding did over the valuable contributions a man like John Leigh made towards the party during the turbulent days in our political history.
This was only revealed when Leigh wanted to lead the party in 2005. The membership want to know what contribution people in the diaspora are making. These are people who desperately crave for leadership. They will soon start coming back with their little dollars and pounds as the national convention approaches. No way this time! People have learnt from Tejan Kabbah's mistake.
"Since the secretariat got looted a year ago, nothing has been done to refurbish the party headquarter .The offices are so shabby and need serious rehabilitation. SLPP is a big party that has actually stood the test of time. People should be sacrificing now for the party or do they want us to start pointing fingers at them that they were the beneficiaries of the last regime and therefore should be grateful to the party?" Asked Mr. Johnson.
However, there is no need to cry over spilt milk. SLPP should be in a position to salvage the nation as a party in opposition. The party should be organized, concentrate and allow grassroots politicians to lead.
WCE still keen on shipping computers to Sierra Leone Olusegun Ogundeji World Computer Exchange (WCE) is keen on shipping more computers to Sierra Leone, says its president and founder, Timothy Anderson over the weekend.
"World Computer Exchange is always interested in shipping more computers to connect more youth in Sierra Leone to the Internet," he wrote via email to Concord Times.
WCE is an American NGO that aims to help youth connect to the internet and learn to use computers to bridge the global digital divide. This, it does, by facilitating the donation of used computers from North America to local organizations in the developing world.
In 2005, WCE facilitated the donation of 200 computers to Sierra Leone but bureaucracy, especially on the government part and consideration of the shipment as e-waste, caused the process to take two years. Added to that, 30 of the 200 computers shipped were also found missing after the eventual clearance.
Last Saturday, Lucas Aalmans, a volunteer with WCE who was in Sierra Leone in July, wrote Concord Times to say they have started mobilizing to ship their second container of computers to Sierra Leone.
"We are still planning to ship in October although it is tight," he stated.
WCE usually receives used computers and asks sponsors to pay for shipping costs.
Aalmans had once said while in Freetown that their major problem has always been the shipping costs of these consignments. Anderson expressed the fear again.
"My understanding of what will be needed to make this successful is our having a more clear idea where at least 1/3 of the sourcing and shipping costs will be coming from prior to making a firm offering to the interested groups in Sierra Leone," he wrote.
A WCE beneficiary last year is International Education and Resource Network (iEarn). With 21 Windows 98 computers, iEarn offers computer lessons and internet, free of charge, to many youth living around the national stadium where it is situated.
On the expected time of arrival for these computers slated to be shipped next month, Anderson stated: "The timing will be decided by how long it takes for those groups to raise the balance of the sourcing and shipping costs. This usually takes several months." Each shipment of computers costs about US$12,000 and contains 200 computers. WCE has been in operation for 15 years and has been operating in 58 countries around the world.
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