Freetown — Poor people clap and stand by roadsides to see the president's motorcade The people of Sierra Leone have resigned to fate with little hope that President Koroma will take them from the abysmal hopelessness. The level of poverty is evident among some 80% of the Sierra Leonean populace.

Compounded by the eleven year civil war, the people are frustrated, disappointed and keenly looking whether the practice of democracy is a way out of the economic and social stagnation.

It was the social decadence, coupled with political manipulation that led to the out break of the rebel war in the country in 1991.

Suppression of political freedom, social marginalization and economic deprivation by the APC, laid the foundation for the confused state of the nation today. Sadly, the country is categorized among the poorest countries in the world. Amidst the availability of diamonds, bauxite, iron ore, oil, fish and the green vegetation, the people of Sierra Leone still wallow in abject poverty.

The city is packed full of makeshift homes, 'panbodis' and slums all over and a huge number of the general population do not have proper shelter. Almost all Sierra Leoneans are craving for safe drinking water.

Of course, education is still a privilege as evident among parents grappling with the school troubles as schools re-open.

Majority of our women and children are always haggardly dressed because all they have known in their lives is struggling to make a daily living especially in the rural areas.

Thousands of children roam the streets of the country with their future at risk and the future of the nation unmapped. The sight of street children is on the increase since the war ended.

For health sector, people's rights are constantly abused. Death's cold hands have gripped most of our people for lack of proper health care. Hospitals and pharmacies are so expensive that the child mortality rate is on the increase. Our environments are so shabby that killer diseases have always found a safe haven among the people.

Generally, the people are still starving, unable to meet the demands of the market. The world food crisis has added salt to injury. The nation is unable to feed it self. The Green Revolution failed, so too was the PL480 that turned out to be a disaster for the majority of Sierra Leoneans. These were propounded by the old APC. 'Grow what you eat, and eat what you grow' turned out to be a bitter slogan. The food security drive too benefited only the managers with the bulk of the people still having no security over food. Life is too difficult for the people of Sierra Leone.

The road networks are nothing other than death traps. From north to south, way down east to west has remained the same ever since colonial era. No government has really attempted to ameliorate these woes. It is a real burden on the people of Sierra Leone.

For electricity supply, the whole continent is yet to be lighted but the Sierra Leone's darkness is exceptional and nauseating. With a total population of just five million people, we are unable to see ourselves at night. The darkness connotes bitter tomorrow. Until there is light before a future could be carved. Now, Afsatu Kabba has done away with US$32m and there is not enough light for the nation.

Bumbuna is slowly becoming mythological as subsequent governments have shied away from it because of selfishness and corruption.

It is in the history of Sierra Leone that it is corruption that has eating into our pride thus reducing the nation to what it is today.

For the younger generation, all seems lost. Youth have been manhandled, abused and abandoned. Thousands of youths that are supposed to be our tomorrow are now wasting with nothing to be proud of. Over 75% of the youths are uneducated, homeless, irresponsible, misdirected and left with no care. Check the street corners of every town or village in the country, most of the youth live hopeless lives with no skills and therefore finding it difficult to eke out a living. The youth of today are ready to steer trouble because they have lost hope. This is a very volatile situation Mr. President.

Have the people of Sierra Leone ever benefited from investors? What good has ever emerged from the rutile mines? What about the bauxite mines? What did SLST and NDMC make with our diamonds ever since the discovery of diamonds in the 1930s? What about Koidu Holdings Limited and SLDC?

Nothing absolutely has been realised from the natural gifts meant to develop the lives of the people of Sierra Leone. As I write, African Minerals Company and London Mining Company are in serious battle for the control of our resources. Certainly, the people of Sierra Leone are going to be the losers. All the benefit will surely go to the foreigners through the connivance of our politicians.

Corrupt practices of our service providers have rendered the nation useless. With cap in hand, the dubious politicians go about begging people's tax payer's monies only to come back home and devour it while the people suffer for lack of basic services. Who will change the poor economic and social prevalence in the country? No food, no shelter, no clothing, no proper education and finally no justice. Why are we living such a miserable life? Is it justifiable for the situation the majority have found themselves? It is Pathetic.

International and national Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have all failed in the discharge of their responsibilities. What is really there tangible for them to point at? All monies find there ways into individual pockets. It is a mockery to the situation of the people. Most foreign donations have not reflected on the live of the average Sierra Leonean.

The disabled and the aged are the worst hit by the menace in the land. Majority of the disabled are looked as cursed people, gaining little sympathy from their country men. But the upright too are in serious competition for survival. Majority of the disabled are homeless and have resorted to begging just to have a meal.

President Koroma should be fully aware of the poverty of his people. It is never their making to be poor. It is the politicians that do not have the political will to salvage the situation of the country. All they care about is power and lust for money. President Koroma should open his eyes to the reality. Life is riotous in the land. The social inequality is glaring. Politicians and state actors live far above their emoluments.

What has slipped the hope of a better future is the realisation of nepotism, tribalism and regionalism permeating the system now. This has divided the nation more than ever. Chances of having a united Sierra Leone now seem totally slim. There is no more healthy competition among compatriots.

The one year in office of the APC government is yet to impress the majority hungry and the many jobless youth. All the people have as of now, is the hope that President Koroma will try and surround himself with patriotic Sierra Leoneans who have sympathy for the poor and sick people. The task is a hill top one but the worry is President Koroma needs to be his own man. Else, the history books would be very hard with his name and life activities.