By Sulaiman Jalloh

Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, chief Whip of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party in Parliament, representing the people of Kambia district, has on Friday, November 8, 2024, while contributing to the presidential debate, called on government officials and state actors to prioritize the welfare of citizens, noting that the hope and aspirations of citizens should not be killed by government officials, including Members of Parliament.

While debating the presidential address that was delivered on August 6, 2024, the law maker said that the president had called on everyone to kick politics out of governance. He quoted the presidential speech which says “If we allow politics to overshadow governance we would not only fail as politicians but also as custodians of the future of this nation”, noting that the head of state has alluded to the fact that the holders of power are citizens of the African country emphasizing that one of the ways to show them respect is how they themselves are accountable as politicians on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone.

“We must not kill the hope of our people, we must restore the hope of our people bestowed on us” he underscored The Law maker stated they should be open up and listen to the opposition because they are part of governance and that the issues they raised is not out of politicking rather is to find hope for the ordinary people. Speaking on agriculture, the opposition chief Whip recalled that since the 2007 there has been different slogans something he said has not been actualized to providing bread and butter for the electorate, pointing out that president Bio has linked food security to national security.

“If we do not feed people, an angry man is a hungry man” he quoted the president.  According to him, for the past six years the government has not brought any agriculture company despite the Feed Salone initiative. He suggested that the government should do more to improve food security for the people of Sierra Leone. On education, the Member of Parliament focus on advocating for ordinary teachers in the class room while suggesting for teachers’ salary to be increased up to one hundred united state dollars ($100) something he said help them take care of their families.” We must take decision for our teachers not to take less than 100 dollars” he emphasized, adding teachers deserve better. He noted that the health conditions of some of those villages are not encouraging, especially villages from his district Kambia district. He suggested that Laws should be made to promote free health care. He furthered that, for Infrastructure, there is no single road in the northern part of the country that has been constructed in the last seven years. He advocated for roads within Makeni township to be prioritized, especially the one leading to the government hospital.