By Dadson A Musa
Sierra Leone is needlessly lagging behind in so many things due to varied reasons; from the bizarre to the realistic. We gained self – rule since 1961 which we received on a silver platter when other countries fought hard and she’d blood before getting theirs. Few leaders like Siaka P. Stevens and one paramount chief were opposed to us having independence then. The British, our colonial masters gave us independence which was led by Sir Milton Margai. It was unfortunate that he died three years later in 1964. That was when, according to historians the decadence started in Sierra Leone. We are quick to point fingers at our leaders for our problems which to some extent is justified. On the other hand, evidences point to us citizens and not the leaders who fast tracking the decadence.
Attitudinal problems and ” bad heart” are the two major reasons this country has not grown. For the tribal card, not only leaders play it, we the citizens play it also for selfishness. Our greed and lack of love for one another has not helped matters either. What we’re are seeing in both major political parties, SLPP and APC are idlers and up- to – no- good individuals who after realizing that they have failed in life, cling to political parties to vent their frustrations and seek redress, not to come and help in the development process. And the adage is so true that ” people get the leaders they deserve.” For this country to thrive, all of us Sierra Leoneans, not only the leaders have our parts to play.
One of the reasons our country is not getting to where we should get to even when we have minerals, marine resources, human resource and vast and fertile agricultural land is lack of value, love and order in the family system. In this country we see fathers giving birth to children and not taking care of them. The children grow up without love, support and care. The building blocks for growing are lacking in the child’s life. So, most children grow up not as normal adults and the cases are plenty across the country. And the infighting in Sierra Leone starts right in the families which are supposed to be the nucleus of every community.
Secondly, the personalization of offices given to Sierra Leoneans is another thing hampering our nation. Office vehicles and other gadgets taken along when there is a change of government. Official emails were usurped and used even when the regime had left power. It is a whole lot of problem which is hampering government including converting government quarters and land to personal property. Come to think of it, for the 8 hours a day of work many workers don’t use half of that in their respective offices. And subventions received to carry out government functions are either withheld, delayed or not utilized at all.
Depositing of rubbish is in the drainages and waterways instead of dump sites which is causing so much sickness for us.
Illegal connections of electricity which is depriving government of much needed revenue.
Not allowing taxes and dues to be paid into government accounts rather councils, road safety corps, some NRA officials etc are themselves pocketing those monies, depriving government of revenue are widening inequality in the country.
And Sierra Leoneans complicit in swindling our diamonds, gold, bauxite, rutile and marine resources by foreigners which has left us poor and deprived.
The list of wrong doings and wrong attitudes are plenty by our very selves So we need to pray about them and change completely for this country to move ahead. Now, governments come and go we the people are there constantly so the solutions to these country’s problems lie in our hands, not APC or SLPP.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, April 12th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
