*By Reggie Cole, 13 November 2024*
Let’s draw a stark comparison. Nelson Mandela, a lawyer, endured 27 years of incarceration on Robben Island, fighting for freedom and equality. When he emerged, he went on to become South Africa’s president, ruling with integrity and eventually stepping down in a peaceful transfer of power.
Mandela’s legacy stands as a symbol of resilience, sacrifice, and selflessness, inspiring millions worldwide.
In sharp, embarrassing contrast, Julius Maada Bio—a 22-year UK unemployed resident from a council flat in Camberwell—ascended to the presidency in Sierra Leone. And what has he done? I
In his years in power, Bio has led eight million Sierra Leoneans into a state of poverty, frustration, and despair, all while personally jetting around in private planes at the expense of a cash-strapped nation.
To date, Bio is reported to have spent over £50 million on private flights alone—a sum that could have been spent on healthcare, infrastructure, or economic development for a nation with real needs.
Questionable Support, Unchecked Power, and No Transparency
How can anyone defend this misfit, a leader with no verifiable election results and no legitimate claim to office? Yet somehow, he is still upheld by a circle of opportunists who, through either naivety or selfish gain, align themselves with his misrule. What kind of person backs such a president?
The answer might be unpleasant, but it’s clear: those who support and enable Bio are betraying their own country, perpetuating corruption, instability, and stagnation.
### A Call for Accountability
It’s time for Sierra Leoneans to reflect on the standards we hold for our leaders. We deserve leaders of integrity, not individuals who squander public resources to live lavishly while their citizens suffer. You the opposition, the APC executives and the SLPP supporters will pay a high price for this, give it time!
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