Dog eat dog; First Lady blows the whistle, but who let the dogs out ?

*Dog Eat Dog: First Lady Blows the Whistle, But Who Let the Dogs Out?*

*By Juma Mubarak*

Well, well, well—if Sierra Leone were a dog kennel, we’d say it’s feeding time, and the First Lady, Fatima Bio, is not happy with the way the political hounds are fighting over the scraps. In a dramatic outburst that could rival one of the Nollywood blockbusters she once starred in alongside Mr. Ibu, she accused Paopa government ministers of behaving like well-trained pet dogs—rolling over, wagging their tails, and drooling over fat brown envelopes from the mining conglomerate, Koidu Holdings, while workers can’t even get a bone, let alone a salary raise.

Now, let’s pause for a moment. This revelation is like someone standing in the middle of flooded Yuyi Building and shouting, “Water is wet!” Of course, ministers are taking bribes! That’s what most of them do! That’s like accusing fish of swimming, EDSA of blackouts, or a mosquito of biting you at night. The only real shock here is that this time, Fatima Bio actually said it out loud. Usually, corruption in Sierra Leone is treated like that embarrassing uncle at a wedding—everybody knows he’s a problem, but nobody wants to address him directly.

But hold on—if the ministers are stuffing their faces with these hefty brown bone envelopes, what does that say about the man who appointed them? If the watchdog in charge of the kennel keeps hiring corrupt, flea-infested dogs, then maybe—just maybe—the problem isn’t just the dogs. Maybe it’s the owner. President Bio handpicked this loyal pack of political mutts, and now, the First Lady is shocked that they’re behaving exactly as expected? That’s like tossing a bone into a pack of hungry strays and then acting surprised when they fight over it.

And this brings us to the ultimate irony—if the First Lady can publicly call out government corruption without consequence, then why are ordinary citizens like the Hawa Hunts of this world being arrested, harassed, and silenced for saying the exact same thing? When journalists, activists, and regular suffering Sierra Leoneans dare to raise their voices against corruption, they’re met with threats, intimidation, or, if they’re unlucky, a one-way trip on a Blackmaraya to Bambakayaka (Pademba Road Prison). But when the First Lady makes the same accusation? No problem! It’s almost as if who says it matters more than what is being said.

Meanwhile, while these overfed political dogs are busy biting, growling, and wrestling over brown envelopes, the people of Sierra Leone are left with—well, absolutely nothing. Food? Forget about it. Medicine? Luxury item. Electricity? Only if you believe in miracles. The only thing the masses are getting in plenty is stress, and even that comes with inflation.

And speaking of suffering, let’s talk about this never-ending government-enforced fasting program. Ramadan is one thing, but for the people of Sierra Leone, hunger is a year-round policy. Our leaders are busy feasting while the masses are fasting—not out of religious devotion, but because there’s no food to eat. The only “subsidy” the government has successfully implemented is on suffering.

Children are dropping dead in hospitals because of diseases that other countries stopped worrying about decades ago. Malaria? Cholera? Typhoid? In some places, these are minor inconveniences. In Sierra Leone? They might as well be a death sentence. Why? Because doctors lack the equipment or supplies they need to save precious lives. And let’s not even talk about the Blood Bank—because there isn’t one. If you need blood in an emergency, good luck—you have better chances of spotting Bigfoot riding a unicorn under an EDSA-powered streetlight.

And let’s not forget the electricity crisis—because if you thought the government’s performance was bad, wait till you see EDSA’s light schedule. At this point, electricity in Sierra Leone is a mythical creature. Some people claim they’ve seen it, but there’s no real evidence to prove it exists. The only thing staying permanently on is the suffering.

But guess what? Power outages work perfectly for corrupt politicians. It’s hard to notice brown envelopes changing hands when everyone is sitting in the dark. Who needs transparency when the entire country is already blind? Ministers are stuffing their pockets while the people are stuffing their cooking pots with nothing but prayers.

And so, while Madam First Lady is out here barking about corruption, while ministers are fighting over their next big bribe, while the masses are left to wonder if they’ll ever afford a decent meal, the only real question is: who will get the last laugh? Spoiler alert—it won’t be the people.

Because in Sierra Leone, the political dogs always eat first. And as for the people? Well, we’ll just have to survive on the crumbs—if there are any left.