LET US BE VERY CAREFUL IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS.

BY ALPHA SAIDU BANGURA

SIERRA LEONE HAS ONLY ONE PROBLEM, THAT IS HAVING THE WRONG PEOPLE IN SENSITIVE POSITIONS.WE AS A NATION WILL NEVER MOVE FORWARD ,IF WE DO NOT PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.IN 2007 WE WILL CONDUCT ELECTIONS, I AM MOST RESPECTFULLY APPEALING TO MY FELLOW SIERRA LEONEANS TO ENSURE THAT WE PROPERLY EXAMINE ALL THOSE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICES.LET US CHECK THEIR REPORT CARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE GOOD SCORES THAT  ENABLES THEM TO PUT SIERRA LEONE ON ITS RIGHT FOOTING.WE ALSO NEED TO EXAMINE THEIR BACK GROUNDS OJECTIVELY TO ASCERTAIN THEIR SUITABILITY TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICES.

IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THIS BIG AND IMPORTANT SERVICE TO OUR NATION, WE MUST PUT ASIDE OUR POLITICAL ,REGIONAL,TRIBAL AND RELIGIOUS  AFFILIATIONS.

AT LEAST FOR ONCE LET US PUT THE INTEREST OF SIERRA LEONE ABOVE ALL OTHER INTERESTS.

A HUGE NUMBER OF SIERRA LEONEANS BELIEVE THAT THE TWO MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES ARE DIVIDED ALONG TRIBAL AND REGIONAL LINES.WE NEED TO TAKE THAT ERRONEOUS BELIEF OFF OUR MINDS. NO ONE TRIBE OR REGION CAN RULE SIERRA LEONE WELL. EACH POLITICAL PARTY MOST HAVE A NATIONAL  CHARACTER.

I ALSO WANT TO ADVICE ALL THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SELECT THE MOST SUITABLE SIERRA LEONEAN [IN THE PARTY] AS THEIR RUNNING MATES.IT MAKES ON SENSE TO BELIEVE THAT IF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IS FROM THE SOUTH, HIS OR HER RUNNING MATE MUST COME FROM THE NORTH.IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE THE RUNNING MATE COMES FROM, IF HE OR SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE , THE COUNTRY WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD. I WILL  POINT OUT TWO EXAMPLES TO JUSTIFY  WHAT I AM SAYING.

FIRSTLY, PRESIDENT AHMED TEJAN KABBA, IS A DEVOUT MUSLIM FROM THE NORTH , HE LIVED AND WORKED OVERSEAS FOR OVER 30 YEARS. BOTH OF HIS RUNNING MATES[ JOE DEMBY AND SOLOMON BEREWA] ARE FROM THE SOUTH. BUT THEY WOEFULLY FAILED TO PUT SIERRA LEONE BACK ON ITS CORRECT FOOTING.

SECONDLY, IN THE U .S. A. WHERE I LIVE THE BEST ADMINISTRATION IN MODERN TIMES IS THE CLINTON AND GORE ADMINISTRATION.BILL CLINTON IS FROM ARKANSAS [THE SOUTH] AND AL GORE COMES FROM TENNESSEE[ALSO SOUTH].THEY DISCHAGED THEIR DUTIES WITH DISTINCTION.

IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS IN SIERRA LEONE , I PRAY THAT OUR PEOPLE WILL NOT  ALLOW THEIR SENTIMENTS TO SURPASS THEIR REASONING ABILITIES. LET US VOTE  FOR PEOPLE WHO SHOW IN BUILT MORAL VAULES THAT WILL PUSH THE NATION FORWARD.LET US KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN WE ELECT THE WRONG PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICES, WE THE WELL MEANING SIERRA LEONEANS WILL SUFFER.

I WISH ALL TRUE LOVING SIERRA LEONEANS A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS 2006.