When Sierra Leone gained Independence in 1961 from Britain, the excitement, expectations and hope for a better future were indescribable . Sierra Leone danced and jubilated all over the country. Even in the villages where illiteracy was rife , people danced and drank their palm wine with joy and relish, celebrating the hope that better things were in store for their country. But the 61 years since Independence have been the most frustrating experience for Sierra Leoneans.
The country has accomplished very little of the aspirations and master plans of the founding fathers. The feelings of Sierra Leone on Independence anniversary day today are summarized by the quip made by Journalist Phebean Swill on Facebook : “Abeg, when are we going back to colonial regime? Independence don gains me. I’m still trying to figure out what to celebrate.” Osman Osby Bangura could not hide his anger : “Wish me everything but not a happy INDEPENDENCE. I am not happy about it, and I sure don’t even know who is happy for a stupid INDEPENDENCE!”
As Sierra Leone celebrates 61 years of nationhood, the whole country is in pitch darkness. There is no light. There is no water. School teachers are on strike because of starvation salaries and their leaders are in jail, one of them arrested inside a television station where he had gone to give an interview ( Showing how much ideals like free speech and human rights have eroded ); there is no food for the people to eat. Prices of food and basic commodities, which have been eternally high in previous governments , have now gone through the roof since this incompetent Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP) Government and clueless rascal, President Maada Bio, came to power in 2018. Sierra Leoneans are very displeased with Bio. Of President Bio’s Independence Anniversary speech, an angry Thomas Josephus Dixon complained on Facebook : “Bio’s speech is replete with political rhetoric than national cohesion. That he’s invested in water but his justification are bowsers. That he invested in agriculture but people are dying of hunger than any other time.” Tony Konomanyi, a citizen from Kono, celebrated the day with this complaint : “One whole independence day, no light na Kono. To God, SLPP una alakey gbain”.
As the years wear on since April 27, 1961, nothing much seems to be developing in the country. We have tried in some areas under some past presidents like Dr. Siaka Stevens, Brig. Joseph Momoh, Alhaji Tejan Kabbah and Dr. Ernest Koroma ( Regardless of their shortcomings ) but generally speaking, Sierra Leone has not moved forward as should have been expected of a country blessed with abundant natural resources like diamonds, gold, bauxite, iron ore etc . As a matter of fact, instead of surging ahead, we have regressed more and the clock has been turned backwards for 50 years under this totalitarian and unprogressive SLPP Government that only knows how to appoint Southeasterners to all positions, beat and kill innocent people and harass opponents and citizens fighting for their rights.
At 61, Sierra Leone is more divided than ever, with the SLPP Government making tribalism and regionalism one of the centerpieces of their so-called New Direction. The country is seriously stagnant and this particular government has not showcased or commissioned any pro-people development project. All they have done is create fertile grounds for their trbesmen and women to plunder the country like crazed buccaneers and fortune-hunters. Going by the bombshell revelations of the AFRICANIST PRESS, President Bio’s government is the most corrupt since Independence.
When that has been said, despite all their sins, pride, arrogance, refusal to listen to the people and impunity, the Maada Bio SLPP Government, frankly , cannot and should not be crucified for all Sierra Leone’s problems since Independence, though they have worsened them . Given the abundant minerals at our disposal, our human resources , fertile soils and favorable weather, we should have done better in national development, creation of a wealthy nation , fair, secure , enjoyable and equitable society than we have done and past governments, whatever their achievements, cannot escape blame as well for the parlous state of affairs in the country today . They all set benchmarks for themselves but none accomplished them, as promised or expected. Some, like the Siaka Stevens and Ernest Koroma governments have done well in providing impressive roads and infrastructure as well as some social pro-poor services for which we commend them. But when you look at a country in whose soils God had embedded the most bountiful and expensive of minerals, and the size and population of the country, and then compare them to the modest socio-economic and political developments made, you see why the people are angry and disappointed. Much more should have been accomplished , WITH THESE MINERALS AT OUR DISPOSAL . SIERRA LEONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BETTER COUNTRY THAN IT IS TODAY. To whom much is given, much is expected.
We hope that Sierra Leone’s politicians and those at the helm of governance will at last realize that the first 61 years of Independence have been wasted years and a missed opportunity for the nation. We have given too many excuses . Bio’s Independence anniversary address today was full of self-adulation and foolish excuses . We should do better than this. The nation wants no more excuses. It is time to acknowledge that we have failed our nation and go to the drawing board and come out with blueprints and national development plans that will finally change the bigger picture in Sierra Leone. As Tiah Knox rightly said on Facebook : “We all want better and deserve better as citizens of this beautiful realm of the free! I pray we all accept active nation building! ”
FOR COCORIOKO, we pray that our leaders will put our nation first. Until this is done, every Independence anniversary day will be full of regrets, recriminations, frustration and anger.
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ANGRY COMMENTS BY SIERRA LEONEANS ON FACEBOOK TODAY
Unisa Thorlu Conteh
Independence day with no lights. If you talk now, the ones dem na the Diaspora go cam argue unnecessarily, becoz na talk dem lek. 
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