By: Abdulai Mansaray.
Social media has been inundated with comments from
readers since news broke out that President Bio has paid out millions of
dollars to the former President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and senior government
officials. The news has been greeted with consternation and relief in equal
measure; depending on which side of the fence you are on. Some are still trying
to make sense of and draw logic from the whole issue. For the many suffering retired, pensioned or
relieved beneficiaries of the “windfall”, it feels like Christmas has come
early. Bio’s new look Father Christmas
figure is glaringly telling, when judged against the backdrop of the political
tension that has characterized his government since its inception.
Since Maada
Bio took the oath of office to “preserve, support, uphold, maintain, and
defend the Constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone as by law established,
and that I (he) will do right to all manner of people according to law, without
fear or favour, affection or ill-will”, his reign has so far been met with stiff resistance and
gridlock from the deposed opposition APC party.
Bio presented the country
with his GTT Report, in which he gave a socio-economic cum political assessment
of our country. Among the numerous ailments, his government diagnosed our
country as near bankrupt. The assessment identified leakages in government
spending and corruption as some of the major causal factors for our comatose
economy. It goes without saying, that the prognosis was not good. With
President Bio at the helm, his messianic ascendancy to power was seen by many
and especially his followers as the second
coming; to rid Sierra Leone of corruption. So when he pronounced in his first sermon to
the nation, that “corruption”
was the root of all evil in our nation, and that his government’s purpose on
earth will be to eradicate corruption and separate the chaff from the wheat,
the many in the country chanted “Hosanna”
and Psalm 1:1 into the heavens above.
“Blessed is the man that
…..
Walks not in the counsel of
the wicked,
Nor stands in the way of
sinners,
Nor sits in the seats of
scoffers.
The new fight against
corruption was a moment of epiphany to a lot of people. It marked the birth of
the Commission of Inquiry that was headed by the 3 wise men, Justices Biobele
Georgewill (Nigeria), Bankole Thompson (Sierra Leone) and William Atuguba (Ghana).
And you thought ECOWAS was dead. Unlike the biblical allusion, there was not
going to be any gold, frankincense or myrrh, but to bring back to Sierra
Leoneans what belonged to Sierra Leoneans. While some saw it as Bio making a
rod for his own back, others described the whole exercise as a witch hunt, a
kangaroo court, and worse still, a vendetta aimed at decapitating the political
appendages of the ousted APC party. This lead to the APC party feeling
targeted, marginalised and persecuted; thanks to the overwhelming regional or
tribal nomenclature of the accused “corruptioneers”.
In response, the APC party
adopted a policy of non engagement; as they refused to recognise, honour the
“sanctity” of the commission and preached a sermon of public disobedience that
was laced with tribal and regional flavour. The ruling SLPP needed to bring in
its own personnel, but the rapid fire and hire that ensued left many describing
the action as a slash and burn exercise or culling programme. Some of these
practices served as painful reminders of the outgone APC, and it was not
surprising then that both parties were likened to twins; “Aki and “Paw Paw”,
Alhassan and Alusine, or two peas in a pod. Many struggled to see a dichotomy
between these parties, as the clarion call for a 3rd political party
grew louder. The call for a 3rd party was more of a reflection of
the frustration from the electorate that was increasingly becoming
disillusioned with what was seen as a political musical chair or pass the
parcel between these usual suspects.
The battle lines had been
drawn with heightened tension and the odd street clashes between rival
supporters or with law enforcement officers was becoming a daily occurrence.
With the government chugging on with the Commission of Inquiry on the one hand,
and with the APC party chanting its defiance, it was glaringly obvious that the
lines have been drawn, and it was a matter of who blinks first. The rising
tension was fast becoming palpable for the electorate. The ugly scenes that
took place at the APC party headquarters in Freetown were not only regrettable,
but also marked a turning point for the worst in the political brinkmanship and
landscape in our country. EBK’s security detail was rejigged; thanks to his
ambiguous position as an Ex-President and/or active politician for his
party.
Bio’s attempts to diffuse
the tension by inviting politicians and other stakeholders for a conference on
national cohesion at State House and the Bintumani 3 Conference, did little to
dampen the tinder box. Even the launching of the Ahmad Tejan Foundation for
Peace and Democracy; all aimed at lulling the country into an atmosphere of
peace and tranquillity did not seem to shift the sands of defiance. The APC
party had always lodged the non -payment of the benefits and
gratuities, in lieu of their end of service as one of the main bones of
contention in this saga. Imagine for one minute, that you have been lawfully or
unlawfully relieved of your position, and then deprived of your lawful payment
that comes with your conditions of employment and service. Now think of how the
party splashed the cash in last year’s election; as if the Leone currency was
going out of fashion, and you would begin to understand their frustration. Or is it desperation?
At face value, there are
those who would see the payment of these benefits as a defeat for Bio and a
defeat against the fight against corruption. Some will see it as Bio bowing to
pressure or blinking first. Others will feel that Bio has had a short gun held
to his head by the defiant APC party. In general, there are those who would
feel disappointed that Bio has betrayed the fight against corruption; his most
vaunted signature policy. But why make such conclusions?
When Bio took office from
the APC, he declared the country as near bankrupt. By implication, the APC was
collectively responsible for our country’s demise. It is no wonder then that
the list of persons alleged to have been involved in corruption, and requested
to attend the Commission of Inquiry carried a significant DNA of the APC party;
by membership or affiliation. Without the benefit of due process, many have
already found these alleged persons guilty. So to some people, withholding the
benefits and gratuities of some of the accused was the right thing to do. But no, it was not, and it is not the
right thing to do. For the purpose of this article, I will use the word
“withhold”, which is not a
direct description of the government’s action in respect of these payments.
Some people have a black and white interpretation of these payments. If the APC
party is accused of running down the country’s economy to near bankruptcy, and
only for Bio to turn round and pay out to some of the very members who by
implication, contributed in ruining the country, Maada is in effect rewarding
corruption rather than fighting it; period. But is that the case? Has Maada
robbed Peter to pay Paul?
For starters, it is the
constitutional right of these public servants who had hitherto, served our
country so well in their respective positions to receive their benefits and
gratuities at the end of their service. It is the law and it is
constitutionally guaranteed. Also, even if some of those receiving these
payments are accused of corruption, they are yet to be found guilty or not.
Whether they are guilty or not should not impinge on their rightful and well
deserved benefits and gratuities. If it does, it will be termed as “seizing”;
and only the law can seize but not the government or anyone else can. We should
also remember that not all those that are entitled to these benefits have had
the pleasure of being invited to face the Commission of Inquiry. It would be
unlawful and unjust to tar them with the same brush; if that was the case.
Leadership is about doing the right things. Genuine leaders don’t search for
consensus; they mold it.
On the other side of the
argument, many consider these payments as a feat of upholding the constitution.
In many ways, this goes to erode the notion that the SLPP is bent on a revenge
mission. Others will see the SLPP as constitutionally friendly, in spite of the
political divide. It will also make the SLPP look like it is still focused on
its “New Direction” drive; to show the difference. This payment could also go a
long way to wipe the cobwebs off the perennial accusation that the SLPP is
targeting the APC party. The coincidence in restoring the security detail of
the former President Ernest Koroma with the payments will make the SLPP look
like a party that wants peace and national cohesion. But by making these
payments to some members of the ousted party, is there any credence to the
perception that Maada Bio is rewarding corruption than fighting it, or has he
simply given back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar?
As the saying goes, the
taste of the pudding lies in the eating. There is another train of thought
which sees these payments as a battle for the hearts and minds of the
electorate. If Bio has given to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, will some of
these members, if found guilty by the Commission of Inquiry when that time
comes, give back to the people what belongs to the people? This is why some may
find this payment as a master political ploy by the SLPP. Now that some of
these members have received or will receive their benefits, if any of them is
invited to face the Commission of Inquiry, will they continue to refuse to
attend? If so, what will be the excuse this time? If found guilty (big IF),
will they cough up and give back to the people what belongs to the people? Now
that the government has done its bit, will those involved, if found guilty do their
bit by the people?
While this payment of
benefits and gratuities to former members of the past government has left
bitter and sweet tastes in the mouths of many people, the wisdom and
constitutional, merits of this will now rest on the outcome of the Commission
of Inquiry. It is now up to the government and the COI to come up with the
goods. This is why some believe that these members have been three-footed into
a sense of complacency. Some may be wise to spend their benefits wisely, and if
possible, “Nor Eat Am yate O”. Maada Bio and his government are well too aware
of the gripe the payments would cause in the country. Are you surprised that
the news of the 50 school buses coincided with these payments?
If Bio has given to Caesar
what belongs to Caesar, will others give back to the country what belongs to
the country? Many will now be looking forward to the outcome of the COI, as the
litmus test for Bio’s integrity and his government’s seriousness about the
fight against corruption. Its time for peace and justice to drink from the same
fountain of hope for our country.
Over to you Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala.
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