This day in history, February, 18 2002: one of the most brutal and heinous war ended in Sierra Leone.

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy)

Nineteen years today on February 18, 2002, one of the world's most brutal and severest war came to an end. 

That day, February 18 2002, was a mixed bag of sorrow and happiness. Happiness for the seemingly dramatic end of a war that bears the hallmarks of the end of civilization, the darkness of man's heart, the horrible irony of liberation and the conspicuous tendency of man's brutally and madness in the pursuit of power, fame and glory. 

It was an anti rural war, a war of blame where the perpetrators became victims of their wrong headedness. 

The peasants, agrarian people, the pastoralists and the rural people were subjected to elements of the greatest crimes against humanity. 

It was the late President Kabba who saw the absolute need for peace and worked to achieve what history has documented as the greatest feat even gained by a ruling president. 

His lieutenant, the late Solomon Ekuma Berewa, narrowed the elements and embodied the technical character of the process. 

In the end, Sierra Leoneans regained the eace and the rebels lost the war but won the peace. " Everything was given to the rebels, except a ticket to heaven" bemoaned Dr. Peter Tucker, a traditional sage and firm believer in healing through retribution.

Nineteen years on, the scars and ripples of the war are very much evident in our society. It begs the question what,if any, do we learn from the brutal and reckless Carnage. Was is not a panacea for development but all leading nations in the world went through horrible and shattering experiences of war. 

Today, they have better governance structures and actively provide for the good lives of their citizens. Sierra Leone is gazing at hope but still drown in a pool of vicious and grinding poverty.

The current political leadership of the country is positioned and visionary in a practical sense but there is chronic manifestation of the predatory politics of denial and indecent resistance to democratic transition.

 

The country is richly endowed but enmeshed in a strategic dilemma.

National transformation is slow. The national formula is worrying: it is right if it is ours but wrong if it is theirs. Truth has become not only scarce but elusive and dangerous. 

The blame game abounds. We refuse to come to terms with our shortcomings. 

A man can desperately blame the Head of State and government for failing to to impregnate his own wife. We blame the Head of State for even our acts of commission and omission.

We cannot give up hope. Hope must endure and sustain.

The future is challengingly bright. The spirit of nationalism must rekindle. We must work to bridge the divide and deflate our loyalty to the tribe, region and political party. Today, we gloat on abnormal normality and normal abnormality.

It was a war of blame. Let us pray for the departed and work to rebuild our country.