NEWS > Commentaries Thank You Dr Tony Blair.....Sierra Leone’s “Knight in Shinning Armor” Posted by Joe Sawan on Jun 12, 2008, 16:54

It would appear that Dr. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) is determined to continue to be Sierra Leone’s “Knight in shinning armor”.  His decision to send British troops to stave off the ferocious attacks of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) gang of murderers, rapists, thieves, torturers and sadists prevented Sierra Leone from being completely destroyed.Dr. Blair’s commitment to Sierra Leone is rooted in his family history, his father, Leo, was a lecturer at Fourah Bay College.

As  the political leader of the UK, Dr. Blair’s most timely and appropriate decision was taken at a time when other powerful nations remained reluctant to get involved in a situation that did not appear to have any strategic interest to them.  It was not a myopic calculation on the part of the other world players that created the opportunity for the well established relationship between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom to be further strengthened.

Dr. Blair took the calculated gamble and put his relatively stable political leadership on the line and won the hearts and minds of the majority of British citizens.  As a result, his government spent tens of millions of the British pound to support their intervention in Sierra Leone.  In the process, many British soldiers paid the ultimate price by losing their lives in Sierra Leone.

While Dr. Blair’s intervention in the war was a noble venture, it was his government’s robust orchestration of the country’s reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement that won the admiration of almost all Sierra Leoneans.  Dr. Tony Blair needs no introduction in Sierra Leone because he is a household name.  Incidentally, if Sierra Leoneans were to be allowed to vote in the UK elections, Dr. Blair’s Labour Party can and will be assured of 1.8 million registered voters casting their ballots for  the Labor Party.

Sierra Leoneans are not partisan in UK politics but they are grateful people.  They are grateful for what Dr. Blair and his Labour government did to extricate them from the menacing jaws of the RUF.

Dr. Blair’s two- day visit to Sierra Leone has again, generated the euphoria and excitement that is usually accorded to Heads of State.  As usual, his eloquence and brilliance came through aplomb.  He has, again, re-assured Sierra Leoneans of his determination to market the country internationally to serious minded investors and there are many of them out there.

When Dr. Blair intervened in the war, he did so because of his belief in the resourcefulness, creativity, work ethic and steadfastness of Sierra Leoneans.

His latest decision to be Sierra Leone’s AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE is the culmination of his long term commitment to ensure the revitalization of the country. 

In essence, Dr. Blair is now the unequivocal premier salesman of the country. Alhaji I.B. Kargbo, Minister of Information and Communications/Government Spokesman and Alhaji Alpha Kanu, Minister of Presidential and Public Affairs/ Presidential Spokesman should bless their stars for the help Dr. Blair will give in selling the positive image of Sierra Leone abroad. 

By the way, does this now mean that the two Alhaji’s will now concentrate their efforts on the domestic front?  Dr. Tony Blair’s one salvo will definitely overshadow one hundred of the two Alhaji’s.  Perhaps, the country will now save the external per-diems of ministers.

Thank you, Dr. Tony Blair for visiting Sierra Leone in the midst of her economic catharsis and for agreeing to market the country.