POLITICS Post Election Violence in Sierra Leone and Other Parts of Africa Posted by on Mar 25, 2009, 10:10

The safety and security of the people of this country must be the top most priority for this government at all times irrespective of which party is in power or one belongs to. The life of every Sierra Leonean is precious and cannot be bought with any amount of money. It is for that reason proactive and productive action and decision should be taken in the interest of the people and the security of the state. While, it is possible that some sets of people are bent on destabilizing the peaceful co-existence of the people, government on the other hand should be a position to stop it immediately.

From the look of thing it is absolutely clear that all the troubles and chaos are being perpetuated by power thirsty hungry politicians, using their supporters and the unemployed youths in the country. They are being used as to tool to satisfy the political desire of the politicians who at the end of the day becomes the major political beneficiaries. For eleven sad and unfortunate years this country was in shamble, with its citizens having sleepless night. The security situation at the time was fluid and unpredictable and our sense of direction as a nation was clouded.  

Now that we are beginning to enjoy some semblance of peace and tranquillity, it would be in our interest and the government as well to nip anything suspected of reversing the gains already achieved. There is no nation that can develop under an atmosphere that is chaotic, that is why President Koroma as Grand Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of this republic should be able to demonstrate that quality and win the confidence of the people. Let me quickly refresh our memories of troubling events that had occurred in recent past that endangered lives and property of loved ones:

Gorging out eyes and neck cutting by NPRC & RUF rebels of defenceless civilians to symbolize the acronym INEC (read as Eye-Neck, instead of Interim National Electoral Commission). Remember the Bintumani II Conference where the then-Chief of Defence Staff deliberately refused to guarantee the security of the electorates for the 1996 Presidential Elections?

AFRC's 1997 killings, tortures, rapes, etc. meted out on ordinary civilians, including poor students

January 6, 1999 so many people were killed in Freetown and some parts of the country. Over 20 students and civilians were killed in cold blood at Sankoh's residence in 2000 without any form of security being provided by the erstwhile SLPP government for those defenceless civilians. These despicable events including the very recent disturbances are clear messages for the people of this nation learn from and stay away from politics, rallies, parades, demonstrations.

This is because they are always the sacrificial lamb for the politicians. Sierra Leoneans like citizens of other nations in Africa and other parts of the world have suffered a lot over the past years. The suffering by this time should stop and concentrate on the development of their countries.