Ungrateful Ruling Party and Unfaithful Opposition The recent comment made by the President of the United States, Barrack H.Obama on our democracy in Sierra Leone is a positive thing and it means that the country is striving to maintain democratic doctrines. President Koroma’s efforts of upholding the tenets of democracy are laudable and his strides are being recognized both nationally and internationally. Nobody will take away the developments that have taken place since he ascended to power from him. Obama’s acknowledgement of our growing democracy is a plus and these positive acknowledgements will attract more investors into the country. To be acknowledged for good things is good. This time Sierra Leone is being mentioned on the strides the country has taken on the path of democracy not about War or for military interventions. Let me go back to the headline, in 2007 the SLPP lost the elections and they handed over power to the APC (winners) peacefully. That was a laudable moves by the SLPP and a strong signal and foundation for democracy. In fact, that was when the real seeds of democracy were planted. The SLPP handed over power peacefully without any resistance. Had it not being for the good will gesture of the former president Kabbah, and more importantly the former Vice President and flag bearer Solo B. who accepted the outcome and even courageously attended the inauguration of the new President, Ernest Koroma, the country would not have been praised or recognized by the USA or other democratic countries today. Despite the peaceful transfer of power from the SLPP to the APC, some ungrateful and ungenerous APC both top and grass root(unemployed and very poor)supporters always say that the SLPP handed over power because they were under pressure. But under pressure from whom? My argument is, even if the SLPP was under pressure, the fact is, they handed over power without a single sign of reluctance. We should praise where praise is due so that others would emulate the good steps in future. Another ungratefulness, was exhibited when the APC guys stated that the former government did not bring any development in the country. What a shameless and wicked lie: what about the democratic institutions that were established from which we are now receiving praises and enjoyments. How can you say that a government that had been in power for eleven years did not do anything? The democracy we are enjoying now is as a result of the democratic institutions established by the former government. Had it not being for democratic nature of the former government, we would not have gotten the APC in power peacefully by now. In spite of all the negative noise the supporters of the ruling party are making against the development efforts made by the then government, they want members of the opposition to praise them and their party for the current developments being implemented by this regime. Dont you think that the opposition supporters would reciprocate by being blind and ungrateful to your achievements and effort you made since 2007 to date? On the other hand, the SLPP is behaving like unfaithful worshippers. They don’t believe any process that is undertaken by this government to genuine and credible. They don’t have faith in the Judiciary, Police, Electoral Commission and other state institutions. Institutions which they established. They would condemn every process and development in the country. How can a country function like this? Dont we trust each other? We should learn to repose trust in ourselves and our institutions. I am not saying the institutions are doing the correct things or following the correct procedure when executing their functions but we should not preempt their decision in negative terms. In Ghana and Senegal, the people have accepted THE doctrines of democracy and now, power can change from one party to the other without much noise. The people in those countries know that losing a single election does not mean the end of their lives. Here, what we always hear is the opposition shouting fetid or foul on any process. While the APC boys would tell you that the party will stay in power for ever or for forty years. I don’t think for a single party to be in power for forty years is democracy. We want to see Sierra Leoneans accepting defeat and allowing power to change hands from one party to the other without any fight. But the over whelming selfishness of those who are benefitting from the status quo is responsible for the idle forty years in power talks. We want to see the APC losing power to the opposition and they graciously hand over power as did the SLPP in 2007.My concern is that, the APC is not thinking about losing elections in future. Some of them think that their party should never lose or should not lose election for ever. Forgetting that democracy is all about power changing hands from one party to the other through the will of the majority of the citizenry. Currently the APC supporters think they would never be in opposition that is why they always talk as if they are the only people who love the country and who can only bring development. The APC should be grateful and acknowledge the developments brought in the country by the former government while the SLPP should learn to get confidence in our state institutions. APC should not be ungrateful while SLPP should not be unfaithful. I rest my case.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 23:19:37 +0000
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