A Battle Between Dignity and Necessity
By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Sierra Leoneans today are falling down the pecking order like a house of cards, and every day, another group of citizens seems to fall like dying flies that have feasted on a plague. It is a somber reflection of the state of our nation, where our parliamentarians, government officials, and systems of governance seem to stand in direct opposition to the people they are meant to serve. Sierra Leoneans, helpless as they are, find themselves entangled in a fierce and heartbreaking battle, a battle between their dignity and necessity.
How do they survive? How can they survive when they have virtually lost every sense of their dignity? Corruption runs deep, as tall as Mount Bintimani, sprawling like the Wara Mountains, and silent like the Great Scarcies. Our leaders, from the hilltops where they have placed themselves, have done everything to secure our votes but have now turned their backs on us with disdain. These very same people, who once begged for our trust and support, will soon return in 2028, shamelessly asking us once again to grant them power.
But where were they when we, the people, the voters, the citizens needed them most? The authority they hold reflects our collective voice, yet they treat us with impunity, abandoning us as though we are second-class citizens in our own land.
What have we done as a people to deserve such inhumane treatment from our own brothers and sisters? These are individuals we grew up with in the same backstreets, those we shared classrooms with, those who we fed with from the same bowl, those we danced with at the same parties. Yet here they are, occupying positions of power, lording over us as if we were nothing more than afterthoughts. They abandon us while lining their pockets, taking loans that will one day be paid by the sweat of our children.
Our Parliament, meanwhile, is busy doing the bidding of an audience of one President Julius Maada Bio. By all indications, he has shown that he cares less about the welfare of the very people he was elected to serve. His disdain for the ordinary Sierra Leonean is palpable, and opposition politicians offer no respite; they are merely waiting for their chance to access the spoils, hoping to do worse when their opportunity arises.
We must ask ourselves as Sierra Leoneans: Where have we gone wrong? Why do we continue to support leaders who do not care about us? Why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated by individuals whose primary goal is to secure power, wealth, and privilege at our expense?
For the ordinary Sierra Leonean, life has become a struggle between holding onto dignity and meeting basic necessities. The simple act of providing food for one’s family has become a Herculean task, as prices for basic commodities continue to rise. The cost of living has soared beyond reason, and yet wages remain stagnant, if not non-existent, for many.
In such an environment, people are forced to make impossible choices. Dignity is a luxury when you have nothing to eat. When faced with the question of survival, many are left with no choice but to abandon their sense of pride and honor, accepting the crumbs that fall from the table of the powerful. They engage in menial labor, bend to the whims of corrupt officials, and even sacrifice their principles just to make it through another day.
It is a heartbreaking reality, and yet, what choice do they have? Our leaders have built a system that traps the majority in poverty while they thrive in comfort. They send their children abroad to be educated while our schools crumble. They receive medical care from top-tier hospitals while our health system deteriorates to the point where even basic treatments are unavailable for the average person.
The social contract between the government and the people has been broken. There was once a time when leaders understood that their power came from the people and that it was their duty to serve. Today, that understanding has disappeared. Leaders have forgotten that their authority comes from us; they see themselves as untouchable, accountable to no one but their own interests.
And yet, these same leaders will come back in 2028, smiling, shaking hands, and promising once again to lift Sierra Leone out of poverty, to bring jobs, development, and change. But we have heard it all before. We have seen the broken promises. And if we do not change our approach, we will see it all again.
The time has come for Sierra Leoneans to think critically about their future. We must no longer be swayed by empty rhetoric, by false promises, by the illusion of change that never comes. It is time for us to demand leaders who have the fear of God and a genuine love for the people of this nation.
This is not just a critique of our leaders, it is a call for us as citizens to take responsibility for our own future. We must ask ourselves: Why do we continue to fight amongst ourselves for the sake of politicians who care nothing for us? Why do we tear our own communities apart in the name of political allegiance when those in power are united in their pursuit of self-interest?
It is time for us to stop being pawns in a game played by the powerful. We must recognize that our strength lies in our unity, in our ability to come together and demand better for ourselves, our children, and our country. We cannot continue to accept the status quo where politicians treat us as stepping stones to wealth and power, only to discard us once they’ve achieved their goals.
Let us reflect on the true meaning of leadership. A leader is someone who sacrifices for the good of the people, someone who places the needs of the nation above personal ambition. We must demand leaders who are guided by principle, who are not afraid to stand up to corruption, and who will work tirelessly to ensure that every Sierra Leonean has a chance at a dignified life.
The battle between dignity and necessity cannot continue indefinitely. The soul of our nation is at stake. We must reject the culture of corruption and impunity that has taken root at every level of government. We must demand accountability from those in power, and we must ensure that our future leaders are chosen not by their ability to manipulate, but by their integrity and their vision for a better Sierra Leone.
We need men and women who have an unflinching love for this country’s leaders who will not rest until every Sierra Leonean has access to education, healthcare, and a fair opportunity to succeed. It is only through such leadership that we can reclaim our dignity and create a future where necessity no longer forces us into submission.
Sierra Leoneans, let us get our act together. Let us build a Sierra Leone where dignity and necessity are not at odds, but where they thrive together in harmony, guided by the fear of God, love for country, and respect for every citizen. Only then can we truly move forward.