By Foday Morris, FM 44.4
April 14, 2025
A few days ago, Mr. Mohamed Omodu Kamara—better known to the public as Jagaban—was back in the headlines. But this time, it wasn’t for his flamboyant generosity or his signature grand entrances at national events. No, this time, he trended for something a bit more… semantic.
Mr. Kamara, widely regarded as one of the most philanthropic figures to ever flirt with the Sierra Leonean presidency, has given freely to nearly every cause under the sun—from school fees to hospital bills, from disaster relief to the occasional wedding sponsorship. Some say he’s a one-man Ministry of Social Welfare. And yet, despite this almost theatrical generosity, it wasn’t the giving that caught our attention this week.
It was the grammar.
In what should have been a strategic opportunity to connect with the electorate—perhaps through a policy address, a media interview, or a carefully scripted statement—Mr. Kamara instead delivered a speech riddled with errors that set social media ablaze. What should have been a masterstroke of public relations quickly became an exercise in collective secondhand embarrassment.
Twitter (or X, as some insist on calling it) was unforgiving. The memes came in torrents. Armchair grammarians had a field day. Linguistic purists recoiled. And somewhere in the chaos, a critical political moment was lost—not because Jagaban lacked passion, but because he fumbled with precision.
The Semantics of Power
This wasn’t just about subject-verb agreement or an unfortunate misuse of “irregardless.” It was a missed opportunity to show that power and polish can coexist. In politics, especially in countries like Sierra Leone where the line between statesmanship and showmanship is thin, language matters. It frames perception, cements credibility, and—dare we say—unlocks opportunity.
So while Jagaban’s wallet has proven consistently open, his English left the door wide open for critique. And for a man with presidential ambitions, every misstep in diction can sound louder than even the most generous donation.
Lessons in the Loss
Let’s be clear: English is not our mother tongue. Most Sierra Leoneans speak multiple languages daily. But when you step into the ring of international politics, when your words are broadcast to diasporas, diplomats, and doubters alike—your message must be as clear as your mission.
Jagaban’s heart may be in the right place. His pockets certainly are. But if he’s serious about leading Sierra Leone into a new era, he must realize that eloquence isn’t elitist—it’s effective.
In politics, as in life, you don’t always get a second chance to make a first impression.
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