By: Abdulai Sahid Jalloh-De Diplomatic Diplomat, Expert in International Relations, Diplomacy, Humanitarian aid and UN Peacekeeping.
In the heart of every Sierra Leonean household, tradition teaches us the sacredness of leadership—especially that of the head of a home. We understand that when a child errs, we don’t always hold the father responsible. Likewise, it is both unfair and unjust to continuously blame President Julius Maada Bio for every challenge or misstep that occurs within the machinery of his government.
President Bio, elected by the people and for the people, is the Head of State, not the sole operator of every arm of governance. Like any responsible leader, he has delegated authority and entrusted the running of state institutions to qualified technocrats, civil servants, and public officials in the legislative, judiciary, and executive branches. From cabinet ministers to local government appointees, from judges to directors, his government comprises individuals who must also be held accountable for their actions and inactions.
It is therefore misplaced to cast all blame on President Bio for every error committed by others. Leadership does not mean micromanagement; it means setting a vision, appointing competent hands, and steering the national ship through storms and calm waters alike. When one crew member falters, should we throw the captain overboard? Absolutely not.
Sierra Leone is not a kingdom of medieval assumptions, nor are we still in the academic age where students were asked merely to draw a leaf and label its parts. We are a nation forging forward, aspiring to economic transformation, educational reform, and technological advancement. To make that leap, we must elevate our national discourse beyond scapegoating and instead embrace constructive criticism, accountability, and shared responsibility.
Let it be known this evening and henceforth: President Bio should be left alone when it comes to false accusations, unsubstantiated claims, and partisan finger-pointing. He is not omnipresent, and as such, cannot be blamed for every failing within his administration—especially when those failings are clearly traceable to specific individuals or departments. Call them out. Hold them accountable. But stop tarnishing the image of the president for acts he neither sanctioned nor condoned.
Indeed, this moment presents an opportunity for President Bio to reflect and revitalize. There is merit in a government periodically reassessing its internal structure to weed out underperformers and uplift patriots who genuinely seek to serve. President Bio’s vision for Sierra Leone remains a worthy cause, one that must be carried out by trustworthy and efficient hands. We must, as citizens, support that process and not sabotage it with baseless vitriol.
Let us learn to separate the wheat from the chaff. Appreciate President Bio for the strides his government has made—whether in free quality education, infrastructure development, peacebuilding, women’s empowerment, or digital transformation. And where wrong has occurred, let us be bold enough to name the true culprits without using the presidency as a punching bag for every societal frustration.
Sierra Leone deserves a fair and honest conversation. President Bio deserves a just assessment. Let us rise above envy, tribalism, and political bitterness. Let us move forward—together, united in truth and progress.
Enough is enough. Leave President Bio alone.
