By – Alimamy Baba Silla
At Bafodia, in the Koinadugu District, I had finished a sensitization rally for the All Peoples Congress (A.P.C) Flag Bearer Aspirant, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, when a lady called me aside and said, “I want to talk to you”. She got me to her market stall and said further, “this is what I sell to make a living”. I looked at it and all I saw was a handful of raw fish not worth more than three hundred (New Leones). But she went on, “this is what I have done over the years and through this, I have managed to send my son to university. He is currently in his third year studying Economics”. She beamed with such pride as any proud mother would. And then, she said something truly profound: “you people would have to lift my family out of this”, she pointed again at the fish on her table.
At that point, I felt the weight of her polite but powerful indictment of the political class and her demand for better service delivery. I also felt a deep sense of sympathy and responsibility because I know how it feels like to be let down by leaders and others who make political promises without moral conviction.
The ordinary people place their lives, hopes and aspirations on political leaders and provide them a paid JOB, with clear instructions being the improvement of their conditions of life. But once in office, they behave as if they are the ones doing the people a favour.
Sierra Leoneans are a hard – working and resilient people. When they put their trust in politicians, they do not expect handouts, they simply hope that their leaders will create the enabling environment that will lift them to another level.
After my period in civil society and political activism ended around 1999/2000, I realized the tragedy of this country was in those leaders who look into the eyes of fish mongers, professionals and hard-working people, gaining their trust and dashing their hopes without fear. Therefore, I safely tucked myself away in a Financial Services career where that moral conscience of making promises and dashing hopes is hardly experienced or not at all.
But, as a people, we deserve better than this, especially in a global environment that is changing drastically. In pur current unpredictable world, where every nation must stand up for itself, we cannot afford to have unpatriotic elements ruling Sierra Leone. This is why I am out from my comfort zone, to support and be part of a change because I have seen someone I can trust to bring that change. That person is Dr Ibrahim Bangura and I will tell you why.
Sierra Leone Needs Patriotic Leaders.
This country’s current political landscape is seriously dominated by transactional and not so patriotic politicians. It is hardly surprising that under the full glare of camera and social media, many politicians still exhibit zero moral conscience – they openly buy votes and brazenly influence political outcomes. But must we be surprised? No! Because many politicians both local and from the diasporas have strategically positioned themselves near individuals they know cannot govern, nor do they have the intellect to ever understand issues. That situation is perfect for them because it creates an environment for free loot, ethno- regional sympathies, and unbridled corruption.
The quality of leadership is a major determiner as to the progress or lack of it any Government can make for its citizenry.
It took a single man called Lee. K. Yew to lay the foundation for Singapore’s progress. It took Rwanda a single man called Paul Kagame to make that country a role model for discipline and economic growth, and for neighboring Guinea to have a currency which value far exceeds our own, it took an ex – Sergeant from the French Army, not an accomplished economist, to provide the necessary leadership for that to happen.
The clear thread amongst all the leaders above and others who have improved their countries is patriotism, selfless love of mother or father land. Where that love truly exists, not that it provides a magic wand to any nation’s problems, but senseless tribal rivalries, wastefulness, brutal political arrests and detentions, giving a blank cheque for looting to relatives and school mates, are certainly NOT the norm.
What Makes Dr Ibrahim Bangura Different?
Around mid 2000, when a college mate of mine graduated with an Honors Degree in Sociology I asked him if he would opt for a job with the then (United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone) UNAMSIL, or some International NGO as was the norm then. He said no! “I shall go to Penguia, (somewhere in Kailahun District)”. “That place”, he went on, “is one of the least developed – no water, poor educational facilities, weak health systems etc. I shall go there and help my people” he said emphatically.
Around mid 2017, I worked in the Kenema Branch of a financial institution and one morning a cashier forwarded to me for authorization, payments instruction for water and sanitation facilities. Looking at the name and image on the identity card, I recognized the individual, I recalled his dream and all the better opportunities he sacrificed just because he wanted to help his people. Out of deference. I therefore walked out of my office to meet him. I embraced him warmly, not only because I had not set eyes on him for over Seventeen years since we left university, but because of my deep admiration of his principled patriotism.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura has served as a consultant to several international organizations and his qualifications and skills set would have allowed him to easily relocate anywhere in the West. A relocation that would have availed him far better remuneration, access to modern housing and health facilities.
Also, he would have secured a more stable or guaranteed future for himself and his dependants. Yet, he chose to be based in his home country where he uses his hard – earned resources – financial and otherwise – to help his people in various communities. He supports struggling students in the university with tuition fees and tutorials, and he refuses to be paid for his teaching services.
Like my patriotic college mate whose passion is to simply help his people get a better life, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura deliberately decided not to benefit from the “time value of money” or significant foreign exchange difference in personal earnings because he is a rare kind of patriot.
Sierra Leone has few individuals, yes few, who still value this beautiful country above all else.
Until recently, it was my day job to conduct due diligence on a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, financial transactions and circumstances. I have done my due diligence on Dr. Ibrahim Bangura for the last twenty-five years and there are key things that have stood out over these years:
His perennial and enduring attachment to the A.P.C, since 1996. It was during the run-off between Late President Kabbah and Dr. John Karefa-Smart that I saw the group he led, “the Sons and Daughters of A.P.C.” It was moment of bewildering surprise and amusement, because senior politicians who served in the Stevens and Momoh regimes had then disassociated themselves from that party. His courage was so stark and out of this world that my college-mates affectionately dubbed him “Comrade A.P.C”.
Regardless of his partisan affiliations, he has always had that objectivity to view issues from a Sierra Leone first perspective. This principled position, even during moments of political controversies, has made his opinion one that is valued and much sought after amongst friends and political opponents.
Having professionally (as a Banker) dealt with a variety of his financial engagements with international institutions and donors he has provided services for, I can say without any hesitation, Dr Ibrahim Bangura is way above financial impropriety or misconduct.
The latter for many ordinary people is very important; it adds the element of trust to a patriotic character, someone who has been and will be in public service with a clean pair of financial and reputational hands. Sierra Leone, and indeed, the A.P.C need that moral foundation, upon which the pillars for a grass roots people’s movement shall be built.
Democracy Is In Dire straits Globally-
Let us be clear, democracy has never been threatened globally since that fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s than now. That period witnessed the ushering of Glasnost (Openness), Perestroika (Reform) and spread of multi – party democracy in sub–Saharan Africa. Now the priority of the global powers is to maintain “stability” and turn a blind eye to grievous assaults on democracy within the sub region. Their focus is simply preventing further exodus of refugees to the shores of Europe.
Therefore, take a look at the sub region, with the exception of Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal and Liberia, every other state is either a case of rigged election, constitutional violations and/or military coups. For the western powers, so long as the status quo is maintained and it does not spill over into conflicts, it’s “business as usual”. The A.P.C must pay close attention to that, only a Flag bearer who can inspire a strong, determine and genuine grass roots people’s movement, with support both within and outside the party can win political power in this country come 2028.
Another point, in the midst of the dangers that face democracy globally; Sierra Leoneans are despondent and distrustful of politicians. The events of the July 24th, 2023 have deepened that despair. Also, the experience with the so called “third alternatives”, i.e. the National Grand Coalition (N.G.C) turned out to be more lacking in trust and integrity to the people of Sierra Leone. There is a void in terms of hope that needs to be filled or energized, or the people shall lose faith in democracy for good.
Sierra Leone Needs a Fresh Start.
The focus should therefore be on an individual who has not being part of the problems, but part of the solution each time things run into difficulty.
We know the financial and governance misconduct of this current system far exceeds all other administrations since independence and its corruption trials have been merely used as a tool for political victimization. However, knowing how prejudiced the political system is, it would be politically suicidal for the A.P.C to have any Flag bearer with any outstanding or inconclusive legal issues. A Flag Bearer aspirant of the A.P.C with no financial and reputational liabilities is what Sierra Leone’s democracy needs at this moment.
Dr Ibrahim Bangura is a character who is patriotic and he comes with a clean pair of hands. He also understands the party because he is home-based and has stayed close to its triumphs and trials. He comes from a generation that has seen the worst of his party’s and his country’s instabilities, but he has been able to thrive and serve as a beacon of hope to so many – youths and elders alike.
As a dedicated party activist from his teenage years, consistency has been his brand. As a university lecturer, humility and service have been his abiding principles, and as global governance consultant, his trademark has been efficiency, professionalism and integrity.
To the struggling fish monger who looked into my eyes at Bafodia, Koinadugu District and asked if she could rely on Dr. Ibrahim Bangura to break her cycle of poverty, my reply is yes, he is a Leader and a Patriot Sierra Leoneans can trust to take this nation to another level.
