By Alusine Fullah

Dear youth, I hope you are waxing well in your different works of life. Whatever you are doing, I want you to pause a bit and read this piece. This piece is purposely for you and I repeat it is for you. Almost all the offices we have visited we incessantly smell the acrimony   politics. In my quiet moment, I do normally feel worried as a citizen of this country. I am worried not just because of the controversial outcome of June 24 (general elections), but giving the unending appalling political behaviour of the youths. In terms of politics, we have made serious gains over the past decades, and as a youth you should do to sustain those gains, you must work towards that. It is sad that majority of our youths have not realized that politics is not about violence or neither a do or die game.

Yes, there is nothing I repeat nothing you could do as youths if you don’t come together and work collectively for the general good MAMA SALONE. What preparation have you made to cross those political roads (may be APC and SLPP)? Have you made up your mind to be used as political preys to cause violence? Is that the preparation you have put in place? No!! I dam it!! I want to warmly instruct you not to do that at all. I always tell my friends that violence/ war has no boundary. It does not know tribe, region, political party, religion. For instance, when the war broke in Sierra Leone it affected all tribes, religions and political parties.

Listen, henceforth, I would love to see a serene but politically challenging and active youth; a youth that will tell the politicians to bring their children and other family members to their campaign trail; a youth that will ask politicians what programmes they have for their communities and the future of the nation, especially the future of their group – the youths; a youth that will refuse to accept drugs and alcoholic drinks, T-shirts and peanuts to campaign for people that will abandon them immediately after the results are announced or after their (politicians) services in those offices; a vigilant youth that will discourage politicians from buying their way to political offices; a youth that will ask critical questions about how and why the country has been miss-governed for 61 years by two political parties (APC &SLPP), and how it will be governed for the next five years; a youth that will be more concerned about the future of Sierra Leone, and less so about the religion and sex of the politicians, or the ethno linguistic group and region a politician hails from; a youth that will put the future of the country first, second, third, fourth and fifth and hence tell the politicians that the future of the country is at stake and it is their biggest concern; a youth that will not fight other youths for politicians or for political parties, but will engage themselves in civility and camaraderie as they challenge politicians for the future of Sierra Leone. I DON’T WANT TO SEE A YOUTH IN VIOLENCE.

You and I know that tribalism has deeply cut into the political patterns in the country, and as such, political figures try to form alliances with political big wigs from the ‘big five’ tribes. These tribes have a more significant influence on who is elected president due to their numerical benefits. So sometimes in my quiet moment, I ask myself are we conducting tribal census or elections. But anyway, let us leave this topic for another day.

Believe it or not, politics is essential in the life of human to the extent Aristotle noted that “Man is by nature a Political animal.” Imagine in a country like Sierra Leone where the youth contributes politically, economically and socially…imagine in a country like Sierra Leone where the   decisions   of   the   youth   impact   to   the growth   and sustainable development of a nation, the world would be a better place. Around the country there is a growing interest in youth and politics. Some political groups are changing to respond to the growing number of   young   people   who   want   to   affect   the   political system.   Political ideologies   appealing   to youth   that   were   once   considered   “fringe”   beliefs   are   becoming mainstreamed, and more young people are associating themselves with non-popular political parties. More   young   people   than   ever   before   are   actually   becoming   engaged   in   local community campaigns and   other   political   activities. Yes, Sierra Leonean Youths   you can change Sierra Leone through politics by becoming actively, meaningfully and substantially involved throughout political Parties and beyond.

As youth, let your political participation change our situation instead of the other way round.  Over the past 65 years of independence; Sierra Leone has gone through good times and bad times. Political violence could limit political participation of women, youth. I have noticed that even after holding three consecutive post-war elections, violence is still infused in Sierra Leone’s political process. Winner takes all politics could limit uptake of alternative policy proposals.

Youths, honestly, while you are busing fighting for politicians their children are in oversea countries acquiring QUALITY education. So of all this fight, what have you achieved? I see nothing but bloodshed and hatred. If you may, I wish you engaged yourself in better/ lucrative skills than violence. Let us try by all means to eschew violence. Sierra Leone is the ONLY land we have. Let no tribe/ other means influence/ prevent you in pursuing your goals. You are always busing causing problems against your compatriots in favour of those ROGUE politicians. Let nobody fools you, politicians are all the same. “Na one mama born them” Support your politicians by good policies not my tribalism/ connectocracy. Remember, you are the future leaders of this ‘great’ nation, MAMA SALONE!