Congrats, Youth Arise

By Ibrahim Sheriff, USA

It was appalling to me to have read on the Patriotic Vanguard online publication that SLPP now clandestinely identifies itself with the youth of Sierra Leone. What a sycophantic and shameless behavior adopted by a political party who had vowed not to address the problems of the youth population in that country. This behavior, which the SLPP clandestinely adopted, is not amazing to most of us who know the kind of people that run that party.

It is just another revelation to the people of Sierra Leone, especially the electorate that the present core of SLPP is bent on manipulating the people of that country and turning their wills around thereby plunging Sierra Leone into another decade of retrogression and an unprogressive leadership.

Why do we think that the bulk of the Sierra Leonean youth are so resentful of the aspirations of the SLPP? The answer is simple and well known by all: that the youth of Sierra Leone are manifesting the true meaning of what the British philosopher, John Locke once said about politics, “that politics is a form of a social contract between the governors and the governed; and that where the government fails to deliver the goods, it is the right of the people to withdraw their mandate and to institute a form of government which to them shall seem most appropriate to represent their wishes and aspirations”.

This saying goes to the shed light on the tremendous sacrifices the youth of that country offered to the SLPP in 1996 when the country as a whole was undergoing very tense civil conflict. It was a time when the big Vons of SLPP were in hiding whilst the youth came out in their numbers to encourage the masses to come out and vote.

The youth laid down their lives to ensure the election of the SLPP because they were very sure of the honesty that was embedded in the social contract signed between them and the SLPP. When Sierra Leoneans voted the SLPP into power, they did so believing that the SLPP had a better vision and sense of direction to lead the country to progress. That didn’t happen. Instead, the country continues to degenerate into retrogression.

When the youth leader of the SLPP in the United States in 2002 and 2003 had the opportunity to pose questions to Berewa about the SLPP plans to address the youth problems in Sierra Leone since 1996, this same Berewa who now cunningly tries to identify himself with the youth of that country was the same person who told that youth leader that he doesn’t believe in helping the youth because he wasn’t sure of where the youth will end up in politics.

He bluntly said that every Sierra Leonean has to prepare his/her own way to a political office; which is what he is doing now. He also referred to the National Youth Policy document (which is a useless script that has no direction as to addressing the problems of the youth of that country) as a plan to solve the youth problem of Sierra Leone.

Well, it is now evident that the SLPP had no sincere, honest and feasible agenda for the youth of that country who voted them into power. Hence, the youth in turn have the right to withdraw their mandate. So using the name “Youth Arise!!!” is a shameful criminal act perpetrated by the SLPP. I say Bravo to Youth Arise!!! For rising to swiftly address this other political manipulation. Keep the good work up Youth Arise!!!

Photo: The author