"However, the SLPP should know that the powerful can go down the drains if the people so desire. Therefore, the SLPP should allow the wish of the people which is tied to a "Positive CHANGE". The tussle between President Lansana Conte and his people in Guinea could be a perfect example for the SLPP to learn from. After protracted duels, the Guineans’ determination to dictate the choice of a Prime Minister won over Lansana Conte."
By Teddy Foday-Musa,Holland
Okonkwo, a great character presented by Chinua Achebe in his “Things Fall Apart”, was no doubt a respectable son of the soil within his community. He worked hard in order to prevent on himself a reflection of the lazy and unsuccessful tag of his heavily indebted father Unoka.
Okonkwo did all he could to bring pride and honour to himself and his society. Presenting Okonkwo in the opening paragraphs of his book, Achebe wrote:
“Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond.
His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen
he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the cat. Amalinze
was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino”.
This was Okonkwo, whom even after serving a seven year banishment as punishment for a crime he mistakenly committed, returned to Umuofia as a respectful man of the clan. He still spoke at meetings with authority, and his words never fell on the ground.
However, it will interest you to know that Okonkwo committed suicide. This act of suicide was regarded as a crime against the gods, which disqualifies the victim of earning his last respects or a fitting burial. His friend Obierika, who led the District Commissioner to where Okonkwo’s body was, took a long and silent look at his friends body dangling from a tree. Then he turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously:
“That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to
kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog.....”
At this juncture, one would want to ask the question, “Why should Okonkwo who personified his society and clan, choose such a cowardly act of killing himself? This is where I want to relate our present contemporary Sierra Leonean politics, to Okwonkwo’s tragic end.
Okonkwo had vehemently refused to conform and compromise with a certain CHANGE that came to his land. A CHANGE which even his son Nwoye and some title holders received with open hands. .......At the end of the day, he was so bitter and desperate to stop the CHANGE, that he killed a court messenger. This was what finally moved him to commit the abominable suicide.
Today, our Sierra Leonean politics has become a scenario between the SLPP and the people of Sierra Leone. Many are desperately yearning for a "Positive CHANGE", while the SLPP seems adamant to maintain CONTINUITY of its moribund system of governance.
Despite the efforts of the international Community, Sierra Leone faces an uncertain future, as it continues to retrogress under the current SLPP government. The most serious potential threats to the country’s stability emanate from domestic challenges, including the need to improve the general standard of living of the population, stimulate economic growth, lack of proactive anti-corruption strategies and high unemployment among the youths.
Kabbah is about to complete his two terms in office and his SLPP has failed to fulfill its promise of equity for the populace. As the country prepares for another general election on the 28th July 2007, this much failed SLPP is determined than ever, to maintain the status quo for another five years.
The people of Sierra Leone have manifested the need for a "Positive CHANGE", by moving their political allegiance from the SLPP, to the newly formed PMDC. That notwithstanding, the SLPP continues to coerce and entice the dispirited citizenry of its CONTINUTY bandwagon with the “Friends of Berewa” at the helm.
However, the SLPP should know that the powerful can go down the drains if the people so desire. Therefore, the SLPP should allow the wish of the people which is tied to a "Positive CHANGE". The tussle between President Lansana Conte and his people in Guinea could be a perfect example for the SLPP to learn from. After protracted duels, the Guineans’ determination to dictate the choice of a Prime Minister won over Lansana Conte.
The SLPP should also know that the best of a diplomatic friend could turn his back on you when it comes to a UN sanction. The SLPP should know that international donors can only donate to the people, and not to a government that goes against democratic principles and rigs elections to keep themselves in power against the wish of the people.
The SLPP should know that our country is just walking away from a 10 year civil war, and cannot afford another crisis. The SLPP should not forget that their democratic palm-kernels were cracked by the benevolent spirits of ordinary Sierra Leoneans. They stood against the AFRC/RUF alliance, while Kabbah and his team were in Guinea.Therefore, the SLPP should not forget to be humble to Sierra Leoneans by giving then their desired quest for a "Positve CHANGE".
If only and only if the SLPP could take all of these into consideration and conduct free and fair elections on the 28th July, this will be my prediction:
“That the SLPP will lose but honourably, and will take a humble departure from our political scene”.
But if they decide to ignore all of the above, I have no doubt that the SLPP will be another Okonkwo who will not be getting a fitting burial. So a word for the wise is quite sufficient.
Teddy Foday-Musa
E-mail: tfodaymusa@yahoo.ca
* Teddy Fodya-Musa (photo)is Secretary-General of PMDC-Holland.
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