An election could be defined as a decision making process through which people freely and soberly choose others to hold public offices for a specified term. People vote with the expectation that the office holder will represent their community’s best interest. This should be done through Generational mentality. This type of mentality enables a politician with right standing desire, bring into reality, achievable developmental projects that generations yet unborn will benefit from. This kind of politician lives productive foot prints in the sands of time. For example, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, whose name and achievements are still celebrated not only in his country but the world at large.
“Politicians are warned! Election is not a declaration of war, but a unanimous expression of the will of the people on who should be their leader”.
Precious readers, you would agree with me, that the electoral history of our beloved country “Mama Salon” since 1967 is one of political instability incited and sponsored by greedy, self-fish and short-sighted politicians with no generational mentality. From observations it would seem that 2012 will be no exception if prompt action is not taken to remedy the situation. There is some amount of tension in the air between the Ruling All Peoples’ Congress Party whose aim is to retain power and the Opposition Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party whose aim is to return to power. These tensions started immediately after the opposition party elected their presidential aspirant in 2011 and also the bye-elections held at the Fourah Bay community on 24th January, 2012. Let me use this medium to say that I am utterly displeased with the continuing violent acts amongst political party supporters of the APC and SLPP. These acts particularly threaten the safety and security of the forthcoming elections, and the general security of our beloved “Mama Salone”. Such development (if not dealt with accordingly) will undermine the healthy democracy we desire in our beloved country. I particularly advise all registered political party supporters to carry out their activities according to the political party code of conduct and also not to allow themselves to be used by unpatriotic citizens who might want to indulge them into election violence. I urge all party members especially youths to embrace a non violent solution-based approach to resolve confrontation for peaceful co-existence in our country.
From my little experience so far, I have found out that in Sierra Leone, most politicians care only about their parties, families and themselves but not “Mama Salone”, forgetting the plain truth that “Mama Salone” is bigger and greater than all political parties. Elections which are supposed to be peaceful moments for citizens to freely exercise their franchise, a right that ought to be observed and enjoyed by all that have attain the voting age (18yr) and above, have been transformed by some selfish and greedy politicians into “guerilla warfare”.
“Youths are reminded that they have a fundamental and productive role to play in order to make “Mama Salone” the safest and enjoyable place to dwell”
Politicians are most times in the habit of using youths destructively rather than constructively towards nation building. “Oh fellow youths”, when will we all come to the realization and conclusion, that some politicians are only using us as tool to get what they wanted, after which delete and dump us into joblessness. If we allow selfish politicians to use us to cause elections related violence this time around – whether pre-election or post elections period we would definitely have “no future, no jobs and no place in society”. Show me a politician whose son or daughter has been involved in political conflict and confrontation and I will show you hosts of politicians whose sons / daughters are abroad. They will never involve them in these ugly practices. I pray that this time selfish and greedy politicians will put into full practice ‘attitudinal and behavioral change’, and tune to constructive engagement and development, which is the corner stone of good governance.
“Precious Readers together let’s plead with our Politicians to collectively create a mentality that will resist all forms of Elections related Violence”
Distinguished readers, I kindly crave your indulgence to help me resound this in the ears of all flag bearers and party officials of the various political parties to kindly say “No to Elections Violence”. They must commit themselves publicly to denounce all kinds of elections violence, because all they breed is under-development in society. Youths especially must not allow themselves to be used and misused as instruments to perpetrate elections violence. Free, fair, credible, nonviolent and participatory elections are the corner stone to sustainable democracy because they provide effective mechanisms for expressing the views of competing groups in a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.
“Elections are the central institutions of democratic representative governments. Why? Because, in a democracy, the authority of the government derives from the consent of the governed”
Distinguished readers, the electioneering process in any democratic setting include the enjoyment of rights that will elicit the full participation of an individual in determining the political life of his/her country. The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the protection and effective realization of human rights. These values are embedded in Article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),
“the will of the people shall be basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures”
Also, Article 25 (a) & (b) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides that;
Every citizen shall have the right and the opportunity, without any of the restrictions mentioned in article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:
(a) To take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives;
(b) To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors;
Chapter IV section 31 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone provides that:
“Every citizen of Sierra Leone being eighteen years of age and above and of sound mind shall have the right to vote, and accordingly shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referendum”
Freely chosen representatives have a duty to their electorates. But if out of negligence, mis-placed priorities and or selfish tendencies a councilor, member of Parliament, Paramount Chief, Mayor, President or any elected representative fails to deliver his/her promises, you don’t have to fight each other, stab or kill each other or shed blood in order to retain power or to return to power, absolutely No. All you have to do is use your one ballot to effect a positive change by voting on issues rather than on party lines or sentiments. No matter what people say, I think we must commend the former Vice President (Solomon E. Berewa) of the SLPP, for honorably accepting defeat (the outcome of the 2007 elections). Let it serve as an example to all presidential aspirants especially our incumbent president. Mr President, (Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma), may I speak to you, as President, flag bearer and leader of the APC, you have a challenge based on the precedence set by the former Vice President (Solomon E. Berewa) of the SLPP, and as one who led an African delegation to Ivory Coast to establish the will of the people in that country. I am sure the international community deliberately assigned this task to you and that Laurent Gbagbo is waiting and watching to see if you will respect and accept the free expression of the will of the electors come November 2012 elections.
As the biometric registration of potential voters is ongoing, I personally appeal to all Sierra Leoneans who have reached the voting age of 18yrs and above to kindly endeavor to go to the various centers to register. Remember, your one vote is precious and can make a change, a positive change that well-meaning Sierra Leoneans are trusting God for.
“Electoral Management Bodies must ensure that they have the fear of God, neutral, credible, professional and create the level playing field for all registered political parties”
The 2007 elections were the first to be organized, conducted and fully managed by two Elections Management Bodies (EMBs), the National Electoral Commission (NEC), in charge of conducting and implementing all phases of the electoral process and the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), in charge of supervising political parties’ activities. I also want to recognize and commend the efforts of other EMBs, like the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, National Commission for Democracy, and civil society organizations that monitored the entire electioneering process in 2007 and urge them to do more in the forthcoming November, 2012 elections.
Fellow Sierra Leoneans, I hope this time we would all redouble our efforts and fully participate in all phases of the electoral process and not allowing sentiments or selfish politicians or party affiliation to mortgage our integrity. Any political party that might want to use elections violence and fraud as an option to attain power or to retain power may Holy Ghost fire go ahead to neutralize, paralyze and destroy all of their evil plans. I prophesize that this elections (November, 2012) shall be the best ever in the history of Sierra Leone.
“Long live patriotic Sierra Leoneans,
Long live the blessed land that we love “Mama Salone”.
Bankole Clifford Ekundayo Morgan has been a promoter and protector of Human Rights for a long time now.
By Bankole Clifford Ekundayo Morgan, Regional Human Rights Officer-Western Area, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL)
ADVERTISEMENT