By Hassan I. Conteh

A Sierra Leonean business tycoon, Alhaji Alpha Tanue Jalloh, has observed an apparent lost in the dignity of the nation on the eve of her general elections.

“The greatest surprise is the ‘hauling and pulling’ of the two major political parties; the pronouncements by politicians is causing more hate, more division in the country,” Mr. Jalloh said. “The political dispensation today is different.”

On noticing Sierra Leone’s tense political climate, he said, it is sad for the country as there is the absence of a national mediation body of which he described as “no centre part” which will enable confronting politicians to iron out their differences.

In totally, ‘’I mean, there is no fixer,’’ he added.

“Everybody has taken his position and stand firm on their position, he said. And there is this saying, he went on: “When two giants are fighting, the grassroots suffer.”

The sole proprietor, Mr. Jalloh, of Tanue International, a logistics company, expresses his deep feelings on the latest distasteful events unfolding in Sierra Leone.

He said politicians must respect the interests of the people and meet the “goodness of the masses’’ so that Sierra Leone will gain the love of the world with global respect.

How to restore our dignity as a nation?

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s report on the war in Sierra Leone had recommended in one of its headings in the document for “a restoration of dignity” by Sierra Leoneans, Mr. Jalloh said, the opposite is seen in Sierra Leone.

He asked several questions pointing to these eroding norms: “Do we have values and beliefs that guide our lives?” “What are these values based on what is going on in the country?”

Mr. Jalloh is famously known by many people in Freetown and beyond. He has a wealth of experience in the business industry. And he has successfully held key positions in the sector over the years.

The accomplished business man has once served as president of Sierra Leone’s Importers Association (SLIA).

As an ex-president who has been seeking the welfare of affected persons in the importing industry, he is also aware of the suffering on ordinary people in his country.

“How can we push the suffering far apart as the election draws closer?” he asked. “What are we to do as poor masses to bring these guys [ politicians] together to come into their right senses?”

Mr. Jalloh is currently the General Co-ordinator of Indigenous Business Association (IBA), an innovative approach to improve, expand and add value and trust in locally established businesses owned by Sierra Leoneans.

His role to elevating the business industry, from ground-up, in Sierra Leone has always been his prime dream.

IBA’s pioneer also doubles as Chairman of Amalgamated Trade Sector Network based in Sierra Leone.

But he looks outspoken on several other issues affecting the nation and its people.

On rating Sierra Leone’s democratic principles on human rights and the rule of law, he said, the nation’s positive strides made years back on these key pillars have been eroding of late.

As Sierra Leoneans prepare a month to elect their next president, the country has been elected to be a non-permanent member at UN Security Council, the highest peace-keeping body in the world.

Mr. Jalloh gave a positive reaction on Sierra Leone’s success on this but said such achievement comes with huge expectations.

“We are not a stranger to it, and we need to know our position while being there,” he explained. “It’s a greatest achievement, but what is left now is to explain our role there; to know if it’s good for us or bad for us as a nation.”

He added: “Do we hold the position in meeting the demands of the people?”

Opposition sponsored strikes

Sierra Leone is heading to June 24 polls to elect their next president, MPs, mayors and councilors amidst growing confrontations between the dominant parties, SLPP and APC, other opposition parties and the electoral commission. SLPP’s government has accused APC party to have caused the past strikes including the August 10.

While accusations continue, some opposition parties have sued electoral commissioner’s boss to the country’s law courts for disenfranchisement, disallowing them to campaign and nominate their candidates in most parts of the country.

The road in the race to win election is a bumpy ride.

Samura Kamara of APC is competing against the incumbent president Julius Maada Bio of the SLPP. Both candidates are considered as people’s favourites to win the coming presidential election.

But a coalition of opposition parties headed by APC has doubted the country’s electoral commission body to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

Last week, most Sierra Leoneans embarked on a two day sit-down strike on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 June, something government has blamed the main opposition to have agitated.

The strikes were marred with clashes resulting to some arrests in Makeni, APC’s stronghold and the capital Freetown also saw many protesters arrested and locked behind bars. Many protesters sustained serious injurious.

There are calls of violations of people’s rights across the country by government opponents.

A joint military police was patrolling the streets in the capital Freetown and other places in the country during protesting days.

The rifts don’t just end there. Samura Kamara, a days later, asked ECSL (Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone)’s boss, Mohamed Konneh and team to resign citing concerns on the team’s questionable integrity and competence to conduct the national elections.

“The All People’s Congress (APC) and its supporters will not accept any election results tainted by rigging or manipulation,” Kamara said in a recent party’s address at New Brookfields, hotel at New England Ville, Freetown.

In that press briefing, he gave a three day ultimatum for ECSL to produce the final voter register, otherwise, they should resign from their posts, he demanded.

But the ruling government reacted that the elections must go ahead as planned.

“Mohamed Konneh, Chief electoral commissioner and other commissioners will not resign,” said Dr. Prince Harding, SLPP’s Chairman.

The electoral boss also refused to bow down to opposition calls for resignation. The latest events across the country saw a toxic atmosphere. On Monday 19 June, APC’s office in Bo was gutted down with fire by supporters of SLPP.

While social media is hot with threatening messages of violence, the people now hold their breath as they await the voting day.

And the international observers have said their role is to observe the conduct of the elections but not to interfere with the process.

As it is left with just three days to June 24 polls, an air of panic and doubt on holding elections on Saturday this week still grip Sierra Leoneans.