We talked to a seasoned lecturer at a private college in Freetown on the question if there are still any hopes for this tiny West African nation, Sierra Leone, to develop again develop and here are his analyses which we best describe as “Dark Forces” being the problem behind this nation’s growth.

The dark forces are the inhibitors of the country’s growth and development since the time of late Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai to today having President Julius Maada Bio at the helm of affairs. The dark forces are the endemic corruption, bribe, greed which the lecturer summed up as he explains in this way, “It is an accepted reality in the minds of Sierra Leoneans and in other African countries that corruption is a way out for many peoples’ survival. People have come to see bribing as an easy way to get a deal done or an affair settled. Now, for example, I can push for my documents to be legalized at a public office despite being a foreigner but will bribe my way through to escape the normal official procedure or too much questioning. It is [bribing] that is seen as something that is secretly done to get fast money and it is widely accepted in every sector you either work at or go to do something.”

Those are the words of a man who had taught for several years in both secondary schools and in tertiary institutions (universities).

He has been expressing his understanding on the question whether or not there is every possibility left for Sierra Leone to be developed like other countries in the world. The lecturer rules out the possibility of Sierra Leone’s growth and development as practically impossible. He said no matter whatsoever leader Sierra Leone is sure to be having in the years to come, however, the dominant or existing “structures or cycles of corruption comprising corrupt political rogues” could never allow a leader or president who is appearing to be an ANGELIC ruler to develop this smaller  nation of roughly just above seven million people.

The lecturer who granted us ample time to talk on the few but very critical issues of Sierra Leone’s future development, leadership cycle, on the “BUBU” corruption -fight by the government ringing the fake bell that corruption would – end in Sierra Leone like a magic but a usual call of a soothsayer.

The learned scholar gave his kindest opinion that “the minimal term limit” of five-years presidency would never be enough to serve a more determined president with the heart to “clean up” Sierra Leone’s corruption BUBU fight- on- government’s mouth. He said the five year term of governance is never  enough to get Sierra Leone to Jupiter of guaranteeing the citizens good houses, providing pure drinking water, constructing good roads without Chinese cement being repaired on them, giving fine salaries to workers, ensuring cheaper market commodities, providing sound medical facilities, while quality education not the boku-song-quality on paper.

He said, “Many better off nations or developed countries in Africa unlike Sierra Leone don’t practice democracy. Because democracy ia not delivering for them good results due to its lapses.

“These developed countries in Africa have kings as their rulers, so a king knowing that he will rule for long in a country will be confident to govern as far as his lifetime permits. With no worries, a king will have more time to develop his country little by little.”

“These countries are the ones that are successful in the Arab world and in Europe, “he said.