Kono Intimidated, Kenema Abandoned

By John Conteh

Sierra Leone stands today as a nation betrayed. A nation where those entrusted with power use it not to unite or serve the people but to intimidate and divide. The latest disgraceful chapter comes from First Lady Fatima Bio who, instead of showing appreciation to the people of Kono for their past support, brought in security forces to intimidate them ahead of the SLPP lower-level elections. What should have been a democratic process to choose party representatives has now been turned into an atmosphere of fear and oppression. The people of Kono who once stood firmly for this government are now treated as enemies simply because they dare to seek fairness and dignity.

And while this injustice was unfolding, where was President Julius Maada Bio? He was supposed to be in Kenema to meet with his people, to listen, to engage and to provide leadership at this critical time. But he was nowhere to be seen. His absence was loud and clear. The President who should stand as a symbol of unity and peace instead chose silence and retreat. While his wife unleashed intimidation tactics in Kono, he abandoned his duty in Kenema. This confirms once again that this administration has no genuine interest in democracy or good governance.

This government has perfected the art of deception. For every 250 statements or promises they make, 99.9999 percent are lies. They tell us the economy is recovering while families go hungry.

They speak of youth empowerment while our young people are lost to joblessness and the scourge of kush. They claim to fight corruption even as they enrich themselves and their cronies. And now they preach about internal party democracy while using fear and force to control the SLPP’s lower-level elections.

Sierra Leoneans must stop wasting time listening to these lies. Every speech, every press release and every policy announcement is designed to confuse and pacify. These are not words of hope or progress. They are weapons of manipulation aimed at keeping us chained to false promises. We must reject their words and focus instead on what truly matters. We must rebuild our communities, invest in our future and support genuine leaders who work for all without fanfare or deceit.

The intimidation in Kono is not just a local issue. It is a national disgrace. It is an attack on democracy itself. The President’s absence in Kenema shows that he has no plan, no vision and no courage to lead. Let us stop giving them the platform to insult our intelligence. Let them keep talking to themselves while we focus on the real work of rebuilding Sierra Leone.

Only when we stop listening to their deceit and start acting for ourselves will we begin the true journey towards justice, peace and progress.