FREETOWN, Feb. 21 (232news.com) – By Andrew Keili
The results of the Sierra Leone Desmond Tutu challenge are out. In summary, most respondents doubt whether Sierra Leone has a Desmond Tutu and some even go to the extent of saying such a person has not yet been born. Others have proffered names but have reservations of sorts about their nominees. A few
are however bold enough to tout their mostly female nominees with no reservations.
A Catholic priest who contributed has no faith- “There can never, ever be another Archbishop Desmond Tutu, anywhere in this whole wide world. For the
beautiful ones are born only once on this Earth.”
A senior Methodist Priest writes: “Hmmmmmmmmmm. Hard to find. You’ve stated the obvious reasons why we wouldn’t find them. I pray God raises us one.
Everyone is busy with prosperity which is the order of the day. Perhaps, I should also ask- ‘who is our John Wesley?’, if I won’t be criticised. It seems to me God has stopped creating people like the ‘Tutus ‘ and the ‘Wesleys’. Let’s pray and hope He sends us one.”
A pessimistic FW writes: “Our Desmond Tutu is far-fetched for the near future, but to be a little optimistic, a religious leader of a minority tribe might be the solution to some of our numerous problems where the leader is not subjected to a win-win obligation to party supporters and cohorts, where inclusion is not based on tribalism but astute people of integrity, values, professionalism and contentment.”
AKV regrets that our religious leaders are passive and is sceptical about there being a Desmond Tutu in Sierra Leone. He writes: “I have also been asking questions about an embodiment of a moral conscience in our country-someone or a group of people, preferably clergy, Moslem or Christian, who carry the collective consciousness of the country”. He continues: “I’ve not heard ‘finn’ from anyone within the religious community on the reprehensible level of corruption and moral degradation that have pervaded our country. If there was ever a Desmond Tutu in Sierra Leone, he has not been born yet, and he may never be born.”
There are other interesting nominations. A female ex-SLPP councillor from Bo nominates Dr. Sylvia Blyden, writing that she has not been afraid to air out her views about various ills in our country, irrespective of the government in power. She followed this up with a phone call to me- “Na Sylvia gbein, E nor day fraid. E put horn na Ernest in hade en e tell off Maada. D only tin normo a nor know why e nor lek some people lek Mayor. Me a lek da Mayor sef”. Well, I could probably put Sylvia in touch with her avid new admirer.
Only one man makes it in another contributor’s list. Her list of nominees includes Basita Michael, Yamin Jusu Sheriff, Nemata Majeks Walker, Marcela Samba Sesay, Valnora Edwyn, and Kutubu Koroma. She notes-“Only Kutubu has the b-lls to be amongst these women.”
Vicky Remoe gets a mention in the honour roll. Her nominee says- “She is controversial, seductive and troublesome but so smart. There is hardly any issue on which she does not air out her views intelligently.”
But it is Basita Michael who has received a fair share of accolades. One admirer says of her- “She cares about national issues and does not shy away
from standing up for what is right. She always ensures she has some legal and human rights basis for her comments on several ills of the government in
her commentaries which often go viral. Just consider her latest views on the state of the nation when she warns: “Whether it is true or not, for most people the continuous failure of the ACC to investigate countless allegations of corruption and abuse of power against members of the current regime in contrast to its enthusiasm to investigate and prosecute political opponents. Secondly it poses the real risk of revenge when regime change happens. We can’t afford to continue to be trapped in the cycle of revenge. We must avert the risks of that happening again to our beloved countrymen and women”. “Who else would say that?”, he asks.
Even yours truly has been nominated by a mentee of mine, MT who writes:
“You are a perfect example of Sierra Leone’s Desmond Tutu. You can work with everyone in the best interest of this country. I am convinced that you are that person. If you can write an article about his attributes then you are ready to serve a similar position as he did. Added to this is that your dad was a Bishop too and did well in that regards. I believe you have so much of your dad’s attributes.”
Well, MT, I am flattered but would be honest to admit I am not worthy to touch the hem of Tutu’s cassock. I can be a chicken sometimes! But thanks for the accolades, anyway. Another, MJ also wrote of me- “You are Sierra Leone’s Desmond Tutu sir”- U make me hade big, but a nor wan go CID!
Somebody nominated his fiancée- “My fiancée is called Tutu. I have advised her to adopt the English name Desmonda. The future Desmonda Tutu is my
nominee.”
A bitter sweet contribution came from KK: “For me, there is room for optimism, not necessarily with individuals but with organisations. I particularly cherish the work done by groups like ILRAJ (Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice, with Basita Michael as Founder and Governing Officer), Namati (in the area of community land rights) and Christian Lawyers Center/LEGAL LINK (for defending the rights of the vulnerable). I however condemn our Christian religious leaders who do not use their bully pulpits well. Can you imagine if a Pastor Mambu, Bishop Archibald Cole, Bishop Abu Koroma (forget about Ajesefi as Mufti Menk will come after him!), all with large national following and a good media presence were to choose to speak truth to power? But alas, they all keep quiet and concentrate just on the spiritual and raking in money, with the occasional entreaty about “praying for the nation”.”But I will devote more space in relaying the views of two people who wrote extensively on this issue.
The prolific poet and writer, Oumar Farouk Sesay, writes of his nominee:
“My Desmond Tutu is Marie Bob- Kandeh The teacher asked, “What would you like to be when you grow up?” The question engaged the minds of the yet to become grown-ups. Marie Conteh confidently stood up and said,” I want to be a lawyer To fight for the rights of the poor who don’t have access to lawyers.”
Marie never got to be a lawyer defending clients in a courtroom
She dropped out of school at form three and left without a groom
Without a groom and a classroom, Marie became a street vendor
Vending vegetables in the streets of the city with pride and splendour
She never became a lawyer to argue the merits of a case in front of a judge.
But her method of settling the dispute in the market made her a just judge.
She never became a lawyer to stop the poor from being sent to prison
But she teamed up with rights group to remove the poor from prison
She never became a lawyer to fight for women’s right to property
But she advocated for women to have the right to inherit property
She never became a lawyer prosecuting women for unpaid loans
But she fought against their imprisonment for delinquent loans
She never became a lawyer, shifting bonds to bail clients in court
But she fought for the right of women to bail people in court
She never became a lawyer, pushing certificate to adopt children
But she became an activist fighting for the rights of abused children
She never became a lawyer or served as a legal consultant
But she became a manufacturer and a business consultant
She never became a lawyer fixing papers for clients to adopt children
But she became a mother of five children and a mother to street children
She never became a solicitor to solicit the safeguarding of family values
But she became a wife striving every day to promote family values
She tried to succeed because she never had a silver spoon in her life
But she had integrity, purpose and determination to steer her life
She never became a lawyer with titles, fame, fortune and a degree
But she became more than a lawyer with relevance and pedigree
She wanted to be a lawyer, but she never attained her childhood dream
She went beyond her childhood dreams and became a nation’s dream.”
Wow, Farouk, this is so inspirational!
Paul Kamara does not behave like the infamous Kamanda, the prisoner who was asked to nominate 12 people for release but forgot to include his own name
and was returned to his cell. He nominated himself! I will share some of the usually combative Paul’s pondering with you.
He lists down a host of past national leaders and says of them- “All of them were a thousand miles away from being a Tutu; but instead were damned by most Saloneans for their bad governance and most died ignobly. They were wicked tyrants, corrupt state looters, tribalists, unpatriotic sell-outers; not freedom fighters and never stood for the people’s interest, humanity or for any just or noble cause whatsoever.”
He goes on to mention some possible people in the past who may have been worthy of this title:
“In Sierra Leone, we can perhaps draw inspiration from past heroes like the legendary Bai Bureh, Sengbe Pieh, Dr Sorie Forna, Ibrahim Bash-Taqi, Sam Bangura, ITA Wallace-Johnson, Richie Olu Gordon and Harry Yansaneh as freedom fighters who either stood or died for a just cause”
He nominates himself as that leader who would fulfil the prophesy of ITA Wallace Johnson that ” a radical leader would one day emerge who would change our political trajectory, transform our status back to the Athens of West Africa and make us an envy not only to Africa, but the rest of the world”.
Paul makes the case for being Sierra Leone’s Desmond Tutu and the flagbearer of the APC, running in a united COPP (Coalition of Progressive Parties) and
mentions me as one of his supporters- “And I doubt if Keili himself wouldn’t vouchsafe that indeed”- No comments- I am still pondering! Paul claims to be a leader of principle, integrity and pragmatism and says: “These qualities have made Paul Kamara to tower as the most consistent, fearless, incorruptible, uncompromising and most persecuted editor with impeccable track record also jailed by all regimes.”
In claiming to be a leader with extraordinary personal courage and bravery, he says of himself -“Paul is known as Salone Mandela persecuted by all regimes since the 80s, survived death threats and assassination attempts.”
He ends by stating: “Only one person will satiate the appetite of Andrew Keili’s poignant question: who is Salone’s Desmond Tutu? The APC has one already. I am!”.
Well, the analysis is done and the intention of engendering a debate to set us thinking has been met. It is however disappointing that many can hardly think of a group of people they can agree upon and many also think our Tutu has not even been born. But why is it so difficult to name a Sierra Leone Desmond Tutu. I ask myself- “What sort of country is this in which we find it difficult to identify men and women of honour and courage who could speak truth to power?
How have we sunk so low?”. I can only opine that years of acquiescence to the whims and caprices of leaders of the day have left us Sierra Leoneans a sorry lot. When will the men of courage stand up? We eat, sleep and drink compromise to keep us in temporary comfort and we fail to attack our national problems headlong. “Compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof”, according to James Russell Lowell. The rainy season is upon us and it is never too late to start building the roof to protect ourselves and future generations.
My clarion call to all is: “It is never too late. Arise, potential Desmond Tutus!” Ponder my thoughts.
