MY COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE

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[align=center]MY COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE[/align]

[align=center]SIERRA LEONE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE[/align]
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PDL

PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT DATE: 27 April, 2007.
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ALIMAMY BAKARR SANKOH

"MY COVENANT TO THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEOENE"!

1. SALUTATIONS:

Peace!

Brothers and Sisters,

2. PERSONAL INTRODUCTION:

My name is ALIMAMY BAKARR SANKOH.

Date of Birth: January 2nd. 1961,

Place of Birth: Lunsar Town, Marampa Chiefdom-Port
Loko District, in the Northern Province of Sierra
Leone.

I am a Bachelor of Arts Degree holder in Law, and I am
married with three children-two girls and a boy.

3. APPRECIATION:

Today is April 27, 2007 and the forty-six anniversary
of what supposedly independence of Sierra Leone. On
this day, I would like to present to the people of
Sierra Leone my Political Covenant and to reiterate my
resolve to contest the presidency of the Republic of
Sierra Leone, under peaceful, transparent and
democratic atmosphere and conditions, as follows:

I start by saluting all Sierra Leoneans for their
steadfastness against dictatorship in our country, and
against those who carry the virus; against oppression
and those who loot the nation's coffers for
self-aggrandisements. From Falaba, Fadugu to Kabala in
the Koinadugu district; from Makeni, Batkanu,
Kamakwie, Binkoloh to Sanda in the Bombali district;
from Kambia, Kukuna, Mambolo to Kychom Samu in the
Kambia district; from Port Loko, Lunsar, Lungi to
Masiaka in the Port Loko district; from Magbauraka,
Bumbuna, Yele to Mile 91 in the Tonkolili district;
from Bo, Jimmy Bagbo, Kpetewoma to Gbangbatoke in the
Bo district; from Pujehun, Ghahama, Massam Kpaka to
Potoru in the Pujehun district; from Moyamba, Senehun
Kamajei, Koyema to Taiama in the Moyamba district;
from Bonthe, Matru, Karleh to Luawa Jong in the Bonthe
district; from Sefadu, Yengema, Koidu to Yamandu in
the Kono District; from Kailahun, Segbewema, Semibu to
Kangama in the Kailahun district; from, Kenema,
Panguma, Gorahum to Tongo Fields in the Kenema
district; from Water Loo, Benguma, Wellington,
Hastings, Calaba Town, Kissy, Fourah Bay, Fullah Town,
Central, Tengbeh Town, Congo Town, Brookfield, Murray
Town, Wilberforce, Lumley to the Peninsula; whether
you speak Mende, Temne, Limba, Loko, Koranko, Kono,
Kissy, Sherbro, Fulkah, Susu, Madingo or Creole, I
salute all of you, my good and respectable people.

I want to salute our youth particularly. I must be
honest to my self to confess that, their resolved to
do away with old practices of political manipulations,
intimidation and prejudices provide assurance that
they are ready for change, and to build a future for
generations of country men and women. I share that
view for change of backward mentality and attitude
towards one another, and never again to allow rogue
politicians to divide the nation into tribal lines;
never again to allow criminals who have misused public
office to accumulate ill-gotten wealth and turn round
with the same stolen monies to use us as thugs to
insult elders and to manipulate elections. I agree
that Sierra Leone must change to survive, and I am
impressed that our youth are in the forefront of the
struggle to bring about that urgently needed change.

My brothers and sisters,

I value and appreciate the sacrifices you have all
made to secure respect for our country's Constitution.
I am convinced that you have undergone such great
sacrifices and made such great efforts because of your
concern for the future of our beloved country. I
equally shared your conviction that only a complete
change of the corrupt, ethnic centred and decadent
system or status quo that can save our country from
descending into total economic collapse and social
disintegration. In deed, your conviction and interest
in the affairs of our native land and, more
particularly, your love for freedom is a source of
strength and encouragement.

As we marked the 46th anniversary of the shackles of
the colonial flag in our country, I join you in
thanking Almighty God for guiding the nation through
these decades. Without His Blessings and Grace we
would never have been able to overcome the many
difficulties, agonies, traumas, trials and
tribulations, temptations and provocations that we
faced throughout the period. Indeed, it was a period
during which our country remained in serious crisis
and our very survival was threatened. I thank God that
we have persevered and we must invoke his presence in
all of our gatherings in political, social or
cultural, to guide us to make the correct decisions
that would redound to the benefit of all the people of
our dear land.[/align]
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4. THE PURPOSE OF POLITICAL COVENANT:
Political Covenant is about sincerity, honesty and
determination to reconstruct our fractured and
ethnically divided society. It is all about making
public oath. It is all about explaining oneself
intents to discharge the electoral mandate given by
the people as a national trust to steer the affairs of
the country in accordance with the wish and
aspirations of the nation. [/align]
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Political Covenant is about examining the successes
and failures of political leaders. Of even greater
importance, is all about analysing our current
circumstances and planning for the future.
As we approach electioneering periods again, I enjoin
all those aspiring to lead our great nation to make
with frankness, seriousness and objectivity, their
political covenant known to the Sierra Leonean people.
This is necessary to enable the people understand
well the people who want to lead them; their
capability, patriotism and vision for the country. I
want to call upon my colleagues, representing the
different political organs to come-out with concrete
proposals that will ensure that our suffering country
and its many peoples are rescued from the present
journey to destruction. [/align]
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5. TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN NATIONAL HEROES:
April is a significant month in the annals of the
history of our country. Sierra Leoneans do not need
any writer or political commentator to remind them
that it was on April 27th 1961 the colonial flag was
replaced with Sierra Leone's horizontal flag colours
of green, white and blue.[/align]
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April is also a significant month for national
awakening and awareness. Twenty-one years ago, on
April 7th 1986, I announced my mission that after the
lost of our national heroes like Sir Milton Augustus
Strieby Margai, Lamina Sankoh and Wallace Johnson,
there must be someone to continue the task of
postcolonial nation building from where they stopped.
I had the vision that through constitutional
arrangements, legitimate and democratic process, I can
wrest power from the hands of the country's heartless
politicians, who have betrayed the conscience of the
nation, and sold our dignity for a life of opulence
and immorality. That vision remains today very firm
and stronger than ever before.[/align]
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The changed of leadership in 1964, unfortunately
marked the beginning of the era of political,
economic, social, environmental and cultural crises in
Sierra Leone. I had the vision that I could occupy the
space, the demise of our national heroes have created
in the country's body polity, and move Sierra Leone
forward to the height of greatness and prosperity.
I sincerely salute our fallen heroes and pledge that
their sacrifices in other that Sierra Leone may live
forever would not have been in vain. I am confident
that concerned Sierra Leoneans are with me when I say:
"We will not let them down. Their spirits provide me
with vision and inspiration for the difficult tasks
ahead". [/align]
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6. THE NATION:
Since 1964, Sierra Leone remains in crisis. The
economic crisis is characterized by mismanagement and
the absence of significant investments; the continuous
closure of businesses; the flight of human and
financial capital; the loss of entrepreneurs and the
souring cost of living. [/align]
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Indeed, every Sierra Leonean has felt the pains and
sorrows associated with nepotism, cronyism and rude
tribalism, which are more popular today at all levels
of government than our National Motto of unity,
freedom and justice. Every Sierra Leonean has felt the
blight of inordinate ambition; the dissipation of the
nation's resources; the depletion of cherished
national institutions like Parliament, Civil Service,
the Judiciary and the security and defence forces.
Every Sierra Leonean has felt the impact of depleted
electricity and water supply, and even more
devastating the assault on our senior citizens and
pensioners. The unprecedented levels of unemployment;
the rising levels of poverty; the collapse of the
social and economic conditions in all communities in
the country; the unparallel levels of corruption and
graft, and the lack of accountability; the degradation
of the environment, and insecurity of Sierra Leonean
life and property. [/align]
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I am happy to note that Sierra Leoneans have reached
the conclusion that the state bequeathed us at
independence and which Sir Milton Margai, Lamina
Sankoh, Wallace Johnson and others fought so hard to
achieve, imperfect as it might have been has
practically collapsed. Just think of the scams-the
presidential briefcase scam; the diamond scam; the
gold scam; the rice scam; the passport scam; the
voucher gate scam; the squandergate scam; the election
fraud scam; the arms and ammunition scam; the petrol
scam; the Bumbuna hydro scam; the fishing scam; the
Aberdeen bridge scam; the law books scam.[/align]
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We have in the catalogue also, the 1977 Bo Massacre;
1982 Sanda Massacre; 1983 Pujehun mayhem; the 1979
murder of Bank Governor Samuel Lansana Bangura; the
assassination of Dr. Claude Nelson Williams in 1989;
the execution of Dr. Mohamed Sorie Fornah and the
fourteen others in 1974; the execution of GMT Kai Kai
and others in 1989; the brutal execution of Yayah Kanu
and others in 1992; the execution of Bambay Kamara and
others in 1992; the execution of Corporal Gborie and
the 23 others in 1998; the Foday Sankoh led senseless
war; the arming of one tribe against the other.
Most frustrating has been the unending and flagrant
abuse of our Constitution; the unending political
prostitution amongst SLPP and APC stalwarts. These are
all national and international embarrassments together
with the cocaine-in-diplomatic sac and other such
criminal enterprises. [/align]
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I could go on to continue listing these unsavoury
developments. But, would publicity of these issues
change anything? Regrettably, embarrassment,
humiliation, public ridicule and shame are not words
in the vocabulary of the ruling elite in Sierra Leone.

7. FORGE ALLIANCE AND STRENGTHEN LOVE TO ALL PEOPLE:

The question as to WHO will bail Sierra Leone from its
current predicaments should no longer ponder concerned
citizens, right-thinking people, men and women of
intelligence. I challenge every citizen of Sierra
Leone, wherever you are, to rise above those things
that ruined peoples and hindered progress. I challenge
every Sierra Leonean to abandon tribalism, backward
mentality, petty jealousy and misguided beliefs, and
work towards the path of reconciliation, rebuilding,
patriotism, love and national belonging.

Every concerned citizen of Sierra Leone knows well the
roots of the present predicaments our beloved country
is facing under the bogus system. I want to assure and
reassure my fellow countrymen and women that, I have
the ingredients to reverse the situation, and put the
country again to its lost respect, dignity and
integrity. In the first place, I owe no malice, hatred
or grudge to none. What I owe Sierra Leone and the
Sierra Leonean people is respect, love and patriotism.

I want to work with every Sierra Leonean, regardless
of tribe or persuasion, old and young, poor and rich,
employed and unemployed, men and women, those in the
docks, in the farms, former refugees and displaced,
former rebels, militiamen and exiles, so that together
we can all change our country for the good of all. I
strongly hold the view that, it is only when we as a
nation love each other, see ourselves as a people
created to live together in peace, harmony and
prosperity; and believe in the principles of
patriotism and national belonging that together we all
can stop the power-maniacs who have gone more
sophisticated to loot and pauperise the nation, and
who have made governance in Sierra Leone a public
mockery and ridicule.[/align]
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I am willing to build and strengthen alliance with
others. I am as always ready to reach out to those
who shared common idea, belief and values and are, or
are willing to struggle for a more disciplined,
orderly, productive and prosperous Sierra Leone.
A New Sierra Leone in which we all as citizens,
irrespective of ethnic and political persuasion can be
freed from the threat of unchecked crime, can utilize
public services without paying bribes, can tender for
contracts knowing that awards will be made solely on
merit, and can send their children to write
examinations knowing they are not competing with those
whose parents have already bought their results before
entering the examination room. [/align]
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The most regrettable casualties of these conditions
are our youth who have become so disillusioned that
nearly three-quarters of all of them have not only
lost all hope for a future here and fervently wish for
a future elsewhere. [/align]
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In my twenty-years of political experience; of
international understanding; of learning and
observation; of consultation and research, I have come
to know one honest fact about the plight of the people
of Sierra Leone. I know that political obsession and
obstinacy, dissonance, tenacity, greed, graft and
misguided beliefs are Sierra Leone's greatest enemies
that continue to tear the nation apart. I know also
the deceitful, divisive and vicious tools used by
politicians to pauperise the nation.

If Sierra Leone is to survive we must all find ways of
acting now. There is no time left. We must seize
what may well be our last opportunity to save our
beloved country. The alternative is to spend our
remaining days in gloom and despair and sadly reflect
that we have bequeathed no worthwhile legacy to future
generations.[/align]
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8. THE TRUH OF OUR PREDICAMENTS:[/align]
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There is one truth no one can deny, and that is the
pains our people suffered under the APC 24 years of
misrule, and which are worst today under the moribund
SLPP. A review of Sierra Leone's recent history will
also reveal that the disease is not a result of recent
infection, but it has afflicted the patient for such a
long time that the disease has become chronic.
Ten years of the Tejan Kabbah SLPP, and under the
slogan democratically elected government, all Sierra
Leoneans and the world recognize that we have indeed
changed from APC misrule to the SLPP good guys but,
unfortunately, not for the better. The placing of our
nation on top of United Nations Human Development
Index (UNHDI) as the poorest and educationally
backward nation on earth is ample proof.
Unlike countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia
and Singapore that have modernised into booming
economies and modern states, we in Sierra Leone chose
the path of retrogression and our survival depends on
foreign leftovers. [/align]
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While I feel grateful for all the help that our
country has continued to benefit from donor friends, I
feel also obliged to urge Sierra Leoneans to start a
process of determining whether our beloved country
must all the time be dependent on foreign leftovers to
survive, or we will use our ingenuity and our vast
resources to build a modern economy according to a
model that is relevant to our own circumstances.
Forty-six years of political independence, we are
still unable to get our act together. Sierra Leone
remains pauperised politically, economically and
mentally. We continue to destroy ourselves along
political misdirection and ethnic divisions, while
most Sierra Leoneans, particularly the masses, who
lived outside the Capital city, are alienated from the
mainstream of economic and social activity.
The prevailing situation speaks for itself. Travel
across the country, from the Freetown Harbour to the
Kono borders with Guinea and Liberia; from the Sherbro
or Bonthe Island to the Loma mountains, you will
observe the pollution and degradation of the
environment by ill-thought-out mining activities,
while our youth wallow in unemployment in these
depleted communities. We are also bound to observe the
abject poverty that abounds in every corner of the
country. [/align]
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As we experience the periodic/cyclical conflict,
particularly during the election season, no one,
irrespective of political persuasion or ethnicity, can
escape the conclusion that, as a nation, we have a
fundamental problem which if not addressed could lead
to havocs committed on the land.[/align]
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9. THE SEARCH FOR APPROPRIATE ANTIDOTE:[/align]
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There is one thing significant out of this covenant,
and that is its timing. It comes out at a time when
the nation is in deep crisis and when Sierra Leone
moves closer, day-by-day, to the brink. While my
friends and brothers in different political groupings
are busy fighting internal party conflicts, spreading
confusion and lies among the people, I see it
necessary to explain my intention to the people and
guarantee them respect for their mandate if voted to
Power, instead of running from pole to pole with empty
and unfulfilled promises.[/align]
[align=left]
We are now left with no other solution but to choice
between two remaining options before every Sierra
Leonean. First: to stay aloof, and turn spectators and
watch the steady deterioration of the country, like a
patient awaiting the inevitable demise.[/align]
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The other option is to accept the responsibility to
keep the patient alive; to determine the surgery that
may be required; to enlist all the professional
support that would be needed and have all committed to
post surgery care; to see the patient recover, gain
strength and once again able to provide for the family
and take a rightful place, respected among the nations
of the region and the world. Those are choices between
good and evil, and those who choose the first are
those that worship the system. Those yester
politicians and their sycophants have no place in a
modern political environment. I advise the Berewas and
the likes to start packing their bundles for retreat
to their villages where If I am elected President, my
Administration would commit itself to rehabilitate
these elder statesmen so that they can take care of
their grand and great grand children. For those who
have chosen freedom and happiness of the nation there
is no other option than the latter. [/align]
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10. PUTTING A PLATFORM IN PLACE:[/align]
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A platform is a plan for political action that defines
the principles and outlines the programs that guide
the leaders and people at a particular time. There is,
however, a deeper meaning to the word platform, which
applies to the situation in Sierra Leone and the
principles that I stand for. I would like to
illustrate in clear term. Take for instance in the
world of computer technology, a platform is the
underlying hardware or software of a computer system.
A Platform, in this context therefore, defines the
standards around which a system must develop. When a
computer manufacturer sells it product to us with a
platform, we must conform to that platform to get the
use of our machine. [/align]
[align=left]
In my own definition of platform, it is not a
catalogue of empty promise, political jargons or
showmanship, but a solemn commitment to set standards
and goals to which political leaders commit themselves
as representatives of the people and upon which these
leaders show readiness, willingness and anxious to
work for the general good of their country.

11. PEACE AND RECONCILIATION: [/align]
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I know like any other concerned Sierra Leonean does,
that Sierra Leone cannot advance without peace and
reconciliation. A peace that is based on justice and
respect for the inalienable rights and democratic
freedoms of all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of ethnic
origin, and whatever their social backgrounds and
religious beliefs. These rights and freedoms must be
respected, protected and enforced since they
constitute the foundations for a stable and
progressive society. [/align]
[align=left]
The late Martin Luther King once said, and I quote:
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension, but
the presence of justice." It is no longer good enough
to pay lip service to peace and, at the same time,
practice and encourage injustice. If as a people we
are serious about the preservation of lasting peace we
must have the courage to address all issues of
injustice. Peace must be viewed in the context of
every field of human endeavour. Justice must be
applied in the manner in which every Sierra Leonean
citizen will feel sense of national belonging; in the
manner in which contracts are awarded; in the manner
in which people are employed in the public and private
sectors; in the manner in which social services are
provided; in the distribution of welfare for the
needy; in the provision of free education for
disadvantaged children; in the criteria for allocating
public resources; in the manner in which
infrastructural facilities are provided; and, in the
manner in which communities are identified for
development activities. [/align]
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Why must the Provinces remained for decades without
good roads, potable water, electricity, and other
social services, wait until an election is around the
corner before promises are made to provide these basic
facilities? [/align]
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Why do the Civil servants who have families to feed,
have to wait for months to obtain partly salary?
Why is the judicial system unable to dispense justice
to citizens who still languished in prison cells
across the country?[/align]
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What is the reason for the growing fear among our
citizens that their Government is engaged in political
gangsterism of the highest magnitude? [/align]
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In order to answer these questions and achieve lasting
peace, we must guarantee the security of our citizens.
It is the right of every Sierra Leonean to conduct
his or her life in peace without the threat of bandits
and armed robbers threatening their peace and
survival. [/align]
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For a start, all citizens must do everything possible
to stop the menace of tribal militia and vigilante
groups mushrooming in the country. The alarming
hatreds, malice, grudges and tensions amongst the
various tribes of the country are destroying the very
fabric of our individual and collective humanity.
These must end. All Sierra Leoneans, whether Mendes,
Temnes, Limbas, Lokos, Konos, Gissis, Yalunkas,
Sherbros, Fullahs, Madingoes, Vais, Bulloms, Susus or
Creoles must renew their beliefs that, for a safe and
secure future, we must all again become our brothers'
keepers. [/align]
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As a nation, we must find new ways to discuss how we
can strengthen our efforts and sit together and
discuss ways and means to remove every instance of
injustice in our villages and communities. Let us bury
our minor differences and abandon parochial interests;
let us sit down and discuss the concerns of all. This
is the only way to lay the foundation for a New Sierra
Leone we can all be proud. [/align]
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It is only by respecting each other, speaking with
each other and acting together that we can succeed in
our efforts to remove all instances of social,
political and economic injustice. I am committed to
these processes and I challenge every Sierra Leonean
to wake up from the slumber and do a great service to
our country and nation. [/align]
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12. UNITY OF PURPOSE:[/align]
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One of the greatest obstacles to rebuilding Sierra
Leone's political body, economic, social and cultural
institutions are the lack of unity of purpose; the
lack of spirit of national belonging, of will, of
purpose, and of effort. The net effect over the
decades has been that our human resources are
under-utilized and working at cross-purposes. No
country today can hope to prosper under these
circumstances. [/align]
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It is only by tapping to the fullest, the physical,
intellectual and creative skills of all our citizens
in a shared vision that we can hope to realize our
vast potential. There is simply no other route to
development. We must discuss why national unity has
eluded us. One reason is that our political system and
culture have conditioned too many to exploit the minor
differences that exist among us for partisan political
gain. However, it is questionable whether there have
been any real gains, either to individual political
parties or to the Nation. [/align]
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13. OPEN A NEW CHAPTER:[/align]
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I have given this illustration to suggest that if
Sierra Leone is to move forward there must be
attitudinal shift from old and negative practices. In
this modern day reality, we cannot continue in this
vicious cycle. [/align]
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For unity to be achieved, we have to close the Chapter
of the Past. The young people of our country are
concerned about the future and it is that which
responsible and responsive leaders must now address.
I, therefore, propose that we close the chapter on the
past. Give recognition where it is due. No single
person in history has only good deeds. Let us honour
our past Leaders: Sir. Milton Margai, Albert Margai,
Juxon Smith, Siaka Probyn Stevens, Joseph Saidu Momoh
and others. Concentrating on their faults could only
open old wounds. What we need is genuine
reconciliation. I can understand for many of us still
feel deeply aggrieved. I beg for the sake of our Youth
and the future of Sierra Leone, let by-gone-be-by-gone
and let us close the pages of the past and work
resolutely for a prosperous and dignified future to
bequeath a rich legacy to our future generations. [/align]
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14. NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION:[/align]
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My covenant also calls for emphasis on reconstruction.
We need to reconstruct our shattered infrastructure,
our shattered security forces, our shattered public
services and our shattered confidence in our capacity
to compete for the provision of the new global
services and our shattered confidence in our capacity
to compete in the global village and economic
environment. [/align]
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Sierra Leone needs to diversify its economy, to
develop new sectors, to form strategic alliances with
investors, with resources and modern technologies. We
should make use of our bountiful natural resources and
the energy and ingenuity of our people. [/align]
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We should participate in the global economic landscape
negotiating strategic investment and technological
partnerships. Sierra Leone's economy must be
reorganized to emphasize a mode of development and an
investment programme that gives us a chance to compete
and hence survive in the modern world. [/align]
[align=left]
This involves a deliberate and conscious change of
direction from the current emphasis on production of
primary commodities for export, to encouraging dynamic
private sector investment by local and external
entrepreneurs and investment in new and
technologically advanced sectors. [/align]
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Most importantly, we must develop a sense of mental
freedom to ensure our country's participation in the
new age.[/align]
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15. NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED: [/align]
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My desire to become the next President of Sierra Leone
does not permit me to adopt an arrogant position that
I possess all the answers and the magic wand to bring
Sierra Leone back to life. I am open and willing to
meet with all stakeholders around the table and
fashion a mutually agreeable national program that
addresses the concerns of all. It is only natural that
as an aspirant for the highest office of the land, I
must come up with alternative program of development
and modernisation of Sierra Leone. This I have stated
in this covenant and other documents that I have
published recently. [/align]
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The fact remains that my program for Sierra Leone is
not static, subject to changes when expedient. There
are others with equally good ideas, which I am willing
to listen and discuss for unified program of national
rebirth. I challenge other presidential aspirants in
Sierra Leone, of like mind to work for that common
understanding. The future of Sierra Leone is too
important and the political crisis is too dire for
petty politics. I do not want to be misinterpreted
here as wanting to impose on others. What I am
suggesting is that, political leaders should learn to
offer to negotiate such an undertaking immediately,
and that should be before the forthcoming general
elections, and we should ensure that no one, no group,
no Party with something to contribute to the platform
is excluded in the process.

16. READY FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SIERRA
LEONE:

Brothers and sisters,

My decision to contest the presidency is borne out of
the belief that, someone needs to continue from where
our great national heroes stopped in 1964. For me to
put my program into practical reality I seek your
constitutional and legitimate votes in the
forth-coming election, to make the difference. My
mission is to contest and win the coming election
genuinely, and go straight to form a government of
inclusion, which is capable of bailing Sierra Leone
out of the harrowing stigma of brutal poverty and
retrogression. I have a vision to bring innovations
into the body polity of the country, and structure an
effective administration that is people-oriented,
people-propelled and people-focused, and which will
commit itself to the following:

1. Decentralization and de-concentration of power from
the capital city to the rural areas; ensure the
participation and empowerment of every segment of the
Sierra Leonean society; and ending the power borne out
of the feeling of marginalisation, neglect and
disenfranchisement of the masses.

2. Developing a homegrown national economic policy to
revamp the economy; eradicate poverty and addressing
other critical problems militating against the peace,
development and prosperity of Sierra Leone.

3. Provision of suitable, adequate and affordable
shelter; quality and affordable health delivery
service; good roads and communication network system;
adequate facilities for free and safe movement of
people, goods and services across Sierra Leone; and a
conducive atmosphere to enable every Sierra Leonean
moves and lives in any part of the country without
fear or molestation of any kind.

4. Pursuing a pragmatic national food policy and
distribution; and ensuring food security for domestic
self-sufficiency and for export to neighboring
countries.

5. Provision of adequate and uninterrupted water and
electricity supply and revamping the education system
to reverse the menace of illiteracy syndrome in Sierra
Leone.

6. Fighting and win the crusade against corruption in
all its ramifications; and ending destitution in the
depleted and malnourished villages across the country.

7. Upholding the principle of sovereignty of the
people; and instill the principle of national
belonging amongst the Sierra Leonean people.

8. Revamping the Sierra Leone Railway and other
dilapidated public facilities; and ensure a safe and
clean environment.

9. Provision of lasting remedy to the epileptic
problems of unemployment, pensions menace, uplifting
the status of our women; caring for the orphans, the
aged, widows, the displaced and disabled.

10. Repairing Sierra Leone's foreign policy with a
view to restore respect for the country and its
citizenry; raise the morale of the Sierra Leone Army
and Police to ensure public order, safety and security
of Sierra Leonean life and property.

To practicalise this noble mission, it would not go to
be business as usual. It would not go to be Alimamy
Bakarr Sankoh or any political organ or ethnic group.
It will be the people-the Sierra Leonean people who by
the special Grace of God Almighty shall be the
architects and builders of the future direction of
their country. It will purely be Government of Sierra
Leoneans, by Sierra Leoneans and for the happiness of
present and future generations of Sierra Leoneans.

I am not that politician who sows deceit and discord.
I am not the brand of presidential aspirant who
represents the interests of the country's oppressor
class, and who make promises to relieve self from
pressure.

I do not subscribe to the mentality of yester
politicians who thrive on confusion and dividing the
people to achieve self-aggrandisements. I do not make
promise, because political promises are meant not be
fulfilled. Such promises like 'I will bridge Freetown
linking Lungi; I will transform the capital to become
the New York of Africa; I will give you free
education, free medical and before my tenure ends, no
Sierra Leonean will go to bed hungry; I will give you
water and electricity' are unending rhetoric made
during election campaign periods. Some even go beyond
to promise voters a bag of rice for each vote. They
make these unrealistic and never fulfilled promises as
if it is not the right of Sierra Leoneans to have them
and other facilities to make life worth living. This
is another area our yester politicians have
failed-telling the people what they would not do, and
do what they will not tell the people.

After forty-six years of domestic rule, with all their
failures here and there, still these same and outdated
politicians continue to tell lies, which no
caterpillar can turn up side down. I enjoined Sierra
Leoneans everywhere to ask these politicians where
they would get the monies to fulfill their much
election campaign promises.

During my recent tour of the length and breath of the
country, I realised that Sierra Leoneans are fed-up
with the antics of those yester politicians who have
ruined their country since independence. What every
Sierra Leonean I met was echoing is a complete change
of the system, and enthronement of new structures of
government to move the country forward.

How do we reached to the present conditions of
poverty, indignities, isolation, want and insecurity
of life and property for a country endowed with the
world's greatest economic resources, and a nation
known to be the nursing mother of West African
civilization remain a mystery. We pointed the way for
other countries like Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana, and The
Gambia for instance, but we ourselves have lost the
way. Sierra Leoneans deserve better.

It is only a change of attitude towards governance and
to each other as a people, as well as the nurturing of
the spirit of national belonging that Sierra Leone's
rich natural resources could become a blessing, and
not a national curse. I am not Sierra Leone. I am only
a member of the Sierra Leonean nation. It is my
convictions that only Sierra Leoneans themselves, and
not outsiders are best qualify, to decide on which
direction they want their country to take.
I am not the politician who would use party thugs and
ethnic militia to persecute fellow Sierra Leoneans
because of their views or because they belong to other
tribe. Not even one who intends to abuse his position
to colonize the Sierra Leone Police Force and converts
some of its (Police Force) highly trained personnel
into tax and toll collectors. I do not owe any grudge,
nor malice or hatred against the Sierra Leone Army,
Police, former rebels or junta forces or militia
groups. I do not belong to the group of political
leaders who incite one ethnic group against the other,
or who used their position to distort the electoral
wishes of the people and foist mafias and nincompoops
on the nation as leaders.[/align]
[align=left]
I know, and it is not surprising to see that
mischief-makers hiding behind proxy political
platforms had already begun to launch a cosmetic
propaganda campaign against my person. Despite the
posturing to the contrary, big political gurus of the
ruling oppressor cabal are privately having their
hearts in the mouths, because a new political crop
they had underrated in the first place is suddenly
haunting them like an incubus.

The crux of the matter is that these political
gangsters have perfected their anti-Sierra Leone
agenda through the establishment of political death
traps surrounded by "marabous" (but God Almighty of
All Powers is greater than any force on earth),
indoctrination of political stooges and guinea pigs
and looting of the nation's coffer to further their
ambition. This is unfortunate at a time when the world
has moved away from autocracy to decent politics, the
race for 2007 Sierra Leone has began on intrigues,
deceits and discord. For sanity in the body polity, I
want to use the opportunity to warn these old,
unprincipled, wicked and shameless politicians to
devote their precious time at this point to endear
themselves to the hearts of the people instead of
planning devious ways to manipulate elections.

Like an African proverb: "a Hen thief cannot tolerate
the slightest noise or movement because it will get
the chicken clucking, thereby exposing the presence of
the fowl concealed in his clothing". Instead of
reciprocating kindly to my invitation to meet face to
face on national radio and television to discuss
issues of national concerned, these failed and
unrepentant politicians choose to embark on dirty
political campaign propaganda. Their aim is to deny
Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to make thorough
assessment of the various political leaders vying to
lead the nation in post 2007 elections. The reasons
for the attacks on my person are vacuous and logically
shallow as they fell-off like water on a duck's back
with most discerning Sierra Leoneans.

Instead of addressing the general malaise plaguing the
entire country, these yester political Machiavellians
are throwing the fabric of their intellectual stature
to the dogs and in desperation, are attacking
individuals than the issues at stake. Common sense
teaches that, those who resort to abuse or
discrediting their opponents rather than addressing
the merit of the matter in contention only confirm the
weakness of their arguments.

In their usual grandstanding behaviors, a group of
political sycophants belonging to the country's
oppressor camp referred to my person as: "championing
a Taiwan agenda in Sierra Leone".

In their disjointed, illogical and rambling wordings,
my adversaries concealed more than they revealed in
their 2007 election propaganda campaign. They devoted
more of their wicked, vicious propaganda and energy to
question my political vision. Most of the allegations
and innuendos against me are ridiculous and unfounded,
and are intended only to divert public attention from
the emerging danger posed to the country's nascent
democracy by questionable characters that want to
entrench themselves on power by all foul means.

Some of the allegations against me confirmed the level
of indecency that has become nuisance in the country's
body polity. Most ridiculous however, my detractors
believe attempt by President Tejan Kabbah to foist his
Vice-President Solomon Berewa to succeed him is
synonymous with the interest of Sierra Leone.
Therefore, anyone who stands against attempt by the
President to abort the Constitution of the Republic of
Sierra Leone, and the manner President Kabbah and his
cohorts are undermining the country's fragile peace
and baby democracy, is enemy of Sierra Leone.

I agree that I am a rebel, but one with a noble cause,
and a rebel with a difference and without a gun. I
rely on the Guidance and Protection of Almighty Allah
who knows everything good and bad. I rely on the
unity, understanding and willingness of the Sierra
Leonean people to move their country forward. I know
Sierra Leoneans will give me the mandate to repair the
havocs and pains inflicted on the nation. More so, to
wipe off the tears of the down trodden; to modernize
the Sierra Leonean body politics and uplift the status
of the Sierra Leonean women; to mange the country's
rich natural resources to guarantee the safety and
security of Sierra Leonean life and property; and
above all, to change Sierra Leone's bogus independence
into real freedom.

On the issue of democracy, it is part of me. It is in
my marrow.

To suggest that I am running a Taiwan agenda in Africa
is to say the obvious. I recognized the rights of
others, including the rights of Taiwan to exist as a
sovereign independent nation. My special character as
a champion of democracy and human dignity does not
permit me to support any policy of bully against other
people, and the people of Taiwan have the rights like
any nation on earth, to live their own life in their
own making without outside obstruction.

Those politicians that glorify Party thugs,
self-confessed election fixers and that insulted
Sierra Leone's culture and traditional institutions
have lost credibility to accuse opponents of the
failed system in Sierra Leone as enemies of democracy.
These are not the marks of freedom, but a clear
evidence of how creeping dictatorship is killing our
nascent democracy in cold blood.

I have learnt a lot from the experience of countries
like Ghana, The Gambia, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea, and how these
countries have gained respect among the comity of
nations. My understanding of the path chosen by these
countries to reach where they are today is enough to
guide me, to provide for Sierra Leone a credible,
God-fearing and progressive leadership.

The older order must give way for political
innovations. There are no sacred cows in my backyard,
not even a skeleton in my wardrobe. I am not afraid of
my opponents' propaganda. I am just a human being who
should be condemned and praised. That is true
democracy. I am not Mr. All Perfect. I learn from my
mistakes and those of others and from opinions
expressed by other people.

It is only when oppressors are desperate and standing
on weaker moral ground; they do everything to confuse
matters and to divert attention by attacking the
character of any one who has the courage to say to
them enough is enough. The ridiculous thing about
politics in Sierra Leone is its dismal failure to
serve the people.

This time I want to assure Sierra Leoneans that, there
will be no compromise with oppression and those who
oppressed our nation; with looting and those who loot
the nation's coffer to line their pockets; with
insecurity and those who demoralized the Sierra
Leonean Army and Police; and with opulence and those
who deprived Sierra Leone. No one should ever think
again that, he could foist rogues and nincompoops on
the Sierra Leonean people as leaders. What I am saying
here is that, let no one, not even the incumbent
leader has any illusion-if any one thinks he can
plunge Sierra Leone into another nightmare; he has got
a wrong time now. I am saying this because I believe
it is the spirit of most Sierra Leoneans. We must have
free, peaceful, violent-free, transparent and honest
elections so that this time around it will be that
Sierra Leoneans alone determine who leads them.

I want to reassure my countrymen and women that, I am
committed to this unbroken POLITICAL COVENANT. I call
on all to bury our minor differences, and think for a
better and noble future for our country. The task
before every Sierra Leonean is enormous. We must work
together as a nation; we must abandon our parochial
interests and work towards the fulfillment of the
country's motto of Unity, Freedom and Justice.

This COVENANT is not a promise, because politicians in
Sierra Leone have gained notoriety to making
unfulfilled promises. I am committed to respect the
trust of the people in high esteem, and not to indulge
in activities that are at variance with the wishes and
aspirations of the people. This COVENANT is only a
guarantee to the people of Sierra Leone that if, I am
voted to power and turn against the nation, I should
be taken to the National Stadium for public execution.

I am not a dreamer but I do have a Vision for our
beautiful Sierra Leone. A Vision that is shared by
members of the Sierra Leone People's Democratic League
(PDL) and other concerned Sierra Leoneans, who are not
associated with any political organ in the country.

I STAND BY THIS COVENANT.

LONG LIVE SIERRA LEONE!

VICTORY FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY!
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