Almost a month ago, we witnessed what will be recorded as a novelty in advocacy in Sierra Leone. A fulfillment of the assertion by Claudia Flores that “We must be impatient for change.

Let us remember that our voice is a precious gift, and we must use it.” Dr. John Idriss Lahai has dedicated his voice to fostering change in the civil and public service.

THE NEW DIRECTION

Preceding the 2018 general elections, as politics in Africa is always done, many Presidential aspirants thoroughly criticized the past government. A stand-out voice was SLPP’s Julius Maada Bio, now President of our beloved Republic. Was it his Political Orchestra that was superbly excellent or his topical message “The New Direction?”

It can be either or a combination of both. What was clear was the mass suffering and corrupt practices by stakeholders in the then APC Government. Therefore, resoundingly, as they thrived in the campaigns, the people wanted a change, and the manifesto theme “New Direction” was appealing to the ear.

Whether or not the people knew the contents, they voted for change because they were confident that the country was headed in a dangerous direction, and a new one could never have been more timely.

IS THE DIRECTION A NEW ONE?

“Any change, even a change for better, is always accompanied by discomforts” Arnold Bennett
Using the words of Arnold Bennett, I can vividly hear President Bio in one of his national broadcasts saying, “it will get worse before it gets better.” An excuse or a truth? He believes where APC left the Country was deplorable, and to effect the necessary change; we are to brace for turbulent discomforts before we get inundated with the goodies he has in store.

Unfortunately, while encountering lousy weather and mid-flight economic turbulence, Dr. John Idriss Lahai placed a copyright claim to the human capital development song that has kept his party booming. It’s like the strike of lighting that forces a power outage. Is it an end to the Party? Should he turn on a backup generator and continue the party from the same human capital development song? If yes, the State House should, after the Easter break, publicly and officially respond to the Dr. Lahai crusade. The fake degree gate is a dent to everything the SLPP is traditionally known for and what President Bio’s government trumpets.

How can you convince us that you’re serious about human capital if we are not convinced that after offering us FQSE to WASSCE level, we can enroll for higher learning, get good degrees, certificates, diplomas, and technical knowledge, and then land a job? Why should I go to school in a country where I can get a job as a Public servant with a fake certificate; when I can even teach pupils who are supposed to gain quality education with phony qualifications.

In my books, it is evident that the silence of the State House is more damaging to the average voter or intellectual mind than it seems. Will the fake degree gate be the cause for a one-term Presidency? What is certain is that the 2023 election will be about the economy and degree date. In the words of Patrice Evra, I close by saying, “I love this game!”