The political climate in Sierra Leone is raising eyebrows once again not for bold development strides, but for what many are calling a public comedy show unfolding on social media between two of the country’s high-profile leaders.
In a Facebook post that went viral over the weekend, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh took aim at the Freetown City Council under the leadership of Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.
Writing in Krio, Sengeh stated, “E tan lek na Freetown berin gron den FCC plant den 2 million trees. Mi paddy in council nor able take care of our cemeteries?” The post referenced what he described as a contradiction between the Council’s ambitious environmental campaigns and its alleged neglect of basic services like cemetery maintenance.
Team Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr quickly fired back with a sharp-tongued response, also in Krio: “Tan lek say da mi paddy na Facebook nor more ihn dae deliver ohhh. Bcus natin ihn nor dae do pas for sell book.” Her comment appeared to mock the Chief Minister’s online activism and academic accomplishments, suggesting that his real-world impact is minimal compared to his digital presence.
The public exchange, though amusing to some, has left many Sierra Leoneans concerned. Critics argue that this social media back-and-forth reflects a growing culture of political grandstanding, where leaders seem more interested in scoring points online than addressing the country’s pressing issues, from poverty and unemployment to healthcare and infrastructure.
“This is not what governance should look like. We need real solutions, not Facebook fights.”
As Sierra Leoneans, we are still grappling with economic recovery and youth disenfranchisement, citizens are increasingly asking: has our politics become a circus, where satire and social media stardom replace service and substance?
If this trend continues, many fear that meaningful development will be sidelined by the drama of digital egos.
AKI “DORTY” SAWYER IS THE WORST MAYOR WAE WE DON EVER GET NA WE BELOVED CITY. FREETOWN NA THE FILTHIEST CITY NA THE SUB REGION. FREETOWN GET THE MOST INCOMPETENT, MOST DECEITFUL N COMECAL MAYOR NA ENTIRE COUNTRY. TIDAY IF E NOR LIE PA FAKE BLOOD, TUMARA NA CABLE CAR LIE LIE, 0R E PLANT TIK DEM. E LIE LEK FISH. SHOW WE HOW MANY MARKIT U DON BUILD INSIE SEVEN YEARS NA OFFICE. THE TRADER DEM TAKE EVERYWHERE MAKE MAKIT. AKI YOU NA BIG DISGRACE TO WE CITY. YOU NOR GET NATIN FOR SHOW NA THE CITY EXCEPT FAKE BLOOD, CORRUPTION N RED LIPSTICK N LIE LIE