By: Sheku Tanga
I am sometimes amazed at and disappointed with the shameless rantings of some civil society organisation (CSO) members that have blatantly ignored their traditional roles to occupy the upright space on behalf of the people but who now prefer to paint themselves politically in destructive criticisms tailored to undermine the good efforts of state actors in our country.
I must state that CSOs play multifaceted roles in shaping our democracy, and not just by criticizing and holding state actors responsible for their stewardship but also complementing their efforts in making society better for all citizens. There are no two ways about it, the contours of CSOs appear to be bending away from the path of righteousness.
Please allow me to ramble a bit to educate some of our young CSO activists like *Thomas Pa Alie Babadie* of the Civil Society Alternative Network (CSAN-SL) on their role in national development. His recent press release on the interrogation of the *APC Member of Parliament Emmanuel Saidu Conteh* on allegation of illegal importation of arms and ammunition in the country published in the Sierra Leone Telegraph on 12th July, 2021 clearly indicates that he does not understand the democratic processes of the state and that he is totally out of touch with the laws that he pretends to adore. For God’s sake, CSOs are an important source of information for both citizens and the government; they monitor government policies and actions and hold the government accountable. Additionally, they engage in advocacy and offer alternative policies for the government, the private sector, and other institutions. According to the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, “Civil society is the oxygen of democracy; it acts as a catalyst for social progress and economic growth. It plays a critical role in keeping government accountable, and helps represent the diverse interests of the population, including the vulnerable groups.” Referencing the above, I will not be hesitant to say that some civil society activists like Thomas Pa Alie Babadie have abandoned this traditional role and is now meddling in politics by playing the role of the opposition. In his press release, Thomas Babadie erroneously quoted sections 99, 100,101 and 102 of the 1991 constitution and disingenuously failed to indicate other relevant provisions of Part IV subsection 1 & 2 which states that “All members of Parliament shall maintain the dignity and image of Parliament both during the sittings in Parliament as well as in their acts and activities outside Parliament” and the proceeding provisions section-2 says “All Members of Parliament shall regard themselves as representatives of the people of Sierra Leone and desist from any conduct by which they seek improperly to enrich themselves or alienate themselves from the people”. Mr. Thomas Pa Alie should know that nobody can be tougher than the law. Yes, members of parliament have immunity but at the same time have responsibilities which you evaded in your bias opinion in order to make your political backers and illiterate readers believe that you were expressing sense but it was all a complete heap of garbage full of political bigotry. Your plan was to expose the Sierra Leone police to public ridicule and by extension smear the good image of the SLPP. Your misguided and ill-motivated press release just ended up exposing your political nudity. Mr. Babadie, know that there is a state authority and president Bio is in charge. His government respects the rule of law and acknowledges the supremacy of the law. Also, know that there are state institutions that interpret those laws without any pervasion. You have no legal authority as CSO activist to request the immediate release of somebody that have been allegedly interrogated for committing an offence against the state. This is the highest form of mediocrity expressed by you. Your organization might be among other fly by night CSOs who are only relegated to attending workshops masquerading and damaging the good images of others. For a country that is striving to recuperate from the grave ills of maladministration , your actions and pronouncements are simply abominable. The government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio has consistently maintained an open mind to change the development narrative of our country and place it on a pedestal of admiration by ensuring that good governance continues in all its newfound glow. This good work of the President cannot be done in isolation, the civil society, and indeed every citizen, have a role in this effort. Giving space to the civil society to operate without censorship has added value to our democratic credentials as a nation. There are no restrictions that limit the operations of civil society in Sierra Leone, but why should some CSOs limit their work to consistent and destructive criticisms of state institutions and national players? Why are we supporting those things that have the tendency to create mayhem in the country? Let civil society be spurred to action to provide the public with the necessary education that will help build Sierra Leone. This article is not by any means disparaging CSOs in their entirety. There are very good Civil Society organizations that are contributing immensely to our democratic governance in Sierra Leone and also complementing the efforts of government to address some of the looming social problems faced by our people. Let us all step up to educate the populace on their civic responsibility and together we can make Sierra Leone a paradise.
The law is the law and nobody can be tougher than the law. Your immunity can be stripped off if you behave in contravention of the law that you are meant to serve.