Sierra Leoneans take issue with Sorious Samura's report on Al-Jazeera.
Sorious Samura’s Wahala: The Highs and Lows, in selling a nation with deception for chickenfeed?
29th November 2011 · 8 Comments
Photo: Sorious Samura (Credit: Channel 4 News)
By Christian F. Sesay Jr., Texas News Correspondent
In what may look like another blockbuster investigative journalism, Sorious Samura’s recent piece of journalism for the Aljazeera News Network, “Africa Investigates – Sierra Leone: Timber” is been received with a concoction of high-five, skepticism and criticism, thus rendering this piece, less than joyous and credible.
Sorious Samura, the Emmy award winner set out on a mission to uncover corruption, injustice to the nation’s forestry and a violation of the ongoing moratorium on logging industry in Sierra Leone. Whether it was designed to set up a politician or not, the complete truth will soon come out when certain questions are answered by Mr. Sorious Samura and his employer, Aljazeera. But suffice it to say at this point that in order for Sorious to have accomplished his task, he ought to have walked on a balance beam of depth and objectivity without fear or favor. At a time when the nation is moving towards a progressive Sierra Leone under Ernest Koroma, Sorious Samura’s talents and abilities would have been welcomed by the president wholeheartedly. His mission, if only meant to uncover corruption, in so many ways, compliments the president’s crusade on attitudinal change and corruption in the nation. What the cynics fail to admit is that the president welcomes everyone on board in building a new Sierra Leone. When President Ernest Bai Koroma declared war on corruption, it was of the understanding that he had the backings and blessings of every Sierra Leonean regardless of political affiliation. It is an indisputable fact that Sierra Leone has always been a corrupt society at every level and there has never been any government so desperately intent on turning things around like the Ernest Koroma regime.
Another highlight that is worth mentioning post Sorious Samura’s recent documentary, is the swift reaction mounted by President Ernest Koroma’s government. This is in itself another virtuoso example of a leader’s untiring commitment towards the eradication of corruption. The underlined expression is a pretty strong language coming from the government and gauging by the president’s track record of zero tolerance on corruption, there will be no exception if anyone is found wanting! This announcement enmeshed with a very robust phraseology is also indicative of what is lacking in most politicians in the Sierra Leone political arena, including our inexperienced and power-thirsty, SLPP standard bearer, Julius Maada Bio – that is, the guts and willpower to address issues of national concerns headlong.
At a special meeting at State House on 24th November 2011, the President reiterated government’s national and international environmental obligations while emphasizing the need for maintaining the ban on uncontrolled logging. Once more, Government wishes the public to know that any breach of the Law by any person, irrespective of status, will meet with the full force of the law.
For all the policy blueprints churned out by presidential campaigns, there is this irrefutable fact again: Sierra Leoneans care less about issues than they do about a candidate’s character. Many Sierra Leoneans consider honesty, integrity and other values of character the most important qualities they look for in a presidential candidate. As the impasse concerning Sorious’ work continues to unfold, one thing we can take away is that the government of Ernest Bai Koroma has again proven itself– Integrity and honesty.
Unlike previous documentaries by Sorious Samura, “Africa Investigates: Timber Trade in Sierra Leone” is caught up in a serious credibility test this time. With several media and a cross section of the citizenry demanding that certain questions be answered, Sorious Samura owes it to the people of this great nation to answer these questions: Why the change of scene from the office at 37 Percival Street to the office of the Vice President? Why make it seem like a transaction took place in the Vice President’s office when in reality nothing happened there? And, so many other questions. The credibility of modern day investigative journalism is quintessentially based on a mosaic of traits —depth, fairness, motives, evidences both tangible and otherwise among others. As of now, Sorious is yet to prove them all. If I were him, I would have done what is honorable to do….answer the nation’s questions.
Finally, what is troubling about some of our compatriots is their insatiable appetite to guzzle the negatives and make little efforts at embracing the positives. For a nation to reach its fullest potentials, we should not only cling at just the bad but the good things as well. With the kind of forward looking president that the nation is blessed with, what Sierra Leone needs now is “Nation Re-branding”. For all Sorious Samura’s talents in investigative journalism, may be this will be the right time to work on a piece emphasizing how far Sierra Leone has come from the days of “Cry Freetown”. As brilliant as Sorious is, he should be able to juxtapose these two eras and make a hit by re-branding his motherland. Our belief is that brands truly have the power to change our nation, they have the power to change the way we view our nation and how we choose to see one country in contrast to another. The benefits of a consistent and professional country branding can be observed in every region- they include the ability to win more investment business because the country image says the right things about the culture of the people, friendliness, safety, the environment, political stability plus the chance to apply a ‘made in’ label because it will positively aid the sale of a product in a market.
Sorious Samura hit the nation below the belt, giving little thought to his motherland and the daily dreams that we have for this nation of ours. But we are a strong nation that can’t be re-routed from our destined course. Let us never forget, not for an hour, that God and His promises are holy. He expects our lives to reflect that awareness. In the words of Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Our ancestors did not pass it to us in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for our children to do the same”
Brother Sorious, what would you tell your children when you sell your nation with deception to the Arabs and the world for chickenfeed?
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