Bio’s Second Term Bid In Limbo

As the economic situation continues to affect the nation, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency and the Ministry of Energy have dominated discussions across the country over the increase of fuel price by 50% and the erratic electricity supply.

In March, the government announced that the price for one litre of fuel has been increased from Le10,000 to Le12,000, and as the dealers created an artificial scarcity to get the government to adhere to their demands, the government again increased the pump price from Le12,000 to Le15,000. This increase brings the fuel price increase to 50%. However, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) few days ago issued a press release stating that there is enough fuel in the country.

With the constant hike in the price of fuel, there has been a massive rise in the prices of commodities as well, and this is adding to the hardship and suffering citizens are already battling with.

Blackout has been another main issue for Sierra Leoneans, with the Minister of Energy and EDSA issuing press release that the KarPower Turkish ship is under maintenance, and will affect distribution in the city for some days to come or even weeks.

The Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, has been one of President Bio’s strongman in his cabinet, but has failed the people of the country with poor electricity and unfinished projects.

At the State Opening of the Fourth Session of Parliament, His Excellence President Bio, whilst reading his speech, paused (in a state of disbelief) after he had announced that his government now generates sufficient electricity in Freetown, causing MPs and guests to laugh. 

As the nation heads towards the 2023 elections, the question on the minds of many is whether they should re-elect President Bio and continue the same suffering and hardship, or choose a new leader to save Sierra Leone.

Barely few months after the last fuel increase, punctuated by several queues for fuel at filling stations, the government on 9^th June2022 again announced another increase of fuel pump price from Le15,000 to Le 18,000. This move, many Sierra Leoneans say will further exacerbate their already dire living conditions, as the cost of living will increase exponentially, as the prices of food stuffs and other commodities will increase. With increase in the transport fare, traders transporting their wares from the provinces to the capital and vice versa, will also increase the prices of their goods to absorb the increase of transport fare on their goods, this will in effect be transferred to the consumer (the ordinary man) and eventually render the basic salaries paid to people worthless and of no consequence. The hardship will incidentally increase greatly, affecting everyone.

This situation is supposed to be worrying for the government, who promised to alleviate the sufferings of the masses, but the opposite has happened, which will eventually tell on its chances of a second term bid. As things go the odds are against the government, as residents envisage a bleak future under the current administration. To make matters worse the erratic electricity supply seem to be convincing citizens to have a rethink of re-electing President Bio, with no sign in sight for any quick fix soon.