A Voice of Hope Goes Out in Sierra Leone

Moseray's Biggest Fan in Mourning 

One of the most prominent of the next generation of leaders in Sierra Leone, Moseray Gabril Fadika, a young successful business man and one of the new crop of ruling All Peoples Party (APC) politicians passed away suddenly in the United Kingdom yesterday, while on a European tour popularizing his bid to become the flagbearer of the ruling APC party in the 2018 Presidential elections.

Moseray Fadika 

 

Moseray Fadika had overnight become a political sensation in Sierra Leone, especially among youthful APC supporters. His populist campaign, with a political platform based on the elimination of poverty, resonated particularly well in a country where 80% of the citizens live in abject poverty. He is one of the few politicians in Sierra Leone to have cross party appeal.

Moseray's personal doctrine was, "We are born poor, but we must not die poor." He himself symbolized  the doctrine. He and his brothers rose from humble origins to become some of the most prominent political and business leaders in Sierra Leone.

Moseray came to prominence when after packing his bags and returning home after a spell in the diaspora, he was appointed as the Executive Chairman and Director the Sierra Leone arm of African Minerals. He engaged in many business ventures and was a cofounder Pan African Minerals Ltd. (PAM) and African Petroleum Company Limited.

Moseray was also engaged in charity ventures and founded All Works of Life (AWOL) a philanthropic venture that was reportedly engaged in a variety of small scale income development projects. Many describe him as a man with a deep feeling for the poor and their struggles.

In a deeply polarized country however, many Sierra Leoneans are divided about Moseray's legacy, particularly his acquisition of so much wealth in such a short period. Some see his rise as emblematic of the profound corruption and inequitable distribution of wealth in the country. In Sierra Leone, those close to power have most of the wealth creation opportunities in the country, while the poor and ambitious do not even have access to bank loans to engage in large scale business. In a country in which access to bank loans for major investments are limited only to the rich or those with political connections, many of the country's citizens who do not have such access are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty exacerbated by a financial system that discriminates against them.

Moseray's supporters point to his meteoric rise as an example that anybody with ambition and drive will find a way to build a brighter future. They see him as a lucky man and a philanthropist.

Ironically, in a media interview Moseray gave upon launching his campain for the Presidency, he made a statement that seems particularly ominous now, given the events of the past few days. Commenting on his campaign to eradicate poverty in Sierra Leone, Moseray stated that the main reason why he was running was to see every Sierra Leonean be free of the cycle of poverty and low expectations that was endemic in the country. He said that he was running to ensure that every Sierra Leone has the chance to find a way to better him or herself. He said that if he was unable to do this when he became President, then God should put him as far away from the presidency as possible. With his demise, some on social media are now wondering whether these words did not come back to haunt the business man turned aspiring politician.

The details surrounding Moseray's demise are not yet very clear, but video clips from a public event held immediately before his demise show one of his supporters stating that his health had not been good for a day or two, and he even struggled to talk,sounding hoarse, with a raspy voice.

Some weeks ago, it was reported that Moseray was manhandled by some of his political adversaries in Mile 91, a small town in Sierra Leone and he had to be rushed for medical treatment. The report was however quickly denied. But recently he had looked somehow pale and gaunt.

Moseray is not the first young APC populist to die suddenly while chasing the highest office in the land. In the early 90s, another young business man one Paul Kamara who lived in Goderich achieved much fame during the period just before military rule. He was intending to become a running mate to Joseph Saidu Momoh, but he died suddenly in similar circumstances.

Moseray's death is a major loss to his country, his supporters and particularly his young family. He grew up in Freetown and attended the popular St. Edwards Secondary School. He will be missed.