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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Mr Samuel Sam-Sumana, has commended Nigeria for its sacrifices in restoring peace and stability to his country, saying the contributions of Nigerian troops will remain indelible in Sierra Leone’s history.
He said but for Nigeria, which played a pivotal role in supporting Sierra Leone during its conflict, providing troops and other assistance, Sierra Leone would have become a no-go area.
The former vice-president, who made this known when he received members of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) on a courtesy visit, acknowledged the sacrifices of the military and civilians, some of whom he said paid the supreme price in the struggle, saying their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
“As a Sierra Leonean, I wish to express my profound gratitude for the role Nigeria and other countries played in helping Sierra Leone regain peace and stability,” he said.
The former vice-president described Nigeria as a big brother in West Africa, stressing that the country’s stability and prosperity had far-reaching implications for the subregion.
“When Nigeria catches a cold, the rest of us sneeze,” he said, underscoring the interconnectedness of West African countries.
While urging DECAN to sustain its engagement with the military and strengthen professional cooperation between defence correspondents and security institutions, he described journalists as indispensable partners in governance, accountability and national development, warning against the tendency of political leaders to regard critical reporting as hostility.
“Constructive criticism is essential to improving public institutions and ensuring that those entrusted with public responsibilities remain accountable,” he said.
According to him, public officials should not fear criticism when it is fair, accurate and intended to promote the greater public good.
He stressed that no individual had a monopoly on knowledge, urging leaders to demonstrate humility, tolerance and resilience in discharging their responsibilities.
The former vice-president said the media must continue to disseminate credible information, particularly on defence and national security, while upholding professional standards and the public interest.
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s civil war, Sam-Sumana said the conflict, influenced by the spillover of war in neighbouring Liberia and competing interests over diamond resources, caused enormous losses of lives and property.
He said the painful experience should strengthen collective efforts to prevent a recurrence of violent conflicts across West Africa.
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“We must never forget those experiences. Rather, we should use them to strengthen our collective commitment to peace and prevent similar tragedies in the subregion,” he said.
Sam-Sumana further cautioned political leaders against allowing personal ambition to undermine national stability, insisting that peaceful political competition remained essential to democratic development.
He said peace was a collective victory that transcended political parties and individual ambitions.
On Africa’s development, the former vice-president called for a fundamental shift from dependence on foreign assistance to mutually beneficial partnerships, industrialisation and greater economic self-reliance.
He argued that African countries must move beyond exporting raw materials and importing finished products by investing in local industries, adding value to natural resources and creating employment opportunities for young people.
Sam-Sumana said the continent’s inability to fully harness its enormous resources had contributed to economic hardship and forced migration, including dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea.
He also called for stronger African representation in international decision-making institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council.
“Africa must be present at the tables where decisions about its future are made,” he said.
He urged journalists to use their reports, investigations and public communication platforms to challenge negative narratives about Africa and highlight the continent’s aspirations, opportunities and development priorities.
Sam-Sumana commended DECAN for fostering engagement between journalists and the defence community, expressing hope that the relationship would continue to grow.
He said stronger cooperation among political leaders, the media and security institutions would contribute to peace, accountability and sustainable development across Africa.
The former vice-president concluded by urging stakeholders to work collectively towards building a continent where citizens could live with dignity, security and confidence in the future.
In his remarks, DECAN President, Mr Odita Sunday, said the courtesy visit was to express the association’s appreciation to Sam-Sumana for accepting its invitation and participating in the DECAN Conference and Awards 2026.
