Former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Mr Samuel Sam-Sumana, says Nigeria’s sacrifices in restoring peace to his country will remain indelible in its history.
This is contained in a statement released by Mr Sunday Odita, President of the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN), made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Odita said Sam-Sumana made the statement when the leadership of DECAN paid the former vice-president of Sierra Leone a courtesy visit.
The former vice-president expressed gratitude to Nigeria and other countries for their contributions to restoring peace and stability in Sierra Leone during its civil war.
He acknowledged the sacrifices of Nigerian troops and civilians, stressing that their contributions must never be forgotten.
He described Nigeria as a big brother in West Africa, noting that its stability and prosperity had significant implications for the entire subregion.
“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.
“When Nigeria catches a cold, the rest of us sneeze,” he said.
Sam-Sumana urged journalists to hold political leaders accountable, describing constructive criticism as essential to improving public institutions and strengthening governance.
He cautioned public officials against interpreting critical reporting as hostility, saying fair and accurate journalism was necessary to promote the public interest.
He also urged journalists to uphold professional standards and disseminate credible information, particularly on defence and national security.
“Constructive criticism is essential to improving public institutions and ensuring that those entrusted with public responsibilities remain accountable,” he said.
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s civil war, he said the conflict, influenced partly by the war in neighbouring Liberia and competing interests over diamond resources, caused enormous loss of lives and property.
He urged West African countries to learn from the experience and strengthen collective efforts to prevent the recurrence of violent conflicts.
The former vice-president also warned political leaders against allowing personal ambitions to undermine national stability, stressing the importance of peaceful political competition.
He described peace as a collective achievement that transcended political parties and individual interests.
On Africa’s development, Sam-Sumana called for greater economic independence through industrialisation, value addition and mutually beneficial international partnerships.
He urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw materials and importing finished products by investing in local industries and creating employment opportunities for young people.
According to him, the continent’s inability to fully harness its natural resources has 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.
Sam-Sumana urged journalists to use their reports, investigations and public communication platforms to challenge negative narratives about Africa and highlight its development priorities and opportunities.
He commended DECAN for strengthening engagement between defence journalists and the military, expressing hope that the relationship would continue to grow.
Earlier, Odita said the visit was to appreciate Sam-Sumana for gracing and participating in the association’s 2026 Conference and Awards.
He said the former vice-president’s participation underscored the importance of strengthening relationships among defence journalists, military institutions and international stakeholders.
He reaffirmed DECAN’s commitment to professional defence reporting, constructive engagement with security institutions and the dissemination of credible information on defence and national security.
The visit also provided an opportunity for veteran defence correspondents Kingsley Omonobi of Vanguard and Molly Kilete of The Sun to recount their experiences covering the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The journalists reflected on the devastation caused by the conflicts, including loss of lives, displacement of communities and the challenges of reporting from conflict zones.
Their accounts highlighted the human cost of armed conflict and the importance of accurate reporting and responsible information dissemination in promoting peace.
The engagement ended with a renewed commitment to strengthening professional cooperation, accountability and peacebuilding across Africa.
(NAN)