London, Dec. 16, 2017 (AltAfrika)-A former Sierra Leonean Military Leader and the 2018 Presidential Candidate for the country’s main opposition party, Sierra Leone People’s Party, Julius Maada Bio says democracy in Africa will remain a mirage for as long as poverty and hunger are pervasive in the continent.

The retired Army Brigadier who spoke at the Chatham House in London on “Consolidating Democracy in Post-war Sierra Leone accused African leaders of deliberately using poverty and hunger as weapon of suppression while the government maintains its repressive hold on the country.

He said African leaders including the one in sierra Leone knew peoples could easily be manipulated when they are hungry and as such refused to pursue genuine economic programmes that could empower the masses to prevent them from demanding accountability that would lead to participatory democracy

“Democracy cannot be built, sustained and consolidated on empty stomach. In other words, poverty, illiteracy underdevelopment and lack of existential necessities of life, that is, food, clothing and healthcare are a threat to consolidation of democracy”

Bio is worried that the continued decline of democratic tenets in Sierra Leone had the tendency to re-ignite tension and push the army of unemployed youths to violence.

The soldier turned politician outlined what he claimed to be the credible alternative programmes that could return his country to the part of democratic sanity and growth under the leadership and government of his party, the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

“When elected into office, we will focus on four key policy areas to transform sierra Leone. They are the economy, human and capital development, infrastructure and skills acquisition leading to sustainable job”

The policy according the Bio would be funded by aggressive fight against corruption and redirecting resources to the priority areas in government.

The retired Brigadier also promise to declare his asset and that of his entire family on assumption of office.