WHEN WIZKID MEETS DE PA AT MIDNIGHT
Is there anything wrong in De Pa meeting WIZKID? We are talking about the Nigerian Afro-pop entertainer who frankly thinks too much about himself. Well since that late night meeting took place social media has been full of the usual shouting and all that.
And inevitably in Sierra Leone, it came down to party politics. Red Movement hacks were all over the place making reference to Obama's meeting with other entertainers to justify De Pa meeting a singer as confused as WizKid at midnight. We are used to partisan sniping now in Sierra Leone. Please read the following points and see if we make sense.
1. The reference to Obama is very self-serving. When Obama behaves like a true democrat in his country and we call on De Pa to do the same here, our government's social media hacks tell us "THIS IS NOT AMERICA." We are no fools guys.
2. Despite his coming being advertised for almost a month, we can confirm that up to the last few hours to the show, Whiz Kid was never clear he would be in Freetown. It makes no sense therefore to wake De Pa up at midnight to see him he lands in the last minute.
3. In the spirit of De Pa waking up that late to meet WhizKid, can he also make time now to have a word with our own Emerson? We love his new album and we believe something good would come out of that meeting.
4. By the way, has WizKid given any indication as to which project he intends to undertake here? Well much like Akon and his lighting up Africa stuff? We think no. He has simply packed up his cash and gone.
5. So how was the show itself? We didn't bother going there. Too much uncertainties and WizKid rudeness. No more WizKid in Salone please.
THE TRAGEDY OF ARIE WU TEHTEH IN THE GREEN MOVEMENT
It's not strange anymore to hear about the Green Movement headquarters in Freetown being put under siege by police firing tear gas and making arrests. We have lost count of that since the guys lost power in 2007. All the questions around who did what, why and this and that would be answered in the fullness of time. Let's just see how ARIE WU TEHTEH is said to have sparked off this Independence Day tear gas attack and arrests.
Again, there are arguments on both sides but the official line is that ARIE WU TEHTEH did not have the necessary papers to be on the streets like other mask devils. Hmmmmmm ok. Let's agree with what our authorities say.
As always we have a few questions to ask about the affair.
1. Is Munu telling us that all those mask devils who were on the streets on that day were approved by his office? He should be honest with us because we were also on the streets.
2. Given that Munu is never willing to protect street activities involving people who in his mind look like opposition forces, was there any chance ARIE WU TEHTEH was even going to be accredited?
3. How in this world did the Green Movement convince themselves that mask devils are vote winners? Just because Red Movement people like mask devils and have Thorped two elections, doesn't mean it's a vote winner. Many Sierra Leoneans hate the criminal element in the whole so-called culture thing. We are not sure Munu arrested any of those criminals who stole bags, mobile phones and watches from people on that day.
4. One of these days, we will pay a visit to the Green Movement office to see what is left in that place. We can quite comfortably predict that there would be another police action there before the end of 2016. No magic!
5. Police media activities since that tear gas attack have been a disaster. They have just been completely unable to explain why it appears as if some people can do anything and get away with it while for others, even thinking about it, could attract tear gas and arrests.
STOP CARRY-FORWARD HOLIDAYS IN SALONE PLEASE
This is a very humble plea to De Pa. We don't want carry-forward holidays in this country. In fact this country cannot afford carry-forward holiday. Ok, let's expand on what we actually mean: In this country, when recognised holidays fall on weekends, State House would always carry the holiday forward to the following week. Why?
When we do things like this and then they next day we hear our politicians say that while other countries can afford to WALK, Sierra Leone must RUN, we find it impossible to arrive at a conclusion as to what to do.
1. We can't afford carry-forward holidays because some of us NEED to go to the streets daily to look for food.
2. People who have cause to run must continue running until they reach their goal. Five steps forward and eight steps backwards takes us nowhere.
3. In many countries of the world, we saw Labour Day activities on TV on Sunday. Why are we different down here?
4. In fact, why haven't we focused much more keenly on the plight of the workers of Sierra Leone? That's the issue. Holidays are good but what happens next?
5. Sierra Leone has a MUMU LABOUR CONGRESS. If you think otherwise, please let us know.
CRIMINAL GANGS RAIDING MODEL JUNCTION
We don't know what more can be stolen from traders and residents of Model Junction. It seems as if every time the criminal elements of Freetown otherwise known as this and that clique are broke, they raid Model Junction and other places and steal from ordinary folks struggling to make a living.
The raids are becoming too sporadic and ferocious for our comfort and we don't think the police have any sober strategy to fight this menace. We count three of such raids in recent times and we cannot afford a fourth.
Long before the Hill Side road reached Model Junction, we knew the place would become a holding ground for all sorts of people including the criminals in the area and the colleagues coming from the eastern parts of Freetown. They are distressing our people and giving this country a very bad name.
We do not advocate this but we will get to a point where ordinary people would feel compelled to defend themselves against the criminals. We should never get to that point because we know the consequences. It was done in South Africa many years ago resulting in disaster. Munu boys have to move fast and deal with Model Junction using intelligence. This fire brigade approach to policing is not working.
(C) Politico 03/05/16
