WOUNDED OPPOSITION PARTY VOWS TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Finally the people in those two disputed constituencies in Kailahun and Kenema have MPs. But there are many questions and the situation is bizarre and we don't want to "HOLD OURSELVES OUT" as the journalists who questioned the decisions of a High Court judge.
That decision has angered the Green Movement to the extent that they issued a very long statement covering many national issues. Regards this issue, we quote them saying, "this is an excellent example of a manipulated judicial outcome and a broad day light travesty of justice. As a party we condemn this manipulation of the judiciary for political reason and assure all that we shall mount a robust legal appeal to ensure that the people's mandate is not stolen like it has always been the modus operandi of the APC".
Well, in keeping with the spirit of not "HOLDING OURSELVES OUT" on this issue, we will move away from the court and raise a few issues with the SLPP. We can't understand why people vying for positions in the SLPP are never satisfied with the verdict of their members. Look at all the defections and the ruthless bad-mouthing of party members that take place over every small contest. We also can't understand why SLPP members are prone to the tendency to self-destruct. They have spent all their time fighting among themselves leaving the job of an opposition party out in the cold.
The two TABLE MPs now waiting to be sworn-in, have no reason to do anything in for the people in those two constituencies. They know they will be out of office after the next elections. So why can't they just enjoy the generous package the CommonwealthMarah has built into the system for MPs?
The SLPP should be very careful to avoid been pushed out of their prime opposition place. They take too many people for granted and could be shocked again.
IS OMRIE GOLLEY AN AMBASSADOR? LET PARLIAMENT SPEAK
If this were a true democracy, De Pa would have been forced to answer a lot of questions about the suitability of OmrieGolley for service as an ambassador for Sierra Leone. In this country, De Pa will dismiss public concerns and get away with it by playing the RED vs. Green card. In some countries, the complaints about this particular appointment will come from within the ruling party. But we are Sierra Leoneans and we are a very different set of people.
However we now look up to our representatives on both sides of the house to send a clear message that OmrieGolley should never dream about holding public office in Sierra Leone.
We hope we will not be forced to open old wounds by writing Golley's history with the RUF, starting in Abidjan. We will be surprised if amputees in particular and all Sierra Leoneans in general do not turn up at parliament building on the day of his confirmation hearing to tell our MPs to stand by the nation and throw him out.
Golley was among those few Sierra Leoneans who celebrated when the RUF killing machine rolled into Freetown. Many people, particularly police officers were killed, two thousand of our children abducted -some raped, killed and conscripted into the rebel army. Houses were burnt down and tens of thousands displaced. We say Golley celebrated because that was the time he went on radio to push the fighters forward against ECOMOG resistance.
Golley told the whole world on BBC radio that the RUF would fight on and capture power because they were the only ones who were willing to die for it. We are transcribing his exact words for publication soon. For once, our parliament must stand by us and deny Golley power for which he supported a guerrilla outfit that put the Khmer Rouge to shame.
Someone asked us to stay put for reconciliation sake. We would love to, but Golley didn't go to the TRC. He fled abroad as usual to wait for another opportunity. We remain ceased of this matter.
THE ACC ABSOLUTELY NEEDS AN URGENT RESCUE OPERATION
Not long ago we called for a NATIONAL CONFERENCE on the nation's war against corruption. We suggested that on the same scale as the Bintumani Conferences that returned democracy to Sierra Leone, this conference would have further underlined our total hate for corruption because whether in government or opposition, every Sierra Leonean knows the extent to which corruption has damaged this country. Of particular concern would have been the pivotal role the Anti-Corruption Commission is attempting to play.
Every time De Pa's anti-corruption credentials are challenged, he tells the world that Sierra Leone has the "toughest anti-corruption law in Africa". We haven't quite checked that but what we are sure about is that even Josie will not stand before any Sierra Leonean to say he is succeeding especially against the really big guys whose examples he needs to send home a powerful message about the ACC's fight against corruption. This is very serious.
We can cite many recent examples in which the ACC has been bloodied in the courts. We are not lawyers but we know that when people initiate prosecutions of such nature, they have to be absolutely sure they can secure convictions that would stick. Our confidence in the ability of Josie and his prosecutors to do this on our behalf will be stone dead if they lose any other case. They keep send us text messages saying "Sierra Leone will never develop if we don't arrest corruption now." But their leadership in this struggle is under serious strain.
The salaries of Josie and his prosecutors are simply pornographic and cannot be justified against their performance in court and the fact that police officers and other public sector workers will start receiving just over ONE HUNDRED dollars only in 2014.
We are not saying they must win all cases but by Jove, they should never lose the really big ones. We hear Josie is looking to go into politics. We can't confirm that now. He comes across as a brilliant lawyer, but his preparation for the top job is very unimpressive. A National Conference Now!
ANOTHER WASTE OF OUR MONEY: BABABODE PULL DOWN THE BILLBOARD
Mayor Bababode has ignored our questions about the big shame at Victoria Park started by his predecessor Herbert George-Williams. He may argue that he still needs time to read through his books even after one year. We will be inclined to accept that for now. Bababode will however not escape these questions: what in this world was he trying to do with that Service Charter billboard near the Cotton Tree?
Let's say this for starters, we applaud his idea of putting that Service Charter in the public domain in the way he has for the first time ever. We are probably wrong. But please understand that we say this with utmost sincerity. As residents of Freetown, we have never seen this Service Charter. May be we didn't try enough. Anyway!
Our problem with Bababode is that we don't think his approach is a smart one. He really needs some technical help in dealing with public information on billboards like the one at Cotton Tree. And there are many smart young people and agencies that can handle that very well for small money.
Does Bababode really think people passing by the Cotton Tree will spend ten minutes of their time reading that Service Charter? Messages on billboards are meant to be read quickly and understood by even those driving at top speed. The billboard is too cluttered with words. Besides, the billboard is certainly not strategically located in an area so packed with all kinds of advertising. We have a few ideas on how to make Bababode's communication idea better and we can share them with him free of cost.
All the Mayor should do is to make a formal request. That's very easy sir.
(C) Politico 03/12/13
