CENSUS RESULTS AE OUT WITH MIXED REACTIONS
The much awaited census figures are out. De Pa has already endorsed them as being the product of a job well done. The King of the Statistics Kingdom is very happy. We say the figures are QUITE INTERESTING. We have commissioned a great statistician to examine them for us. So for now, no substantial comments. Please understand that the comments we now make on the GREEN MOVEMENT position are from the point of view of ordinary Sierra Leoneans speaking about this very important process. Later we will talk about what we saw, what we experienced and what others have told us.
Now here's the GREEN MOVEMENT. As usual they put out a statement taking issue with the result of the census. Here we quote from that document.
GREEN MOVEMENT - "We consider the said provisional results as substantially flawed, inaccurate and unreliable. Nor do we consider them a credible and acceptable basis on which preparations for any pending public elections can be undertaken by the National Electoral Commission, in particular the forth-coming presidential, parliamentary and local council elections slated for 2018."
POLITICO - This is a clear case of déjà vu. In other words, the GREEN MOVEMENT is complaining about something once again. We've been here before. Well, that's what opposition parties do all the time - complain, complain and complain. But apart from saying the census figures are "substantially flawed, inaccurate and unreliable", what else can the GREEN guys do?
Census is not just about elections guys. Why not talk about the implications for national development planning. You concentrate too much on elections. Are you suggesting all those so counted are voters? The population may be big in some areas but how do you know they are people of voting age? Do you guys regret anything now?
GREEN MOVEMENT - "The entire census exercise was dominated at various stages by unqualified APC loyalists to an extent never before seen in the country's history. Again, our recommendation to engage a credible cadre of qualified, non-partisan and technically competent persons to conduct the census throughout the country went unheeded."
POLITICO - Please let's not go over this again. Are you copying from the report of the Institute of Governance Reform or this was some independent study you did? Could you please make your own study public?
And this thing about trying to affect policy by issuing press releases is not a good idea. It doesn't work here at all. Maybe you need some lessons in what press releases are there for. As a movement you have many MPs and a large following around the country, why not do things in parliament and force a vote on them? You are hopelessly outnumbered in parliament, but it will be there for all to see. A press release is what it is - a press release for awareness raising on the issue. The government could easily ignore your press release.
You could have been more substantial with your complaints against the alleged recruitment of APC partisans. Come on guys.
GREEN MOVEMENT - "From the above, the SLPP finds it impossible to accept the provisional results of the 2015 census as published by the government on 31 March 2016."
POLITICO - You guys cannot accept the results? So what are you going to do? Would you run your own census? Ok, here's a way out: since these are provisional results, we will ask Statistics Sierra Leone to raise the figures in your supposed south-eastern strongholds by a few thousands. Would that be fine? Are you seriously telling us you still don't understand how the RED MOVEMENT operates? If so then why bother trying to unseat them?
DEGREE CERTIFICATES IN WAITING OR UNAVAILABLE - A CASE FOR PARLIAMENT
De Pa's anointed political colleagues are coming before the nation with their academic certificates to prove their worthiness for the jobs their boss wants to assign them to. It's been a real rollercoaster week for them since their appearance before the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments. At this point we want to be very careful with social media comments about the authenticity or otherwise of some certificates. But certainly we can say a thing or two, in a general way about some of the issues that came up.
1. There was this presidential nominee who could only present a GCE O'Level certificate. Really? Here is a man who has been working in a highly technical office prior to his nomination going before parliament only to produce a GCE paper. What's the quality of that paper in fact - how many subject credits did he get? Has it been verified by WAEC? Please let's do that. There may be surprises.
2. Look at this other man who claimed to have a Master’s degree only for the MPs to discover that he was never awarded that certificate because he owed the college some money. We can't even begin to understand this. A degree that was not awarded for over twenty years is still valid today? How do you spend a year or two doing a degree and then claim it without holding the certificate in hand because of debts? Is this man really serious?
3. Another guy started a certificate course in a local school which he didn't complete. Yet he is reported to have declared that certificate as part of his CV. Come on man, what do you take us for? Why did these people really feel compelled to make those claims on their documents when they didn't need anything apart from being able to speak some kind of English Language to serve as ministers?
Let's just say this: We believe parliament should take the issue of people lying under oath VERY SERIOUSLY. They should refer any such cases to the Attorney General for people to be prosecuted for lying under oath and making false declarations. These are very serious matters and we do not take kindly to our representatives being lied to or deliberate attempts being made to deceive them and by extension us, the good people of Sierra Leone. We are watching this closely.
KAMARAINBA THROWN OUT OF PARLIAMENT. SO WHAT NEXT?
So the aspiring political firebrand had to be escorted out of parliament the other day? Apparently the guy had mobilised some young boys and girls to go out there and protest against the eligibility or otherwise of some of those nominated to ministerial jobs, including Orbangu. Remember Orbangu? - APC, PDP associate, - PMDC - UDM - APC.
Kamarainba, to be kicked out of the vicinity of parliament is far better than being arrested and charged for INCITEMENT or having PEPPER SPRAY even for self defence. And being denied bail and thrown into one of the worst prisons in the world that they choose to call a CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
Just a few points to note O Kamarainba:
1. We call ourselves a democracy but next time please don't push that too far. Our democracy starts where we all wake up and go to sing that the De Pa Dae Woke and Long Live De Pa - a kind of West African North Korea.
2. Our democracy ends where the Red people conclude that the masses were beginning to take your criticisms of their very tired government seriously.
3. There is actually nobody in this country who has any doubts about the fact that despite some obvious flaws identified during the confirmation hearings, all the nominees would sail through. So it was good to take a stand. But just give it up for now.
4. By the way, did you settle those people who marched with you to parliament the other day? Some of them have told us that a few pennies are still outstanding.
5. We have always hoped that Kamarainba would perform better at opposing this RED MOVEMENT because he was part of them. At some point, he even tried to take over from De Pa. Don't this guy know about those NINETY-NINE TACTICS? Don't you know that ONLY A NINJA CAN KILL A NINJA? Hey, hope you didn't throw away all the documents from your RED MOVEMENT days. Read them over and over again.
(C) Politico 05/04/16
