REFLECTION DAY IN SIERRA LEONE: "O GOD SAVE THIS COUNTRY"
Freetown was a ghost city yesterday. Other major cities were the same too at least until the early evening hours in areas outside Freetown. De Pa closed down the country and asked that we "reflect and pray" for God to lift this Ebola menace over the land. Well, no matter what, we are a very religious people. So we truly appreciate De Pa turning to God. But could this have happened earlier. Could the nation have been so mobilised when our closest neighbour, Guinea was in the thick of it?
We promised last week not to drill too much into the real issues until such a time when the veil of annihilation by Ebola is removed from this country. We have only mentioned a few here because we are supposed to be reflecting on issues around Ebola.
A lot of our people have died already. Some more will die before we declare victory over Ebola as we did over Foday Sankoh's crazy war.
Our bag is full of questions and insights and we are itching to go but we are being sensitive to the suffering of many families. God Save Sierra Leone.
BETWEEN A "SOCIAL COMMENTATOR" AND A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Is Hon Bami Chidi really telling us that doing "social commentary" on radio, carries more impact that doing it in parliament? You see, in parliament, people have powers to change things; to make policies that reformed situations in the interest of millions; to enter the hearts of people and stay there forever.
We know that those who do social commentary also contribute to the national debate but more often than not, it's about keeping themselves in the spotlight and suggesting they can be relevant for some national sweets. So what is our former MP friend really up to?
After 10 dull and boring years in parliament with two different parties, how come Bami Chidi has suddenly discovered he has people to care for. Before writing this, we checked up some Hansards of his time in parliament and we found very little. We saw comments here and there about the National Fire Force but that's about all.
Hon. Sir, you can continue making speeches and prescriptions but we honestly think the nation must move on beyond the views of that generation. It's very serious. Those views are completely out of sync with where we think this country should be going now.
If our MP friend decides to challenge us on the points we have just raised, we are ready to provide details of why we have finally decided to take this position. We have at least 12 editions of programmes from SLBC/TV and programmes on other radio stations which we have fully analysed and we will be ready to share our perspectives with our readers. Let's have a fresh, open and honest national conversation with the people at heart.
THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURY: ARTHUR CAULKER IS STILL IN JAIL
For how long will the trial of Journalist Arthur Caulker last? Arthur was thrown into jail - we can't remember when and we have barely heard anything about him since. Ok, here's what we know about his situation: Although a Journalist, Arthur stands accused of collaborating with some lady to pose as estate agents to dupe unsuspecting people looking for flats to rent in Freetown. We are not clear about how much money was involved and the actual role he played in the alleged deal but he has been on remand since Pedro -Da -Cintra left this place.
Let's be clear, we feel very bad that, according to the prosecution, Arthur put himself into a situation where such allegations can be levied against him. We absolutely do not encourage fraud and would be the first to welcome his conviction and imprisonment according to the laws of Sierra Leone. That's in fact why SLAJ is staying clear of the case.
We are raising his issue however because the guy has just gone missing and the last time we heard anything about him, he was remanded. Wouldn't he have served his time already so that even if he is convicted, he would simply walk home now?
Can the judiciary please brief us on the status of Arthur Caulker's case? We know there are many such people in that Pademba Road jail so why not have a media operation in our judiciary to constantly brief people on what is going on in there.
Please don't consider us for any consultancy. We will reject because the whole project would be frustrated by the judiciary's love for secrecy.
WORRYING SIGNALS FOR OSUOFIA ALL OVER THE PLACE
We have been reliably informed by some of our very authoritative sources within the Green Movement that Osuofia, who's been holding out in London - well studying for a PhD - is losing his base in areas where it matters most. An insider in London told us that dozens have deserted Osuofia because "he cares only for himself and not the party". Our source gave no details but he insisted that many people are voting with their feet.
Well, there are people - Osuofia diehards - who would dismiss us as mischief-makers. They will even suggest that other candidates in the leadership race have paid for this comment. Good luck to them. We are used to being attacked like that.
Not too long ago, we suggested that for Osuofia to run to London at a time like this, and that was even before Ebola attacked this country, was a completely wrong move for somebody who is looking to claim the highest political office in Sierra Leone. The guy is content with engaging a few people by Skype and the rest of the country by means of a press release. It hasn't worked and will not work.
The last time we touched this issue, we also wondered why this guy was so desperate about getting a PhD in something. We think he is intelligent enough to get a real PhD, not the one Christiana Sister of Cluny is going around with, but it only re-enforces the charge that he cares only about the fulfilment of his own agenda. And that the rest of those he calls his supporters and huge pawns on this personal development chess board. Otherwise, how can anybody explain the man's absence from this country at a time like this?
Anyway, maybe he is beginning to behave like Robin the son of Fallay, the guy who at the outbreak of Ebola deserted Segbwema and went to Port Loko to distribute books to secondary schools.
(C) Politico 05/08/14
