CHIEF SIDIKIE LOSES FIRST ROUND BUT LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
The other day we outlined a few options open to Chief Sidikie following the ratification of the decision to remove him from the Red Movement at an emergency delegates' conference in Freetown.
He has no more legal legs in the Red Movement. Now it would appear as if things aren't looking good for him in the Supreme Court too. He's just lost his bid to restrain the SELECTED VP now acting in his place from performing that role until his real case is completed in the same court. All five judges disagreed with his case. The real case is a few streets ahead but could this defeat be a sign of what's coming?
In public, the Chief's lawyers would say they have a good case but deep inside, Chief Sidikie would be actively considering some of the options we outlined - two of them in particular, taking his case to the real Supreme Executives of this country and any other county - THE PEOPLE - and joining the anti-Red Movement alliance comprising the Green Movement and the Tangerine Brigade. The only problem with that alliance holding would be how to resolve the question of who will lead the alliance. But as we suggested, Chief could return to his office in triumph should he content himself with being RUNNING MATE again. The Green Movement is obsessed with getting a flagbearer. So obsessed that they have now adopted the Chinese Philosopher Confucius as their saint. Ask SHOMANO KAPEN.
We are returning to court next Tuesday. We will keep an eye on the body language of Chief Sidikie's legal team throughout the hearing. In fact this is the case we've been waiting for. Whatever happens in that matter will occupy at least two chapters of this country's recent political history - the story itself and all the characters, including the judges and their rulings.
LOGUS KOROMA WITHDRAWS BUSES FROM PROVINCIAL ROUTES
It's official now that there are no SLRTC buses on our provincial routes. They were withdrawn to service Freetown because of pressure being put on the government by commuters. Transportation is a big problem in the country, Freetown in particular. We know that. But we don't believe that the correct thing to do was to withdraw buses from provincial routes. Does Logus Koroma truly understand the message behind his latest move? Even the TRC report noted that Freetown was behaving as if it was Sierra Leone leading to a complete marginalisation of the rest of the country. As far as Logus is concerned, the rest of the country can go hang, as long as the people in Freetown are fine.
Come on Minister Logus consider the following:
1. The only reason the minister took the shipping documents to the media to explain the movement of the Chinese buses is because of the spin he has put on a story which is nothing extra-ordinary anyway. If after nearly eight years in office a government decides to buy buses by whatever means for the people what is really earth-shattering about that? Isn't that what any government is supposed to be doing? But our minister spends so much time spinning stories to create a good name for himself. So now that he's been caught in his own spin trap, he's gone into overdrive to put things back on track. Including serving as a bus conductor once again at Lumley.
2. We expect some Ashobi parade the day those buses arrive in Freetown. And another one when they are commissioned and other when the first ones arrive at provincial destinations. Welcome to Spin Country. The police will issue Ebola clearance without question. Morgan Heritage organised something that looked like the Rio Carnival after plastering bathroom toilets on the clock tower and creating the condition that caused a serious fist fight with the opposition. Only a few years later now the toilet tiles are going to be removed.
3. Taking those buses off provincial routes says something really bad about what this government thinks about our people who live outside Freetown. The minister's argument that the private sector has stepped in very well is also very flawed. A government serves the people or it is supposed to. The so-called private sector is about profit. They pack people in un-roadworthy vehicles and drive at break-neck speed because of money. Is that what Logus wants for our people? Does Logus really thing that any of our people would go into those killer poda-podas if government transportation was well organised? Many people would prefer to park their cars and use public transport.
4. We warn Logus again not to overshoot by creating the impression that those Chinese buses would solve the transport problems in this country. The truth is that in Freetown in particular, we don't have the roads and organisation to make them effective.
5. Finally. Well for now, the spare parts the minister is talking about run the risk of ending up in the vehicles of his private sector people. We know what happens at SLRTC. We note too that in finding quick propaganda solutions, Logus is busy privatising everything - jetties, ferries, airport security, the marine slipway...we shall return to this endless privatisation question soon. What is the essence of the state then?
SLFA EXECUTIVE DISSOLVED AGAIN: ANOTHER STATE HOUSE MEETING?
How many times will the same Football Stakeholders dissolve the same SLFA executive for the same reasons and appoint the same interim leadership and then revert to the same position after a few meetings at the same State House? The point is even journalists who love such dramatic stories are truly fed up with the inability of the people who run our game to tolerate each other in mutual respect.
When State House intervened the last time, De Pa didn't want the factions to fight it to the end because of the consequences of that on our game. But now it looks as though this battle will get to its logical conclusion. This country would suffer badly under FIFA sanctions but maybe that will be the best thing for all of us.
We say so because even after the intervention of State House, the SLFA members went to Makeni and wasted huge amount of money on a conference that never got off the ground. They money they spent on hotel, transportation and food, even per diem came from the people of Sierra Leone and Johansen doesn't think it's right to apologise to us for that.
SLFA congresses are becoming something of a sick joke. We will not be sorry if this SLFA is thrown out of office this time. It's looking like that but Johansen has powerful shadowy advisers and NINE LIVES.
WHEN WILL THE LAST EBOLA HAZARD ALLOWANCES BE PAID?
Next time you appear for congregational prayers please remember to ask God for this Ebola menace to end now. Not tomorrow. Now. We are very tired.
Every time we try to forget about Ebola figures we see people on the streets protesting over hazard payments. This constantly reminds us that Ebola was still around and those who helped us beat it to the edge of the pit have not been treated fairly.
Please, let every penny be paid now so that strikes over hazard pay would be a thing of the past. The last one we saw these days was totally embarrassing especially when it involved an agency that did extremely well for this country - MSF. And these workers came from right under our noses at Prince of Wales School holding center. Thanks all.
© Politico 07/05/15
