A TRUE DEMOCRACY vs A DEMOCRACY ON A4 PAPER
We've once again seen pictures of Sierra Leoneans demonstrating outside UN headquarters in New York to call attention to democratic challenges facing Sierra Leone. Now it seems every visit De Pa makes to the United States attracts demonstrations against aspects of his rule back home - especially his sacking of Chief Sidikie and the management of funds allocated to fight the dreaded Ebola disease. These are the main issues bringing Sierra Leoneans out on the streets there. Carefully mobilised pro-government demonstrators were also around this time in an attempt to balance the equation.
In one of the scenes, we saw Minister Alhaji Emmanuel attempting to get a word or two with the demonstrators but he found himself under heavy verbal attack. There's no doubt that he went out to meet those demonstrators with his eyes wide open. So long live Minister Alhaji Emmanuel.
The point we really want to make is that, while Sierra Leoneans in Obama Land can freely speak out, those at home are threatened with jail - Emergency Rule or No Emergency Rule. In this way we get to know which country is a real democracy.
1. Police officers stood by as the demonstrators gave Minister Alhaji Emmanuel an unbelievable tongue-lashing. In Sierra Leone he wouldn't need to ask for their help, Munu would unleash his boys easily. And judging by the recent record, we could end up with ordinary people being killed. In America, Alhaji Emmanuel knew the police would send him on his way if he asked them to disperse the demonstrators so he didn't bother.
2. Looks like the US embassy in Freetown would from now on receive a lot of visa applications any time De Pa is due to travel to the US. The embassy should be in no doubt that many Sierra Leoneans are now prepared to pay huge money just to express a democratic right.
3. This is the country in which a parliamentary big man went on radio and told the people not to ask questions about Ebola money because the issue was before the great house. We have seen people demonstrating in front of Congress and the House of Common, even the US Supreme Court when they are in session over an issue they feel strongly about. Are we in a democracy?
4. We call ourselves a democracy but every time people want to demonstrate against a government policy, the police accuse them of being disorderly and some would be arrested in their homes. THIS COUNTRY IS A REAL DEMOCRACY ON A4 PAPER.
LOGUS KOROMA SOMERSAULTS AGAIN AS 98.1 BOARD STRIKES HARD
Somebody should please do this country a favour by sacking Logus Koroma immediately. He's been hanging in government by his finger nails all the time. In fact, we can't understand how a man who was sacked as junior minister in the office of Chief Sidikie suddenly found himself in his current office. Maybe we should make it mandatory in the new constitution that the nation must be given reasons why ministers are sacked just to make it a little difficult for them to be re-cycled.
It's really strange that Logus Koroma decided to attack 98.1 - a station he has used so effectively to give himself national relevance and to talk about ideas that would remain in his dream.
1. Logus Koroma used 98.1 to launch his hated AFTER YOU NAR YOU project. It was only because the station wanted to remain true to their name that they allowed a sacked minister to appear on their radio with a message like that.
2. Logus Koroma has been on the same radio many times to talk about his policy of banning left hand drive vehicle from our roads. Look what we have now: four postponements and the vehicles are still on the streets of this country. Ministers in some countries would resign over such governmental flip flopping. And Logus Koroma? No way!
3. Logus Koroma once traveled abroad and called 98.1 to announce that DELTA Airlines would soon start direct flights between sorry Lungi Airport and the US. Was the inaugural diverted to Accra sir?
4. Logus Koroma has been on the same radio many times to talk about his new Mamammah airport project. Another Chinese affair that has failed to amuse the nation.
5. Logus Koroma started spinning his 100 buses story on 98.1, the day he contacted the suppliers in China. We could go on and on. The day the station finally decided to push him a bit beyond his rudimentary spin tactics, he attacked them by comparing the young people's effort to build a modest accommodation for their station to THE STATE OF SIERRA LEONE buying buses from China and celebrating as if they had finally landed a man on the moon.
The democratic forces in the country fully support the board and staff of 98.1 and Logus Koroma should be in no doubt that the people would defend the station against ministerial bullying.
BETWEEN THE EDUCATION MINISTRY AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
So what's the latest in the row over the closure of a private school by the Ministry of Education? We ask because somebody must tell the nation what's happening to the young souls who, after their parents paying crazy sums of money, have been thrown out of their classrooms while the ministry flexes its muscles against Leone Preparatory School.
We don't know how the ministry singled out this particular school because we know of many other private schools in Freetown that are doing exactly the opposite of what the ministry is trying to enforce. We would be prepared to name some of them with receipts that some parents have dropped at our office. Why Leone Preparatory School?
Again, we believe that the real schools that should be closed down are in operation. In fact very busy collecting money from people while providing zero education in sub-human conditions. They are all over the place.
Look at this logic of Bra Minks: His ministry wouldn't allow the University to charge realistic fees so that they deliver high quality learning but they turn a blind eye to crazy school fees being levied on parents for some of these silly private schools. It's just about scoring cheap political points. Everything in this country is politicised.
Having said that, we've been reading the letter from Leone Preparatory School over and over again and we have fallen in love with the last sentence in which the most senior professional in the Education Ministry mixed up the words SEIZE and CEASE. The Leone Preparatory School used the opportunity to land an unbelievable upper cut, strong enough to send Floyd Mayweather to the floor on the face of the education boss. Hahahahahahaha. Leh we dae hammer dae go nor mor.
SIERRA LEONE FALLS INTO OBLIVION ON FIFA RANKING
Sierra Leone has now become totally irrelevant in world football. We have fallen so badly in the FIFA ranking that even Humpty Dumpty looked good after his great fall. Apart from the shame of being in the same zone as countries that have no face in world football, our international players would henceforth be confined to nondescript leagues in Europe and South Asia. The Premier League for example, is completely off limits to them.
We are waiting for Pope John Paul to go on radio now and tell the nation about his success with the national football team. When things were good, he kept beating that drum until the people became totally fed up with his music.
In fact, this is the worst time for football in this country - the national teams at all levels have failed, Isha Johansen who enjoys clocking air mile, cannot face her own members at a congress, FIFA is confused over Sierra Leone, football administrators and managers have impeached Johansen twice. The nation is looking on as things fall apart. Salone sorry!
(C) Politico 15/07/15
