PA KABBAH'S DEATH: WHAT LESSONS FOR US HERE FOR NOW?
Meteorologists have something to say about the rain that hit different parts of the country over the last few days but we beg that they allow us to believe that the ground is being softened up for the remains of the late president to be lowered into Mother Earth.
March is known for being extremely hot in Sierra Leone so this gentle rain came at the right time. The late president ran a good race - from the Sierra Leone civil service to the UN and back home to become president. He had the right temperament to lead in times of war and his greatest legacies are his post-war reconstruction programs.
Like all of us, Kabbah was never a perfect man. Even the great Nelson Mandela had a few questions around some of his actions. But what lessons should we learn from Kabbah's passing?
a. Nothing lasts forever. Even presidents die.
b. Getting hooked on the pleasures of this world will take us nowhere. Amassing property all over the place is all vanity. When death comes knocking, nobody is protected.
d. Kabbah was a humble man. He didn't display power and wealth in a sea of poverty. He was even accused by High Barb of being "too greedy". But we understand the context.
c. When in such positions of authority try to be good with everybody. In the last few days, the nation has been given very detailed accounts of what Tejan Kabbah did for Sierra Leone on radio. Ordinary people have carved his place in the history of the country. It makes no sense trying to manipulate one's own place in history while still alive.
It's never too late to change track and be fair with everybody. There is no repentance in the grave. God Bless Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
WOULD THE GOVERNMENT MOVE ON CATHEDRAL SCHOOL NEXT?
We are still waiting for further confirmation from our usually reliable sources but we make bold to say that we've heard from the grapevine that De Pa's government is planning to take over Cathedral school along Garrison Street and use both the building and the space around it as a market place for Abacha women.
We are on the brink of another period of denials and counter denials as was played out over a similar attempt on the Annie Walsh Memorial School. What is the issue between the Anglican Church and De Pa's government's desire to construct markets for petty traders. The Anglicans have always been in the line of fire. Interesting eh?
Our information is that De Pa is proposing to transfer that school to somewhere on Tower Hill. We don't know where. As in the case with the Annie Walsh, we have no problem with such proposals but we hope the Church, the teachers, parents and even the children would be consulted on the details on any such re-location.
We are trying to get some more details but already we are wondering which school is next. Saint Edwards, May Park Kingtom, may be. The number of people trying to sell rat poison and "pure water" is rising daily.
PETROL QUEUES ARE BACK: ARE THE JOURNALISTS LYING AGAIN?
Please note this in your dairy: every three months there is bound to be fuel shortage in Sierra Leone. The queues are back and the pain is being felt all over. Why is it that we never seem to be able to more five steps forward with taking a few more backwards? This is so annoying!
And here's the point; we are lucky that Kothor IB Kargbo is no longer at the ministry of information because he would have told the whole nation that "unscrupulous people" were busy "sabotaging" the government.
So what is Kan Kan Kan saying now? Are we complaining too much? In fact people like us in Freetown should spare a thought for our compatriots in Bo and Kenema. In those places, there are permanent petrol queues since the introduction of the metric system. A dealer in Bo has told us an interesting tale about why this is so. We shall hold that for now.
We wish to announce that the open season of JEBU petrol is here. Those who have to make big money in underground petrol deals must do so right now. The window will close in Freetown and other parts of the country in two weeks time. It will be one month later for Bo and Kenema.
THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE AT SAINT JOHN BRIDGE
We wholeheartedly sympathise with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the recent fire disaster at the Old Railway Line Bridge near St. John. We pray for those who lost properties and some kind of roof over their heads. It's really pathetic.
When we passed by the place, we asked ourselves, how come people were still living under bridges in Freetown even after Bababode's big talk following the debacle at King Jimmy Bridge.
This political tactic of deliberately waffling on serious issues and making empty promises when disasters strike is getting on the people's nerves. It's a now a familiar pattern and somehow we feel our politicians must all hang their heads in shame for allowing their people to suffer so much pain.
Now, we believe that Babbabode and the central government have a big opportunity arising out of this incident to move people from those under-the-bridge settlements and all the creeks along the Freetown bay. It's not enough crying all over the place when disaster strikes. We can't understand why people choose to live in such places. For the majority of them it's out of choice.
Yes, we have lost lives and properties but let's use this opportunity to clean up all such areas, votes or no votes. The people would have realised the wisdom behind any such action before 2017. Long live De Pa!
WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM NJALA CAMPUS BO?
We understand all those arrested in connection with the riot at University of Njala campus in Bo have been released without charge; that the students have been thrown out of their hostels and exams would begin this week. Ok, but what about those issues that caused the fighting in the first place?
We understand serious challenges remain and the authorities are only hoping the students would now be sufficiently scared not to attempt another disruption of the exams.
By the way, how secure were the examination papers during all the fighting? How can the administration be sure that in the midst of the pushing and shoving, nobody was able to lay hands on those question papers? Could it be that the papers have now been widely leaked in Bo? Somebody whispered that to us but we trust the good administrators of Njala University. We warn them to investigate though.
(C) Politico 18/03/14
