DESPERATE MOMOH KONTEH DEEP IN TRIBAL CAMPAIGN MESS
Just after receiving a sound beating at the polls in that Falaba bye-election despite all his last minute reckless appeal to tribal sentiments, Momoh the failed King of Kabala has been back on the road in the constituency awaiting an election this weekend with the same message targeted at the poor people of that constituency. We know that with elections so close and the possibility of his Red Camp losing a seat they held briefly until the sad demise of our friend and former colleague, Eskimo (RIP), the language was bound to be really strident. But going so low once again to talk about tribes because of the dominance of a particular tribe in that area is wicked and somebody should put it on record for the failed King to be called out till the day he meets his maker.
Naturally, reasonable people would expect the campaign of a party that has ruled this country for more than any other since independence, to be focused on their achievements all over the country especially in a community they consider their political stronghold. But just over a year after being rejected by the people, the Red Camp king has nothing to point to in Constituency 043 but thinly-veiled tribal sentiments. He convinced himself that raw tribal campaign is the way to go. Well, it failed in Falaba. Let’s see how it goes in Bafodia. But more important, we will try very hard so it fails EVERYWHERE in the motherland. We are all related one way or the other, so why this desperation to try to capitalise on the gullibility of the masses by preaching along tribal lines!
We urge failed King Momoh to think about the following in the next 72 hour leading to the polls.
1. Falaba became a district out of a ruthless gerrymandering drive by King Messi to increase the Red Camp dominance in Parliament in furtherance of his political agenda. As it has now turned out, Falaba has gone the other way. So the best laid plans could fail. The tribal campaign failed in Falaba and may also fail in Bafodia.
2. Momoh should remember that he could become a casualty of the fire of tribal politics he is spreading in his own backyard. Do you remember Slobodan Milosevic?
3. If your party had done very well for those people they would be strolling through this bye-election. Think about that. Why are you worried that even your classmate who you found in that small rally was now with another camp?
4. We didn’t see that guy with you this time. We are talking about the one who came from the Commonwealth only to end up joining a tribal campaign with you in the previous video. Has he suddenly realized the danger behind your tactics?
5. By the way, we understand that in the next few weeks you will be involved in an epic battle for your freedom and liberty in the next phase of that small matter the other day. Good luck with that. Don’t throw stones if you live in a glass house.
AFTER THE STATE HOUSE HANDSHAKE AND MEETING
Our sources say the meeting between Principal and King Messi was a good one. We saw both men smiling for the camera and some backslapping afterwards, as King Messi left State House. All good then! As always things are not the way they appear but it was a good thing they met to create the impression Sierra Leone is a united country despite the huge political struggles in our towns and villages.
We have looked at the communiqué from that meeting and said quietly that we’ve been here before. But let’s congratulate those who made this meeting possible and warn the participants that unless they actually mean what is on that document, the people will not regard any such meeting with seriousness in the future.
Having said that, the good people of Sierra Leone would like to make the following issues very clear to Principal in particular:
1. The recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry and the conclusions of cabinet should be implemented without delay, when released. This should never be part of the conversation behind those smiles and handshakes.
2. We feel very proud about a robust Anti-Corruption Commission. We must get people to account for all the monies they stole from their grandchildren. No compromise!
3. We live in a democracy so the rule of law is paramount. Current cases before our courts must be pursued to the end. No short cuts.
4. If we find any incompetent people holding jobs in the public sector, let’s put them through the process and send them away. They were put there for political reasons not the quality of their work for Sierra Leone.
5. Next time remember to post the cost of hosting such meetings whether lunch was served or not. We are talking about other costs. Hahahahahahahaha!
ROOF TOP OUTCRY OVER ACC’S COTTON TREE STRATEGY AND ONE WEEK LATER…
Like we said a week or so ago we believe that parading any suspects in a potential criminal trial on the streets is wrong and should be discontinued forthwith. We were very measured in our language when criticizing Afro Boy and his team because we have a lot of respect for him for the good job he is doing for Sierra Leone. He took the wrong turn and was brought back into line by a huge public outcry culminating in an apology from Principal.
About a week later, Afro Boy sent his Scorpions out to a little corner of Freetown where the same examination criminality was taking place. The nation saw pictures of those involved either being arrested or fleeing in all directions, including through the roof. So when Afro Boy thought the public display would scare people away from cheating, the criminals have simply told him to think again. The business is too profitable to abandon, never mind the consequence on the nation.
1. Where are all those of our friends who fought so hard on the side of the alleged criminals? Will it not be a good idea to also now call out the new guys creating the same situation that caused that public display at the Cotton Tree?
2. Examination fraud is killing the next generation and all should fight it with the same human rights vigour we used to attack the ACC. Otherwise other West African nationals will one day come out here to take our public sector jobs.
3. In this struggle we should find out why somebody will travel from the far north and far south for example to write the WASSCE at a center in Waterloo. Why?
4. Where is the SLTU which threatened court action against the ACC recently now saying about this latest raid and the involvement of their members? Shame on them for not speaking out this time!
5. Should heads roll at WAEC? How was it possible that examination papers meant for a particular center found their way into that private home? Why did WAEC not cooperate with ACC’s Systems Review protocol? Should we deploy the military to guard those papers?
WHY IS THE NGC PERFORMING SO BADLY AT THE POLLS?
While KKY may be doing well in parliament and public life in general, to the admiration of many, things are not so good for his party. The NGC has punched well below its own assumed political weight in all bye-elections since last year’s elections. We will not reach a definitive conclusion on their political future until something unfortunate brings us a bye-election in one of those constituencies they are currently holding in Kambia district.
In the interim, we think there is a lot of work to do outside parliament – all over the country – to stop NGC going the way of PDP-Sorbeh and PMDC went.
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