SLAJ JOINS "NETWORK OF GOODWILL", BUT WHAT ABOUT ITS AFFILIATES?
We are still trying to find out which group is next on De Pa's agenda as he continues to build his "NETWORK OF GOODWILL". Last week he met the national executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, SLAJ. From what we've read so far on social networking sites, this was basically one of those meetings, full of feel-good speeches and promises to deliver things De Pa promised in 2008 - the land to build SLAJ headquarters.
And the annual subvention put in place by Alhaji Tejan Kabba and cut off by Alhaji IB Kargbo and De Pa is on the promise list, once again. We have been here before so we are not very impressed, but we are willing to wait for a few more weeks before we dismiss De Pa's promises for good.
We may however like to bring to De Pa's attention that there are now many radical leftist affiliates of SLAJ that were not invited to the big lunch at State House. They represent a good percentage of the membership and they believe the national body has not always represented their views well. Here are some of them:
JOURNALISTS AGAINST ARMED ROBBERY AND LAND GRABBING - We have no idea how this group came into being and how they met the conditions to be affiliated to SLAJ. They usually operate in the peninsular areas of Sierra Leone. De Pa should consider talking to them about available land on which to build the SLAJ secretariat. They know more about land than the Minister of Lands.
JOURNALISTS FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER - They have about ten members but they are very effective. They will soon produce a report that will expose the truth behind all the facade that that guy with strong animal connection to the NEC boss has been holding up, pretending people will soon get pipe borne water in their homes. There are about 6,000 students on FBC campus (we heard it on radio), but not a drop of water. The guy with strong animal connection to the NEC boss, who also loves Bureh Beach, thinks he is doing the nation a favour by hanging in there. Good luck to him.
JOURNALISTS FOR AGENDA FOR PROSPERITY - This is the latest of such SLAJ affiliates to register. They boast of solid contacts in government and are motivated by the unending belief that some day they will be appointed as Information Attaches to our embassies. They believe in the modern day Sierra Leonean rags-to-riches story, a kind of Cinderella experience. They are growing increasingly frustrated that it's not looking too good now because De Pa is slowly but surely becoming a lame duck and he may not be able to be their fairy Godfather. One of the most extreme elements in the group told us he believes that because De Pa has ruled himself out of a THIRD TERM PROJECT, he is already a lame duck.
These are a few more of such groups that De Pa must keep his eyes on. We shall name some more in subsequent editions. Hahahahahaha!
By the way De Pa should think of having a Big Lunch with the Abacha Babes. hahaha. Whatever happened to that promised street-clearing. We have lied here long enough to know what is just sound and fury. Which takes us to this:
COALITION AGAINST ABACHA STREET AND OKADA BOYS
Bababode has set so many deadlines for the clearing of Abacha Street that hardly anybody believes the latest one would hold. After that unnecessary demonstration in Freetown recently, we were told yet again that Abacha Street would be finally cleared in February.
The Minister of Trade, Grand Ayatolla Sistani is so idle that he jumped out of his office to address traders who clearly defied the police to go on that march across Freetown. His action was a big slap on the face of Francis Munu. We wonder why he didn't accuse the Ayatollah of "pulling inch" when he made statements that effectively gave legitimacy to an illegal demonstration. Well this is what we get when we appoint people into such positions because they betrayed their own parties.
The truth is, both Abacha Street and the rude and lawless Okada Boys are sources of embarrassment to De Pa and he wants to do away with them now as he prepares to consolidate whatever he calls his legacy. So all this talk about fighting lawlessness is geared towards that objective. We are natural allies in this and we offer our support to Bababode whose performance in office is making Herbert George-Williams look like Nelson Mandela.
By the way Bababode, what is happening to that King Jimmy Bridge and all what you promised to do in the wake of its collapse? We have you on record. You gave an interview to Culture Radio, do you remember that, sir? We shall help the people of this city finally make up their minds about you if you fail to clear Abacha street in February. This is no blackmail. We shall use your own words.
WIND OF DEATH BLOWS OVER GREEN AND RED MOVEMENTS
Well, well, well the last ten days have been particularly difficult for the Red and Green Movements in this country. At the last count they had both lost three members each - some young, some not so young. Some powerful, some not so powerful during their last days.
The tributes that have been published so far are very interesting. We've not been disappointed at all. Even people who hated the guts of the deceased have taken to Facebook and other platforms to sing the praises of the departed. Human beings are like that. We are surprised only because there are people willing to listen to or read those tributes when they know it's all fake and hypocritical.
We pray that God will receive their souls in the usual way. The political consequences of the recent departures will become clear as succession battles begin and we shall be there to point out how much of crocodile tears those tributes were. By the way we know the Bereavement Race is one no party wishes to win. So far, it 3-3.
50TH ANNIVERSARY CASE DYING, DYING, DYING, DEAD: WELCOME TO SALONE
The last time the man with the most outrageous salary in Sierra Leone addressed the burning issue of the corruption case that came out of the 50th anniversary celebration endeavour, he said something about lawyers travelling abroad or some piece of evidence waiting to be admitted or those kinds of jazz. Why these people think we will always swallow whatever they say to us with question is what we don't understand. We may not be on the same level with Wayne Rooney in terms of salary, but we know exactly what is happening with this case.
The main guy indicted on behalf of the people is very highly connected and we have reason to believe that is the reason why things are going the way they are with this case. Many other cases have come long after the 50th Anniversary and have been disposed of but the highly connected man has still not answered the people's questions about the money he is alleged to have used for the 50th Anniversary celebration even if he denies the allegations.
We hope the ACC understands why people accuse them of letting the rich and powerful get away lightly while junior police officers and head masters and bursars of primary schools are swiftly convicted and jailed. We are against corruption everywhere but we are beginning to understand those concerns. Why not throw the case out of court or conclude in the usual way. TOTALLY NOT GUILTY. Hahahahaha.
EMERSON'S CRITICS SAY KOKOBEH SONG IS TOO LONG
Emerson has been in the news since he released his latest album with the hit song KOKOBEH. Depending on who's feeling the heat, the young man has been kicked or had his head massaged all over the place. He should be used to that after all these years. One guy told us "I hate KOKOBEH because it's too long". But the bile in his voice suggests that there was something deeper than the song being "too long".
We referred the guy to social commentators like Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his AFROBEAT music which he used in his fight against successive military governments that raped Nigeria in the 70s and 80s and social decadence in that great country, including CORRUPTION which Emerson is also fighting. We also referred him to Hugh Masekela with his trumpet in the days of apartheid. We asked him to just look back to see how those two guys influenced social change in their countries and Africa as a whole. We can name a few more the next time the guy comes around to argue about KOKOBEH in such clay-legged way. Instead of telling us that the song made him politically uncomfortable, he hid behind "KOKOBEH is too long". "MESSIE LEF WE NOR TO MUNKU". Ride on, Emerson!
(C) Politico 21/01/14
