RESIGNATIONS AND DECLARATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE
Something is happening on the political landscape as we move towards June 24 that we should highlight here. Many people, politicians and ordinary supporters are leaving Tolongbo to join the so-called Progressive Alliance of PAOPA and NGC. They are doing it publicly on social media and at ceremonies organized for that purpose in different parts of the country. On the face of it, things are not looking good for an opposition party that should be consolidating now to take on Principal’s PAOPA. Some of those running away now were once very powerful Tolongbo people who dominated the political stage throughout the reign of King Messi.
We don’t know how this might re-shape voting patterns especially in areas considered strongholds of Tolongbo. It’s fair to say we haven’t yet seen reciprocal resignations in the strongholds of PAOPA. Maybe we shouldn’t read much into that because politics is full of twists and turns. With Tolongbo now threatening demonstrations and a boycott over the voter ID card, why do we think they are preparing a case for the near future? Now, let’s just say a word or two on those defections.
1. A prominent Tolongbo leader calls Kankankan, Vicky Foh and people like them EXPENDABLES. JFK thinks they don’t count at all. Let’s agree with JFK that they are real EXPENDABLES: How about the Tolongbo information and tactics they once had access to?
2. One of those who quit recently told friends he saw no reason to remain in Tolongbo because they had no chance of winning. Is that what is driving this upsurge in defections?
3. A significant part of Kono district appears to have turned their backs on Tolongbo. We believe that they have themselves to blame for that. Tolongbo has refused to deal decisively with those causing them the loss of support in Konoland. They have buried their heads in the sand.
We have seen people already nominated as possible Tolongbo MPs and Councilors writing to ECSL asking for their names to be withdrawn. Surely that is something that should worry Tolongbo with only a few days to polling.
WHY ARE PEOPLE THREATENING VIOLENCE OVER JUNE 24?
We can clearly see now that people have set up a cottage industry that specializes in fear mongering and inciting actual violence on our streets because they have this feeling that June 24 may not go their way. In these days of social media, they go on facebook and Whatsapp and within minutes their cold and cruel words are shared with other platforms by their friends and others who enjoy such rhetoric. These days even some of our colleagues in the media who should know better are part of this industry.
We appreciate the work of SLAJ and their partners to fact-check some of the most outrageous claims now being made by even mainstream politicians but the fact remains that they can’t really deal with all the issues and statements made in small communities that never reach the media. Community leaders and heads of political party organs have a very important role to play.
We have also read press statements from the SECURITY SECTOR, calling attention to such incendiary statements. The truth is there are dark forces at work and they are bent on doing all within their power to delegitimize the coming elections and throw the country into a constitutional crisis. Their hope is that the international community will step in at that point calling for so-called inclusive government which will open a way for them to enter government. Many Sierra Leoneans see this as wishful thinking but we are sure this is their game plan.
As far as we know, Sierra Leoneans are going out on June 24 to elect their leaders. We will not be surprised to witness sporadic acts of violence in a few places but the results will be declared and people will move on and live a normal life.
Threats of violence will continue on social media. In fact it will intensify in the coming weeks. We urge our people to stand firm and be calm. Long Live Salone!
THE PEOPLE OF SUDAN CAN’T BREATHE
It’s a month now since two mad generals ordered their forces to fight each other for control of the country and its vast resources. The proud people of that country have been killed, injured and forced into exile in neighboring countries. The most powerful countries in the world have evacuated their people leaving the ordinary people of Sudan at the mercy of their crazy generals who hate each other’s guts. The message we expected the so-called generals to get from those evacuations is that they should stop killing their own people for political power.
We have been waiting for the rest of Africa, using the platform of the AU to stand up and tell these generals that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. They have to stop shedding the blood of our brothers and sisters in Sudan.
We know the African Union has a lot of challenges, including the obvious fact that some big countries in Africa are remote-controlled by the west but this is the time to end the bloodshed in our backyard. There’s a lot already in the media about the civil war in Sudan turning into a proxy war between Russia and the west. It’s the last thing we want to read but we are living in a world where everything is possible.
The AU should NEVER tell us their hands are tied in anyway. This is a problem for the AU. Of course, Saudi Arabia and the US can help but frankly Africa should take the lead in searching for peace in Sudan. OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS MUST BREATHE NOW.
IT’S NOT YET OVER BUT COME ON ARSENAL
It’s not impossible but the way things are going now Manchester City are going to take the EPL title again this year. They have come from way behind to lead the table. Arsenal remained on top of the log for long periods of this current season and their players and supporters were beginning to believe. Many people who would normally not support Arsenal were resigned to them winning the EPL again after many years because they have played really good football this season, scoring many brilliant goals. Some of their players are young and quick and their manager has also played an inspiring role in what now looked like the days of Arsene Wenger all over again.
There were however suggestions that at some point in the league, Arsenal would drop points and open the way for their closest challenger, Manchester City to take over. It took a long time to happen but we have now arrived. It will now take the most catastrophic collapse ever seen in world football for Manchester City to lose this EPL title. Miracles are possible and Arsenal might well be praying for something to happen but in the real world, the open top bus parade in Manchester can to all intent and purposes begin this weekend.
The jury is still out on how this loss might affect the morale of this Arsenal side going into the next season. Seeing their body language on the field at home after they were thrashed by Brighton says a lot about how easily they might come back from this disappointment. Football can be cruel. Arteta is going home empty-handed and the wait goes on for the EPL trophy at the EMIRATES.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (17/05/23)
