GREAT CHIEF SIDIKIE WANTS RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM THE PEOPLE
So let’s be very clear from the outset that Chief Sidikie has not issued any public statement asking the people of Sierra Leone to pay him big money as end of service benefits. We have however heard from people very close to him that he would like to be compensated for his services to this country as Vice President to King Messi. We report this several months back but we have been forced to return to this subject following comments from the same people after Principal paid past politicians the second and final portion of their end of service benefits. They say leaving out Chief Sidikie again is bad. Maybe they are correct.
This point is, we believe that people should be paid for doing any job. That’s why we applaud the New Direction for paying our former leaders despite the current economic squeeze and despite industrial actions all over the place among current workers and pending ones. We also note that this is despite all those horror stories told at the Commission of Inquiry. In fact we joined the country and the world in expressing our disgust with our Supreme Court when they provided constitutional justification for King Messi’s political project to do that unprecedented thing – removing his vice president from office, claiming to have acted as the SUPREME EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY. But now, we have to pause a little and ask ourselves what’s really happening to Chief Sidikie for the following reasons:
1. Despite all that he put on record against King Messi, Chief Sidikie went back to that Seat of Power in Makeni and after a heavy meal to the world he had no quarrel with the King and the world should stop talking about the unconstitutionality of his removal from office.
2. We have just read transcripts of his interview with the BBC after the ECOWAS verdict. Among other things he told the world, money was not the reason he went to court. At that time Messi was in power. His government rejected the ruling so why is Chief Sidikie now asking us in a roundabout manner now to pick up that totally pointless bill racked up by his brother?
3. Strictly speaking, Chief Sidikie did not retire in office. He was unjustly sacked by King Messi with the support of ALL FIVE JUDGES of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. The ECOWAS ruling we were told by JFK was NOT BINDING on us. How can this New Direction government take money from our taxes to pay him retirement benefits when that Supreme Court ruling remains on our books?
4. We warn the New Direction that the good people of Sierra Leone are definitely not prepared to spend a penny as benefit to Chief Sidikie. They should NOT even start a conversation around that issue.
5. Anyway, we congratulate some of former leaders who have received the benefits. Please spend wisely because Biobele and friends may require you to return some cash to our treasury. Good luck guys.
CHIEF JUSTICE PLEASE FIX THE LEAKING ROOF AT THE HIGH COURT
The widely held view of poor maintenance of public buildings in this country has again been manifested at a place one could least expect that to occur. The main building housing Sierra Leone’s High Court along Siaka Stevens Street in the capital is one of the few iconic architectural masterpieces we inherited from British colonial rulers post-independence. The front of that building was a favourite photo-taking spot for UN Peacekeepers coming to the end of their tour of duty in the 2000s and wanting to take numerous memorabilia home. The building itself has undergone many refurbishing works over the past twenty years at very high costs. Some of the work has been very shabby and there were times people encounter very unpleasant smell coming from the toilets which obviously points to poor plumbing work.
A heavy downpour of rain last Friday forced proceedings at high court no.1 to be held up because of a leaking roof. The passage used by the Judge was so wet that he was forced to stay away. And who could believe that the immediate remedy was to have a plastic bucket placed on the floor and into which the drops of rain water settled.
Well one may see that as an immediate response to an unforeseen situation but we bet a permanent solution to the problem would be far- fetched and the plastic bucket would be there for the rest of the rainy season. Why shouldn’t they have the leaking roof permanently fixed that very day once and for all rather than the quick-fix but less effective solution? The judge has nothing to do with that but the estate officers there who by all account should be blamed for this kind of embarrassing spectacle which represents the inefficiency that permeates our public service.
POLICE STEP UP ARRESTS OF PEOPLE REFUSING TO MASK UP
It seems the police upcountry are really taking compliance to public face- masking very seriously with many arrests being carried out against stubborn folks who just blatantly ignore measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus. In Kenema, Bo and Moyamba, defaulters have been arrested by Police and charged to court. 20,000 Leones fine and an alternative 3 months imprisonment have been handed down on some of those brought to court. We consider 20,000 Leones a derisory sum that would just about make the fight against the pandemic look like child’s play. We therefore recommend a fine of over 50,000 Leones to get people to adhere to covid- 19 regulations laid down by the authorities.
The Sierra Leone Football Association has cancelled the COVID - 19 disrupted premier league and has taken the unusual decision of allowing clubs that have the resources and ready to represent the country at the CAF Club champions and Confederation cup competitions next year to do so, as the Association categorically stated it could not finance any of the competitions. This is uncharacteristic of Isha Johansen’s administration to leave matters in hands of clubs! We understand three clubs namely Lions, Kamboi Eagles and Bo Rangers are already having meetings amongst themselves to decide the two that would eventually play in the continent’s club competitions. We are not impressed though because only clubs with financial muscles could do so.
This is absurd because they would be there as representatives of the country by default. The first round of the league was almost ended but there was a whole full second round remaining. In football the second round could have seen teams beefing up with the signing of players and only at the end of the season could we have known those qualified to represent us. And for this interestingly strange drama that is being played out, clubs taking part in the competitions would be going there not as champions or runners up but just to fill the void!
Who was really behind the mess up or double standards that prevented Lions and FC Kallon from participating in the two CAF club competitions last season following the most successful league in over 5 years? The dreams of youngsters to showcase their talent at a bigger stage were thwarted by people whose presence in Salone football has become intolerable. And having a flawless Congress sooner than later, would be a big step forward in bringing back sanity to the game.
NSA AND SLFA MEET IN KENEMA SO WHY CAN’T WE HAVE THE ELECTIVE CONGRESS?
Here’s the truth about the situation inside the SLFA: the controversially elected president of this organization is not making any serious effort to be democratic in the governance of that institution. Let’s forget about how she came to power. The process was an unbelievable mockery of democracy but that was in 2013. What we want now is for her administration to stop hiding behind the coronavirus and seek a fresh mandate from the members of that organization.
We know that the process leading to the elective congress in Makeni was still rolling (after that debacle in Kenema) when Coronavirus attacked this nation but we believe that instead of doing everything possible to renew her mandate our SLFA president is looking for every excuse in the books to remain in office.
The other day, the SLFA joined the National Sports Agency to put on a show in Kenema over the unnecessarily long-delayed artificial turf project. We congratulate the NSA for doing something about this project and we wish this new body well. They have a solid mandate so let’s see how they carry themselves.
As far as the SLFA elective congress is concerned, we believe that agenda should proceed without any further delay. It’s a big disgrace that we have a president with an expired mandate still running this organization with the support of FIFA. Yes FIFA.
The Football Stakeholders appear to have lost ideas on how to proceed with their struggle against undemocratic governance patterns in the SLFA. The Stakeholders look very tired. It’s looking very dangerous if at this very hour they give up the struggle. If they lose this battle, they can forget about running the SLFA for decades. They know what we are talking about.
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