RAW VIOLENCE IN PARLIAMENT SHAMES SIERRA LEONE
We are waiting for any of those MPs who instigated and or actually took part in the raw violence we witnessed in parliament on Monday to tell us they truly believe that what they did was justified. And please we will be interested in their reasons. How a routine parliamentary process that would have lasted only a few minutes turned out to be a free for all shouting match resulting in important state documents being shredded and the deployment of riot police is what we still can’t understand - no matter how hard we’ve tried since the world witnessed those disgraceful scenes in real time inside our parliament.
We know that some political parties are vehemently opposed to the MIDTERM CENSUS. They recently hurriedly put together a so-called “consortium” of political parties to oppose the census in particular. Tolongbo played the leadership role in the whole affair. They issued a statement threatening all kinds of things if the census went ahead. Next day some of those who were supposed to have signed the statement rejected the document and supported the holding of the census.
In the end the constitutional instrument was laid on the table of parliament. At this stage it is up to tolongbo and their sidekicks to ask for a debate on the issue and even a vote to kill the process because what they really want is to block the census and there is nobody in this country that doesn’t know why. Tolongbo is totally not interested in debating and winning the vote by the force of their arguments, all they want is to stop the process by all means. That’s unstoppable now.
Throughout King Messi’s time in office no such lawlessness happened in our parliament. And it’s not as if the opposition then did not have something to grumble about. This idea that this country should be ungovernable because King Messi wants it so is turning many Sierra Leoneans off. Violent conduct is unjustifiable for any reason. Whatever sense tolongbo was hoping to communicate yesterday was drowned out by the violent conduct of their MPs. A real failure of leadership indeed!
EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE AND WHY ALL THE NOISE
European politicians, well those running countries with teams that have signed up for the proposed Super League have joined football dinosaurs in the European football governing body to fight the Super League. They’ve gone to parliament and are busy briefing the media. We know why they are so jittery – it’s about the money and the political benefits that they will lose. And this threat about the European football body throwing Real Madrid and Manchester City and others out of this year’s Champions League is just a stupid thought. It will NOT happen because the tournament will descend into a huge farce fit only for the dust bin.
Also, the threat to kick particularly African players out of FIFA and CAF tournaments because they play in the teams now pushing for the Super League is complete madness. Why would an African player who signs a contract to play for a big European club be banned from playing for his country because his paymaster does something that UEFA doesn’t like. What control do they have over decision making in those clubs? Some of them are struggling to nail down a regular place in their teams while fighting naked racism on and off the field.
The Super League is in Europe, why should Africa be some collateral damage.
Maybe this Super League thing is just a bargaining stunt by these big and rich clubs from UK, Spain and Italy for a change of the league format and more money. Our hope is that we will wake up one morning and hear news about a new organization to replace FIFA. We will celebrate that. African people and governments are fed up with being treated like slaves to FIFA. Let the bell toll now to announce the death of FIFA.
MEANWHILE MOURINHO IS FINISHED IN THE ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Jose Mourinho is very lucky to have lasted a year in the Spurs job. He made absolutely no difference to the fortunes of Spurs. The guy did not learn anything from his last days at Real Madrid, his second spell as manager of Chelsea and his time with Manchester United. He was still the arrogant man who blasted his players all the time on television. He started his time with the club by describing one of the most expensive players in the team, the French man Ndombele as “too fat”. That pushing and pulling would go on for weeks. Ndombele turned out to be his most reliable guy in the midfield area.
His next battle was with established players like Dele Ali and Gareth Bale whom he brought in on some stupidly expensive loan agreement. Now he has only two options left:
1. Take up a job with a team in the second tier of English football and get them to win the European Champions League and then retire. He should forget about big money contracts.
2. Go back to his interim job as a TV pundit. That’s all. Wenger is there.
PETER THE BAYUKU OF KOINADUGU DEAL WITH THE POTHOLES IN FREETOWN NOW
It is not because we think that Freetown is Sierra Leone that we frequently bring its issues to the public eye but it is the capital of the country. Freetown deserves frequent check and maintenance. It must appear as a very good place to be when foreigners visit. Freetown must depict the good image of Sierra Leone. We are insisting by saying “must”.
Driving around Freetown these days can be very hectic, apart from the massive traffic jam; the roads have been damaged by several potholes and petty trading. The Central Business District is not a friendly place for motorist.
Abacha Street continues to be a mess. Potholes and traders have taken over the street. Traders occupy the center of the street and have refused to remove their stalls. It’s a pity that successive governments, going back to the days of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah have not been able to end the blockade of Abacha Street of street traders.
Kissy Road, Fourah Bay Road, Lumley Street, Guard Street and many more have been overtaken over by potholes and street trading. At Short Street traders selling shoes have taken it to be their private property.
Elsewhere buildings are going up on footpaths. Noreska (a bread selling restaurant) that is situated on Campbell Street has taken over the footpath so much so that EDSA is not able to pass its high tension cables in a straight line. The danger there is that, when a storm hits the city (which we should expect) one day and those cables are brought down; many people will suffer.
Noreska and others that have encroached must be taught a lesson in proper town planning and how crucial it is to follow planning rules. Someone must act and NOW!!!
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (21/04/21)
