GAFFE-PRONE ABU ABU IN THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN
Principal has been put in a situation where he definitely has to do something about his gaffe-prone resident minister in the northern region. During the Principal’s first term he had cause to waive a YELLOW card in front of ABU ABU and send him home for a while. It took the intervention of many people, including PRAYER WARRIORS and institutions to get the big man to change his mind and bring the Resident Minister back. Abu Abu was some incendiary language deemed unbecoming of a government minister and had to be disciplined.
In the last several days a video has emerged on social media showing the minister saying uncomplimentary things about one of the tribes in this country. We are walking a fine line here so we don’t put his exact words on paper. Now there are calls for him to be shown the RED card so he loses his place in the team. Some have gone as far as writing an open letter asking for ABU ABU to be sacked. Our purpose is to consider questions around why this guy keeps blundering again and again. It’s difficult to pinpoint a particular reason but let’s just look around and suggests a few factors:
1. ABU ABU URGENTLY needs some lessons in public speaking. He’s been in office FIVE YEARS, we know but as long as he continues to occupy that kind of office, he needs to be taught how to appear and speak in public in a world where everything we do and say is on the record.
2. Maybe he wants Principal to sack Mohamed Ali and appoint him to work in the southern region. There’s no law that says Resident Ministers must know the language of their region. So, let this man go to the southern region that he so dearly loves.
3. Some have said the man has no business trying to be a minister. He will do well as a party organizer in that region. Principal should put him out of his misery now.
RISING CRIME AND THE DEFEAT OF GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
Some Liberians who live in Monrovia have told us that their main reason for voting against defeated George Manneh Weah is that he failed to decisively deal with rising crime in Monrovia in particular.
We were told that there was a pervasive fear of crime in Monrovia and people who could afford it undertook massive security upgrades in their homes to keep criminals away. Ordinary people were left at the mercy of the marauding bandits.
Urban settlements experience criminal activities all over the world but things were almost getting out of hand in the capital city of our neighbors. It was reported that a number of people in the Auditor General’s office were killed apparently because of their work. At least we took them to a tribunal over here that has been dragging on slowly.
The expectations are high in Liberia and the new Old Man is not going to have the usual honeymoon. For him life starts on day ONE – as soon as he enters the Executive Mansion. Weah is hanging around and he knows how to come from behind to win football matches.
We are not asking the New Old Man to be constantly looking over his shoulders as he executes his mandate but he cannot afford to walk. He MUST RUN.
JINGLES BELLS ARE RINGING BUT NOT LOUD ENOUGH
We are fast approaching that time of the year when people are compelled to spend money like drunken sailors to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. This year things are looking a bit too dry – just like the Harmattan wind that is now blowing gently from the Sahara to our corner of Africa.
Frankly, nobody expects miracles but the way things are going suggests that this year people are going to get a quiet yuletide season because January is always there to remind us of what can happen when people fail to plan well in December.
Here are some of the signs to look for to know things are not normal on the economic front:
1. Our brothers and sister who normally pour into Freetown for a few weeks to stay away from winter and enjoy the usual Salone way are not going to be here in large numbers. Those who make it are targeting no more than TEN days including traveling day.
2. Please don’t expect much from them. The economic squeeze is happening all over the world and some are in debt. Please appreciate what little help you get from them.
3. Please don’t bank on any promises they make because on their return they would be confronted with heavy utility bills, including the cost of the air ticket. Just be nice to them and leave the rest with God.
GHANAIAN MP APOLOGIZES TO HARRY MAGUIRE
It’s been a long time in coming but the Ghanaian MP who made fun of Maguire’s mistakes in a speech in parliament in Accra has now apologized to the Manchester United players. He likened the misfiring government of Nana Addo to Maguire’s own goals on the field of play.
Why did he have to wait all this while to apologize? Has he just realized that his comment went viral and Maguire’s value as a player was badly hit to the extent that he lost his captaincy or has Maguire’s lawyer finally delivered a letter in the MPs mail box?
To be honest we took all that in as a clever little joke aimed at shaking up parliament but the fact that the guy has now apologized suggests that this is not a question of someone being remorseful. There is some fire behind this smoke.
Harry Maguire has never achieved the performance level required to play in the Premiership since that incident in Greece when he had that small matter with Greek police and was detained. We are not sure he will be returning to Greece any time soon, not even for the most lucrative of contracts.
Anyway, we hope this apology settles the matter and perhaps opens the way for Maguire to continue his gradual progress towards hitting good form for shaky Manchester United.
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