AT LAST ACC INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEW KING MESSI
So all of us now realize there was no reason for Sokobana and all those other scary mask devils backed by hundreds of young people high on all kinds of substances to stand in the way of constituted authority when ACC investigators turned up in Makeni on appointment to do what was peacefully done in Freetown on Monday. The Red Movement itself issued a statement saying the interview process was done respectfully. In other words, contrary to all the scaremongering, King Messi was treated with respect. So what was all the grandstanding about?
At all times the ACC acted in a professional and respectful way given the status of the man in question. King Messi reigned over this land for eleven years and he was only being called upon to answer questions about some allegedly bad deals in which the people of this country failed to get their due. He wasn’t going to be treated as a convict. That’s the reason the ACC agreed to go to his mansion in Makeni and conduct the interview there in the first place. When was the last time the ACC did that for anybody in this country that is the subject of any investigation?
There was jubilation in King Messi’s Freetown compound when he returned home on Monday after several hours of tough questioning. We are getting bits and pieces from the interview but owing to the journalistic responsibility of protecting our sources we will not move on what we have for now. All we can say is that it was absolutely REVEALING and INTERESTING. We thank the ACC for being so patient. We urge them to continue along this path until they land this plane that was deliberately driven into turbulence by King Messi.
Let’s keep the following issues in mind as lessons based on this case:
1. Nobody is above the law. Any attempt to create a two-tier system in which some ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAT OTHERS will always fail.
2. A human shield is just a temporary phenomenon. To maintain it in the face of the realities – cash and other logistics and the dent on the organizer’s credibility is always too difficult.
3. There is a lot of spinning going on right now on both sides to satisfy narrow audiences. The rest of us will stay in touch with the ACC and urge them to follow every penny taken from us by all those who misused our trust in them. The ACC should not allow any amount of spin to thrown them off the rails.
4. The reality of the seriousness of what is coming towards King Messi is sinking in now despite all the smiles and spin. Let’s press on dear ACC.
5. The ACC must quickly set up the other interview date using the same protocols. We don’t want this thing to last beyond Christmas. They can make their decision on whether to prosecute or not in the 2021 but the interview process must end this year.
PRINCIPAL LANDS GOODIES IN NEGLECTED KAILAHUN
It’s beginning to look like Christmas comes early in Kailahun district in particular. Principal spent THREE days touring a place that presidents would only visit during electioneering campaigns. And he made big announcements there. He also launched projects that would change the face of that district that has always been politically loyal to the Green Movement.
We’ve heard that ALL Paramount chiefs in this country would receive a monthly salary and be assigned a vehicle in 2021. We want Principal to make this conditional on ALL Paramount Chiefs being ordinarily resident in their chiefdoms. The other point to make is that those chiefs who have been chased out of their homes by their people on allegations of corruption, highhandedness or this and that should not receive any such benefit. Otherwise, the government would be acting against the interest of the people.
The hospital project in Jojoima is wonderful. In fact hospitals anywhere mean good for the people. Time there was when Nixon Memorial hospital in Segbwema in the same district was well respected and people flocked there for treatment. Let’s see what happens with this one.
There is that NINE BILLION leone skills development project for Kenema and Kailahun. Fantastic!
We’ve also heard about a modern bus station with other facilities for Kailahun. Fortunately, the road to Kailahun is looking really good. There are a few dead areas along the way and inside the township but a bus station is not a bad idea.
Principal should do the road leading to our border with Guinea and Liberia on the Kailahun flank. Trade will prosper and human beings will flow across that border.
So let’s see what happens to Kailahun by the end of 2021 when all these projects plus a brand new fire station are expected to become a reality.
A BREWERY WITHOUT DRINKS TO SELL SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS
Somebody should tell the Sierra Leone Brewery that they risk sending themselves into oblivion if they are going to be doing this same thing every year. Essentially, their products run almost dry in the market just before Christmas, causing serious embarrassment for people organizing weddings and other social gatherings to enjoy the holidays.
We can’t understand why the Brewery does not appear to be bothered at all by this and let anybody convince the good people of Sierra Leone that the fact that this happens every year is not something we should read much into. We are hearing from SLBL customers that there has already been a TEN PERCENT increase in prices by the few unscrupulous people still selling to retailers.
Every main distributor in this city that we have called over the last several days has told us that they were out of stock. There is no way Brewery can escape responsibility for this. They should quickly tell us why there are no drinks or if the drinks are being hoarded to hike prices, what is being done to stop the cheating. They should please concentrate on their distributors because no retailer will hoard drinks. They are looking to do brisk business. We will be back with this story.
NICE CONDOLENCE LETTER FROM FIFA BUT ANY WORD ON CONGRESS?
Our hearts go to the parents of the boy killed in an SLFA car crash the other day. We are waiting for the police to conclude their investigation. That’s why we are not reporting what we gathered from the ground about that incident. We don’t want to unduly influence and possible criminal prosecution that the police maybe thinking about because it may well go the other way.
We note that FIFA has been quick of the mark, extending condolences to the bereaved family and wishing the SLFA officials involved in the crash a speedy recovery. That’s well and good great FIFA. We also notice that our publicity-hungry SLFA has hurriedly released that communication for the world to see it from their end. They are always keen to show how powerful they are within FIFA. Well done FIFA!
We really want to know what FOUR officials of this failed SLFA were going to do in Kenema. What we have heard so far is that they were going there to inspect the Kenema town field ahead of the arrival of construction workers to lay out the artificial turf to end almost three years of lies. What aspect of that field were they going there to inspect anyway? Do we need FOUR people for any such inspection? Is it that the regional executive is so dumb that the national office had to be brought in for this so-called inspection?
The deceased boy would be alive today if:
1. FIFA had played an impartial role in the SLFA politics. This clueless body would have been thrown out three years ago in democratic elections. We are not talking about the kind done at a police canteen with the Inspector General at the time, FRANCIS MUNU chasing out real delegates and having coffee with the FAKE ones.
2. We feel sorry that this crash took place but per diem trips can be very dangerous. Just looking at the composition of the team heading to Kenema, we conclude that per diem was at the heart of it all. What happened with the reports that other missions to Kenema ought to have sent to Kingtom? Why not just pass them on the so-called contractors?
3. Next time please don’t use traditional funeral rites as photo opportunities for politics. Queen Johansen cannot win a free and fair SLFA election. The delegate count is totally against her. Sorry.
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