IG SOVULA SAMUEL SAIO CONTEH IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM
IG Sovula and his people were obviously shocked by the wave of condemnation that hit them on social media because their friends at Benghazi shaved off the hair of musician LAJ. The guy was arrested for public order offences and while in police custody he lost his iconic dreadlocks. His fans and people holding human rights banners went on a kind of social media rampage against the Force for Good. Let’s just say the response from the police left much to be desired and ultimately became the second line of attack by those who were outraged by LAJ’s debacle at Benghazi. The IG and his people were all over the place as they struggled to control and dictate the narrative.
The next we heard from the IG was an announcement - hastily done transfer of officers in which the SECOND MAN in the media operations of the Sierra Leone Police was moved from that office and sent on GENERAL DUTY in Rotifunk, Moyamba district. A few other officers were moved around as collateral damage to create the impression the whole thing was not aimed at SAMUEL SAIO CONTEH. Sorry IG, we know why you moved the man. In the eyes of the law and your operational manual, you have committed no offence but as friends of the Force for Good we feel compelled to make the following comments on the displacement of ASP SAMUEL SAIO CONTEH.
1. The timing of that redeployment was poor. All Sierra Leoneans could easily pick this out. You believe ASP CONTEH made a mess of the way police media handled the issue around LAJ. We have our views on that but we will deal with that in later editions. For now let’s say that even if we agree with you, we will remain standing on our point that the timing of the redeployment is poor. Very poor indeed!
2. Did you have to move a well-trained media man from his beat into general duty in a corner of the country to demonstrate anger? Don’t you have media operations outside Freetown? This man was trained while in the SLP with our money but now he cannot use the knowledge he acquired in the University. He now has to idle his days in sleepy Rotifunk.
3. IG if you decide to redeploy all police officers that make mistakes, there will be no other job to do at headquarters. A significant number of your officers will end up in Moyamba.
4. IG why is it so difficult to understand that PR and SPIN can only reduce the pain of a bad situation and not heal it? There is no magic. Sometimes it’s good PR to say “WE MADE A MISTAKE AND WE ARE SORRY”. The way the whole SLP handled the LAJ situation speaks volumes of how unprepared you are in dealing with the media when things go wrong. Remember, things always go wrong sir.
5. By the way, what do you people in the SLP think about Moyamba district? The main media guy before the present ones was sent to the same district as some kind of punishment. Now it’s ASP CONTEH’s turn. IG you have brought this man to world attention in a way he doesn’t really like. He is a quiet, obedient, intelligent and highly professional officer. The whole country knows that.
FREETOWN MAYOR AND HER USUAL EXCUSES
The Mayor of Freetown who made those famous Buwa, Bisieh remarks in her private meeting at City Hall not too long ago was on radio 98.1 the other day for one of her rare and usually HIGHLY SANITIZED media appearances. This is the ONLY Freetown Mayor since the return of democracy in the mid-90s to constantly dodge media requests for interviews or clarifications of even her own statements on her beloved social media platforms. So we were treated to her normal SOFT BALL interviews obviously arranged to every detail. It was just like a witness in a courtroom sticking to a script properly prepared in a lawyer’s chamber. We are now waiting for those nice social media pictures showing our Mayor’s BROAD SMILES, the kind of smiles we saw even when she visited Kroo Bay after a flood.
In this interview under reference, the Mayor was back to her blame games. She blames everybody else for the troubles of Freetown but herself. It’s the central government, it’s the central government and it’s the central government. When something looks good it's her so-called TRANSFORM FREETOWN project.
We are coming to the end of her term of office and we can’t remember the Mayor calling a news conference to deal with a range of issues tormenting Freetown. All politicians do that. She hates media scrutiny. Our Mayor wants everything on her own terms. We wish her good luck.
THE TAX MAN IN SPAIN STRIKES SAMUEL ETO’O OF CAMEROON
Samuel Eto’o is in danger of being thrown out of his job as president of the Cameroon football federation after being convicted and sentenced for tax fraud in Spain in a case going back to his playing days there. He has agreed to pay the fines while telling the world he was too young to understand what was happening around him while he concentrated on playing football. In other words, his managers are to blame. Well done Mr. Eto’o Fils. We don’t want to open any big debate with you on that so please allow us to say that like the court in Spain we do not believe that line of argument.
Tax fraud is a serious crime anywhere in the world and in Spain in particular, the tax office has charged and successfully prosecuted some of the MIGHTY names in world football for the same crime so this is not any isolated prosecution. Tax fraud is widespread in La Liga and the government has every right to chase down people like Samuel Eto’o.
We are talking here about a small group of people who are paid pornographic wages every week. They refuse to pay taxes and instead buy luxury cars and fly to expensive holiday resorts to enjoy. Well done Mr. TAX MAN.
Eto’o now has to prepare to fight and keep his job in Cameroon. Already questions are being asked as to whether this man can hold that office after being convicted for fraud. We love Eto’o, he is a great ambassador for African football but we want him to take a good look at himself again after this conviction. The story now takes a new twist.
NO SEX TRADE DURING QATAR WORLD CUP
So why is all this noise about the authorities in Qatar planning to act really tough against prostitution during the World Cup tournament in November? We have read quite a few articles on this matter and people making the issue part of their Human Rights portfolio. Really?
Since Sepp Blatter announced Qatar as the host of the coming World Cup he has had very little time to rest. The last we heard about the old man is that he is standing trial for alleged crimes bordering on corruption from his days as head of FIFA. We don’t know if he was prepared for this but Qatar was always going to be a controversial choice and people have done everything to prove that decision was influenced by corruption. Now they are complaining about a ban on the sale of sex on the streets of Doha. Come on guys!
Here’s how to avoid grumbling about such a thing in another man’s country and under their laws:
1. If you are not married and cannot concentrate on football during the World Cup please stay in your country and watch the thing on TV with your family. There are many other ways to relax and have a good time in Qatar apart from sleeping with prostitutes.
2. Take your wife along with you. Stop looking for cheap sex with multiple women in another man’s country.
3. Take your Pekito along to act out that role during the tournament. She has to be strong and intelligent just in case the religious police decide to press a few questions with her along the streets.
4. Anyway, this is the Football World Cup. It’s not a prostitution contest. Stop complaining about a potential ban on prostitution during the games.
5. Finally, those planning to ship prostitutes to Qatar to trade them should think of some other business to do in that country. Despite all we've said, we believe some people will actually not see any match because they will be in jail for prostitution.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (29/06/22)
