WILL AFRICA GET A SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL?
We don’t like to sound pessimistic about anything these days because in this 21st century world it’s advisable to always hope for the best. It’s not much use adding to all the difficulties we have to deal with daily. So following that trend, we want to hope that Africa will finally get a permanent seat on the Security Council with full veto powers like the 2nd World War allies and China. But is that realistic?
We don't know how many meetings have been held and how much time the African Union has put into trying to harmonize their position as the agitation proceeds but despite all promises from those already in that body, the continent is made to remain in the non-permanent position. We agree that the international system is rigged against us but what have we done to dig ourselves out of the hold in which we have been put – in some cases with our consent?
Africa should start by closing ranks in this place we call home. Like Kenya’s William Ruto and the firebrand EFF politician in South Africa have said, let's remove all colonial era boundaries by removing all visa restrictions so that African can move freely, interact and trade with each other and also resist all attempts of the West to divide the continent. They profit a lot from a divided Africa.
Africa should stop going to the West to beg for everything including the food we eat. We can’t stand up against those who feed us. We should simply forget about sitting at the same table with those who feed us in the first place. They will NEVER allow that.
Africa should build up its armed forces to be able to fight and win battles and wars against those in and out of the continent that may challenge this new thinking by force of arms. There is nothing controversial about that. There will be no permanent seat for Africa as long as the continent remains in this condition.
ANOTHER SCENE OPENS IN THE UNENDING MUSA TOMBO DRAMA
It’s now clear that the stabilization job that Bo Rangers tried to do on Musa Tombo did not end as expected. Even with his contractual period with the football champions of Sierra Leone there were moments of high tension and unnecessary drama. Bo Rangers were patient – possibly they wanted to be in the position in which they find themselves today. Now they are able to tell the world that with the Musa Tombo case they did their best to rescue the career of a man of huge talent on the football field but totally out of range with accepted standards of modern organizational behaviour.
From the look of things Musa Tombo has started this scene in the drama of his life by throwing down a challenge to the integrity of one of the prominent lawyers of our time who also own the new premier league outfit, Luawa FC. Lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai went on social media and announced that he had managed to free Tombo from the choking grip of the Libyan club that he refused to play for after signing a contract with them. He then said that Tombo had also agreed personal terms with his club and he was now their man. Within minutes of that report going viral, Tombo sent out a video describing it as FAKE.
We had no reason to cast doubt on what Lawyer Abdulai published because he is a man we respect so we took Tombo’s denial with the proverbial pinch of salt. Anyway, here’s what we think in this new scene:
1. Tombo definitely cooperated with Luawa to get him off the hook with the foreigners in Libya, believing that he could blackmail his way out of the contractual tight corner as long as it’s left with a local club.
2. Tombo is not as stupid as some people make him out to be. He also has sophisticated minds in the background remote controlling his actions for financial gain. The next few weeks would clearly reveal the reasoning behind this position.
3. We are not among those few but very loud Sierra Leoneans that are not tired of being fooled by Tombo’s displays on and off the field, like walking along a street in Bo with just his boxer’s pants. He should try another trick to deserve our sympathy.
4. He is now at a point of no return in his directionless career. Luawa FC is probably tougher than the Libyans and he is not the star player he was when he was at EE Lions or in his first season with Bo Rangers. He also doesn’t have much sympathy in the football environment in Sierra Leone because he has pushed his luck too far.
Let’s see how this ends as we approach the new league season.
POURING USED OIL ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY OUT OF FREETOWN?
For some time now we’ve been hearing about oil being poured on certain sections of the main highway out of Freetown with the aim of causing accidents and potentially killing innocent people. At first we thought the reports were just one of those fanciful things that are dumped on social media to scare people or just for the sake of some mischief maker doing something. Last week the reports surfaced again with people complaining that as a consequence of people deliberately pouring oil on the road, vehicles were involved in accidents and there were injuries.
We called the attention of the Roads Safety Authority when the first reports emerged. They may have acted but it’s clear now that whatever they did was totally inadequate because it has happened again. We wish those involved in the latest incident all the best as they receive treatment for various injuries.
It is difficult to understand why somebody or a group of people would take all the time in the world to gather oil to a significant quantity, possibly from garages near the affected section and pour it on the road in the dead of night. Surely that’s the only time such a criminal activity is possible without those responsible being caught.
If the attention of the police was never called to such a situation, we are doing it now. It is our view that the oil is collected from some of the roadside garages along that highway and poured on the streets so that when accidents occur at night, the criminals would move in and do their normal thing. We can find no other reasons to explain why anybody would behave in this way. People have given us political reasons but the fact that the road is not restricted to one set of politicians renders that argument defective. We must act now!
KORTOR JULDEH TALKS TOUGH AT SS STADIUM: WE ARE WAITING
Kortor Juldeh was at the stadium the other day to talk to the Chinese contractors renovating the place. He is the most senior government official to undertake that exercise as the work grinds on slowly. Kortor Juldeh was assured that the work will be completed on schedule and on budget. That’s fine. We have endured pain to get the 1979 facility to a reasonably good standard to host local and international events.
Kortor Juldeh is reported to have said that ALL the original land space belonging to the Siaka Steven Stadium will be recovered. We thank him for that and we want to help in our own small way to call his attention to areas of concern around the stadium.
Kortor Juldeh should look at the area at the back of the swimming pool. Of course the entrance to the swimming gate near YWCA is a complete mess. Next is the area leading to the big gate opening towards STAND 17 – that place is now totally in the hands of car dealers, vehicle mechanics, drug pushers and small-time criminals. Kortor Juldeh should also clear those illegal stalls along Kinsella Street opposite the cemetery. They are a complete eyesore.
In a politically –correct society like ours, this is a difficult task to undertake but the VP surely knew what he was up against when he made that statement. Well done sir!
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