CHIEF SIDIKIE MAKES U-TURN ON ROAD TO MIATTA HALL
There's no doubt that the more Chief Sidikie is marginalised by De Pa, the more the Chief gains public sympathy and begins to win more and more friends. So a man who only a year or two ago was all over the papers associated with allegations of one scandal or the other, is beginning to look like a man being bullied and persecuted by his boss. And it's natural that Sierra Leoneans, like their Colonial Masters, always sympathise with underdogs and the victimised.
Somebody must surely explain to us why the second most important man in this country - and that's an undisputable fact – is being treated like this. Newspapers reported this week that he was on his way to speak at a programme on behalf of De Pa who was away in China, when he was told that a junior minister with a very shaky grasp of the issues had arrived at the same event to represent De Pa. The reports say that the Chief's advance party was already at Miatta Conference hall. The chief himself made a dramatic U-turn on being told of the situation and returned home licking his wounds.
Many who read the story were appalled that such a thing could happen. When we asked for explanation, it was because as citizens of Sierra Leone, we have to be concerned about such a development. Somebody should explain this.
Chief Sidikie is hanging in there, despite all the goings-on like a Spartan working out some long-term political strategy. No problem with that. We just don't want this STRATEGIC MARGINALISATION to continue.
HURRICANE MUSA TARAWALLIE: AW BA NAR KENEMA NOR MOR?
When HURRICANE MUSA TARAWALLIE made land fall in Kenema, he caused a lot of destruction – worse than Katrina did in the United States. Many families are still picking up the pieces of their lives and it will take a decade for them to return to their pre-hurricane days.
The trouble with this hurricane is that it was forecast to hit Abacha Street in Freetown so many were surprised to wake up one morning to hear that the man Concord Times aptly calls Demolition Man diverted it to Kenema at the last minute. The people of Kenema will never forgive him for that. They believe he was punishing them for voting massively for the opposition.
We've been waiting for weeks for this guy to continue his mission of destruction and to explain why he diverted this hurricane to Kenema and when Abacha Street will taste the Kenema medicine. Selectively punishing parts of this country for politically-correct reasons is wrong.
HURRICANE MUSA TARAWALLI should never imagine for a minute that we don't know the angle he is coming from. We do. Going against the wind.
EXAMINATION CAMPS A MENACE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
There's nothing wrong with putting school children through extra classes especially in preparation for public exams. But the thing called SCHOOL CAMP has taken alarming proportions now to the extent that it's putting extra burden on parents who have to pay for all manner of services in school despite government telling the world it's putting serious money into education.
The minister of education is busy squeezing life out of the school system and teachers who are refusing to be suffocated by the choking grip of the master of blunders at the education ministry are creating new avenues to make money.
We do not need to set up another Gbamanja Commission and spend all that money only to be told the girls must cut their hair very low. We know that EXAMINATION CAMPS are completely irrelevant and must be stopped.
We are hearing all sorts of stories coming out of these camps including unlawful carnal knowledge and even pregnancy, but still education authorities pretend they have no idea what is going on let alone what to do. Everyday some school somewhere is devising a new method to drill money out of very shallow pockets under the nose of an education minister who says he will defeat corruption in the education system. He has had six years. Good luck to him.
KABBA KHALU OPENS MORE BANK ACCOUNTS FROM JAIL
In this edition we continue publishing the names of the new bank accounts recently opened by Great Kabba Khalu following his arrest and detention by the police over allegations of fraud.
Khalu Education Development Fund (To provide scholarship for students in Banking and Finance at IPAM)
Khalu Automobile Account (To bail out car companies experiencing a drop in sales during his incarceration). He is not around to buy more flashy cars.
Khalu True Friends Initiative (To demonstrate his love for his new friends as the old ones have all abandoned him including some very powerful ones on gofmnt)
Khalu Prisons Development Fund (To support significant improvement in prison conditions immediately, including keeping the RED BANDS happy)
Khalu Rape Victims Fund (to help restore the dignity of those women who have had their dignity snatched from them by the powerful and rich)
PREMIER LEAGUE AT LAST: BUT WHY ONLY NOW?
All roads led to the Golden City of Makeni on Wednesday. Hundreds of football fans had a great few hours in the home of De Pa to watch the opening match in the much-delayed Sierra Leone Premier League. So after all the noise and civil war in the so-called "football family", cool heads have finally prevailed and the league is back on.
We have some concerns though: are the organisers really sure this is the best time to start a football league in Sierra Leone? The rain remains the single biggest obstacle to a successful football season. And it's been pouring with unbelievable ferocity in the last few days. We call on the new Chairman of the Premier League Board, Ismael Koroma to ask the meteorological department to quickly do a three-month forecast so we know when to go to the stadium. Is that too much to ask for? Please we don't want to hear any talk about lack of logistics from the meteorological department. Let them get on with the job.
Next step guys: when will the FA leadership election take place? This must be done with little interference as did the PLB chairmanship appointment. It's very important for stability and the development of the game in Sierra Leone. By the way, who won the so-called Super League? Now we are asking ourselves if this was not just an ordinary waste of Mercury lottery money and everybody's time.
If the coming election fails to destroy vested interests in SLFA matters, then we should all forget it: football to the baboons. Sorry beautiful creature.
MEMS NIGHT CLUB AND THE MAKENI YOUTH QUESTION
Mem's Night Club in Makeni is a strange place indeed. Take a careful look at the kind of people who visit the place throughout the week and you are bound to conclude that the continued existence of the place is not in the long-term interest of the city. Nor is it in the interest of the neighbouring Tonkolili and Koinadugu districts. That notwithstanding it is the place to be and even the rains can't stop people in this open air pub. The reasons are perhaps not hard to guess: cheap booze, good music and the rest. But for how long can this continue?
You see, this is not just a Makeni problem, but with 24hour electricity and disposable cash around, the northern headquarter town is very much alive and is attracting migrant workers from all over the country. We don't know what the coming census will say about Makeni but this is a place to watch. Makeni has changed, thanks to mining companies and the influence of De Pa. But people should never forget that long after the companies would have pulled out, with De Pa in splendid retirement, the city of Makeni would have to deal with the consequences of today's enjoyment.
