PRESIDENTIAL WALKABOUT IN THE SEAT OF POWER (SOP)
Amid all the noise of a “planned mutiny" at Teko Barracks and De Pa calling off his usual holiday in Makeni, De Pa himself took to the streets of the town now called SEAT OF POWER perhaps to show he was very much in control of the situation. Well, despite statements that De Pa had no guards with him, we actually saw half a dozen well known state security people and other surplus-to-requirement personnel hanging around to complete the picture. Good show of force then but we were left with a slight feeling of the government trying to do too much by way of reassuring citizens without telling people what actually happened before some of our soldiers were arrested in Makeni. All we've heard are bits and pieces of information from the RSLAF and a clueless government spokesman that makes no sense in the middle of an OCEAN of RUMOURS and innuendoes. That so-called spokesman from the government spokesman’s office should never go on air when all he knows is what people already know. And the trouble is, he just doesn't know how to spin. How much is he paid for this job anyway and who pays him?
So, a presidential show of force? YES. But what actually happened at Teko Barracks?
While we wait for an answer, we feel compelled to call De Pa's attention to messages from people in other parts of the country, who say a presidential walkabout like the one we saw in Makeni will lift their spirit and massively boot the local economy. Here we go:
BONTHE ISLAND - They say they've not seen a president of Sierra Leone for a long time and if De Pa were to do a walkabout there, he will see their crumbling infrastructure and the sea of poverty in which they are swimming. De Pa will be followed by hundreds of the usual sycophants, including those Bonthe people who have simply abandoned their home for God knows what. De Pa's presence will open up Bonthe to tourism and cash will flow.
JENDEMA - It's a fact that De Pa is not ORDINARILY RESIDENT in the place but, one night on the ground will send a strong message that the town is part of the country called Sierra Leone. It is also a fact that the Liberian dollar is the most acceptable currency even for small transactions like buying a pint of Kerosene and the people look more to Monrovia than Freetown. So it will be good for De Pa to do that walkabout.
Again, one of the worst roads in the world will definitely receive some attention in advance of that walkabout. The people in Jendema say they are not only there to receive hundreds of voters manufactured by our embassy in Liberia every five years.
FOURAH BAY COLLEGE CAMPUS – The walkabout would obviously not have anything to do with conferring degrees. De Pa has withdrawn from that job. But, by Jove Munda Rogers' men will work day and night to sort out one of the most dangerous roads in Sierra Leone to give De Pa a smooth ride to the college. The local organisers of the walkabout say De Pa will see a lot – more of bad than of good. They say De Pa should bring many police officers because the police post at the college is absolutely USELESS.
REBELLION CONTINUES IN THE DIOCESE OF MAKENI, WHERE’S DE PA?
While in Makeni recently, we decided to see how that disgraceful battle being fought in Catholic Church was going. Whether after all the talk and visits by Papal envoys, tempers were now calming down to allow the man chosen by Rome to lead God's work in the SEAT of POWER to get on with his task. We were badly disappointed at what we found out. Some of those who spoke to us repeated those unashamedly tribal arguments that are at the heart of the rebellion. But the other dangerous element now is that economic interests, represented by posts in church organisations and the Catholic University there, are now part of the "existential threat" that people feel Bishop Aruna embodies.
De Pa has refused all calls for him to play some sort of a role to end the madness in the Diocese of Makeni implying perhaps that he is in tacit support of it. Our sources say De Pa has always said he wouldn't interfere in religious matters. Well that's a good line. But we know the man we are talking about. He is all over the place, dealing with all manner of people and things.
a. When Belgium Sellers rioted over a reported $65,000 presidential largesse towards the last election there were meetings at State House and a group photo with De Pa. Remember we are talking about people from Belgium Market of all places. We respect the guys who trade there because of the lack of a viable alternative. But let’s face it, it is the first place you rush to in Freetown after an encounter with armed robbers.
b. The election at Sweizzy also saw a presidential envoy going into action to secure the Red Movement's vital interests in the whole process...ha ha ha!
c. Elections in Students’ Unions, Police Wives, Motor Drivers’ Union, Seamen’s Union etc, etc, etc all noticed strong presidential interest and in some cases with negative consequences.
d. When the legitimacy of De Pa's new mandate was seriously questioned by Osuofia after the last elections, didn't he invite a group called BODY of CHRIST to help sort out the problem? So why is he now telling us he wants to keep church and state apart? Couldn't the normal democratic institutions have dealt with the matter like it happened between George Bush and Al Gore?
We know the angle he is operating from. The fact is, we are very close to a decisive battle on a modern day MOUNT HOREB between God's people and those who put on robes for big money and posts. We predict a clean win for the good people in the Diocese of Makeni
FAKE DEMOCRATS TAKE TO THE AIRWAVES AGAIN
The democratic credentials of the former leader of SLPP women' are now being questioned up and down this country. Since she lost her position at her party's recent convention, she's been from one radio studio to another spreading bile in her party and further poisoning the democratic culture of Sierra Leone.
Here's a woman who after many years in high office was so afraid of facing her own members that she fled the scene even before votes were cast. She couldn't stand being defeated on the floor and was already booking media interviews on all radio stations as she was being driven into Freetown.
Her performance on those radio programmes has completely destroyed what was left of her democratic standing and she may never recover. What is democracy then when people refuse to accept defeat even in elections they themselves organise?
Now she goes around blaming the delegates, calling them all kind of names, threatening brimstone and fire, court battles and this and that. The whole thing looks messy and her democratic reputation is in the mud. It's a shame that people like this woman think they should always be in the driving seat otherwise the whole nation must be grounded.
It's also a shame that she and the other stars of the airwaves in this argument over a clear and unambiguous mandate delivered by their own people, have failed their first appointment with true democracy. God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.
NO LAND TALK, NO CID WAHALA: LONG LIVE PLAN B!
We wonder what has really happened to the land over which there was so much fuss not too long ago. A lot of the battles were fought on the airwaves with The Dalai Lama threatening to bring his men to Freetown to defend his property. He spent three nights as guest of the state at Slater Terrace and suddenly all things went quiet. It looks as if De Pa has found the winning formula.
We are planning a visit to the disputed land to see who owns Papa's Land. Please don't expect to see young men in faded jeans with note pads in hand. We will be unrecognisable as journalists so get on with your job.
This wahala also opened up the world of a government minister who bought a piece of the same land with huge money in a Ghana-Must-Go bag. He doesn't believe in the banking system – there should be no trace with such deals. Good reasoning.
Our minister is playing smart without being clever.
(C) Politico 27/08/13
