Concord Times (Freetown)
Pel Koroma
27 August 2008
Freetown — A law court in Sierra Leone will soon entertain a case filed by Sierra Leone Commercial Bank against the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) for failing to meet up stipulated financial obligations if rumour going around town is true.
The opposition party reportedly took a huge loan from the bank and is yet to pay back. The development may warrant the court to order the confiscation of property at the party secretariat.
If confirmed true, it would be very ridiculous to know that the SLPP which has been in governance, and led by Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, for two consecutive terms could be in deficit in just less than a year out of power.
As a matter of fact, some members of the party believe that Tejan Kabbah's rhetoric in one of the local tabloids last week that he is SLPP for life needs to be substantiated.
"This is the president who dissociated himself from the party that brought him to presidency. Such sycophantic behaviour of Kabbah to his party was responsible for the demise of the party in the last elections. Kabbah should have imported unique qualities of political leaders in the west especially those implying that the objectives and values of the party transcend individual imagination," says Yandi Conteh.
"Western politicians imbibe the stands of the party they represent. But Tejan Kabbah never had respect for those who made him leader. In fact, he never believed in the core values of the SLPP party. Many a time, one will hear Kabbah refer to himself as a statesman. How did he become a statesman?
"Was it not the SLPP ticket that saw Kabbah to the echelon of national politics? Kabbah's behaviour to his party is an example that crumbled the hopes of people as he pioneered and tried to orchestrate the affairs of the party from his little cocoon. The party lost its prowess in the reign of Kabbah," Conteh said.
But Kabbah feels like he is the only African that has ever worked for the United Nations. He proved to be ungrateful. He loosely led the party, concerning himself a little with what the reality was within the party. His practice of divide and rule, bore its ugly fruits thus affecting Solomon Berewa's chances of becoming the president. Kabbah had no regard for the welfare of the party.
"It was a mistake to have allowed Kabbah to lead our party. He hardly visited the party headquarters. Anytime he was approached with matters relating to the party, all he will say is for people to take party affairs to the national chairman of the party. Little was done to strengthen the party let alone its finances. I am confident it was Tejan Kabbah who betrayed Solomon Berewa. He envied the shrewdness of Berewa and as a result some party members ganged against him. But today, they are licking the wounds they asked for," said Tom Kargbo.
Kabbah left his party members in the wilderness, wrecked on the sand beach of desperation. He must have been in serious battle with his pillow. "Kabbah betrayed the cause he killed hundreds for during ECOMOG intervention in the country. I want to believe his greatest regret now (because urine and faeces were splashed on I. J. Kabbah at the State House last week) is his aid to the APC victory.
It was crystal clear at the nick of the elections that Solomon Berewa had lost favour with Kabbah who had conceived an ill- feeling for Berewa for no just cause. Allah will judge. Here is Kabbah who saw the charisma and the prerequisite for leadership among party members in Berewa, only for him to turn around and order his boys in the party to paint Berewa BLACK.
For Allah's sake, where did Berewa go wrong? He was such a serious politician who shared all he has amassed in his life to make people feel at home. Certainly, he was bent on bringing the rag- tag boys in the party to book. Kabbah feared that Berewa was going to be the people's man", lamented Lansana Ngevao.
To ensure the downfall of Berewa, Kabbah and his cohorts did not raise funds for the Berewa campaign. Was Berewa not with Kabbah thick and thin all throughout the struggle days of his leadership? Berewa showed so much humbleness and respect for Kabbah that he failed to yield to advices from the general public against Kabbah's decision to choose Momodu Koroma as his running mate when in fact Berewa knew it was wrong and too risky for his political career. Yet he accepted Kabbah's will as a friend. Some say Berewa was too subservient to Kabbah which therefore cost him dearly.
"I felt heart-broken the day I watched Kabbah open his mouth on national television to say that he will not campaign for Berewa because he is now a statesman. It was out of sheer 'bad heart' and the pain the party is going through is enough to say NO to Kabbah and his cronies in the party. Their presence at the fore is like gangre," said Mamie Swarray.
It is clear to all Sierra Leoneans that President Ernest Koroma loves his party. He respects his people and the survival of the party is paramount to him. He was seen campaigning in Port Loko and the country at large in the last local council elections.
"Nobody is saying that Kabbah should have rigged the election in favour of SLPP but he failed to protect his party. It became glaring to the APC at that time that Kabbah would prefer another northern leadership. It gave impetus to the APC. I am sure Berewa was too sincere in his drive to lead the nation to the shores of abundance, discipline and carving out a Sierra Leonean way of life. After all, Berewa is never material hungry let alone in need of fame at all cost. We know how the election went. Berewa was left to scramble alone as if SLPP is his biological production. How many top SLPP members actually exerted energy to the success of Berewa?" Asked Raymond Cole of Wilberforce village.
The SLPP now knows what it means to be in opposition. Both the SLPP national headquarter and regional office in Bo have been looted on many occasions in broad daylight. Who dare lift a finger? The police beat SLPP supporters at will. Supporters in Kono and Tongo fields have gone through so much intimidation and violations.
But while Kabbah was happy the day he was handing over the staff of governance to APC, his party faithfuls were in tears. Kabbah is a heartless man. Now, the party will soon face another embarrassment from the court after its verdict.
"I'm saddened that the noisy minority have not realised how much dent they are causing the party. The likes of J. J. Saffa needs tutorial from communication skills experts like Mama Palmer or Pa Coomber both formerly of the English Department at FBC. Mama Palmer once said that when some politicians speak, her body develops goose pimples. J. J. Saffa should know by now that his election to such an important office was a mistake. He has brought so much shame to the party. He is so disrespectful that it's a regret having him there. His youthfulness did not inject what was expected. All he brought was extreme radicalism and vague decisions. Honestly, J. J. Saffa scored nothing positive. He should clear all his belongings from the office and find another job. He is a disgrace," said Tommy Gbessay from Jong.
"Can someone help me? Who is I. J. Kabbah in SLPP? Lord have mercy! These are the people giving hope and confidence to APC that they will rule for 100 years. She is never competent yet she continues standing in the way of better educated women to spearhead and contribute to the resuscitation of the party. Tejan Kabbah and his group should really hands-off the party affairs else there would be more damages for the party," said distressed Momodu Kabul.
The man that deserves honour in the party is Dr. Sama Banya. He is the only man that has challenged and brought so many laurels to the party. Indeed he has stood the test of time.
"It is my utmost hope that John Karimu and John Benjamin will never give audience to Tejan Kabbah. They are far more respected in the party than Kabbah. He should be side lined. He deliberately jeopardized and put party members on the firing line. SLPP had no reason to lose power after the tremendous effort made to resuscitate the failed institutions in the failed state of ours as left behind by the ruthless APC. So much attention was given to education and the creation of other social amenities," explained Borboh Nyakoi.
It could be recalled that it was Alpha Wurie who read the SLPP manifesto for the 2007 elections at the Kingtom Bank Complex. Wurie displayed video clips of the rehabilitation of the war-torn country. Each village and towns in rural areas were shown with new health centres, schools and court barrays. Thanks to Kanja Sesay of NacSA for turning around the misery of the poor rural people.
He diligently ensured that the poor were happy and took SLPP authority to rural areas. He is a stoic man who sincerely manifested interest in seeing that SLPP succeeds. Yet party members failed to translate it to the knowledge of the people.
"Sadly, after Wurie read the manifesto, his work for the party ended. He did not help Berewa campaign. Most people believe Kabbah sowed the seed of disparity in the party. Wurie must be a sad man now because his idea of having a college of technology has now suffered a set back. The proposed structures at IMMAT now house squatters who sell 'pepeh market table.' The sight is appalling and dashes any hope of a better future," said Jumu Kamara.
But all is over now. Someone is needed to salvage the situation; diagnose the excruciating pain SLPP members are going through. It will be a disgrace if property in the SLPP headquarter are confiscated. SLPP members should do something now before 'pop singers' start singing.
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