Pitiable Journalism

My phone has not stopped ringing since Monday. Friends and acquaintances have been anxious to know what happened. Why was I summoned to the Anti Corruption Commission offices? Was I in any kind of trouble and so forth. I simply assured them by referring to the Puawui columns since Monday to decide for themselves whether what they read came from the pen of anyone who might be in trouble with the law. Was someone after me then, some went on? My answer to that was also in the negative. But a group of people masquerading as journalists are out to make a name for themselves or curry favour with their patrons and vainly believe that one way of achieving that objective is to smear prominent opposition members, especially those with a high profile.

Readers may judge for themselves that after more than 40 years in public life, I have done nothing which would embarrass not so much myself, but my family or my friends and believe me the latter are very many in number and I am proud to state boldly that they hold me in very high esteem. The calls were in response to a photograph of me on the back page of the African Champion newspaper under the heading, “ACC INVITES SAMA BANYA.”

It is their habit at the African Champion that when their readers are bored with their sycophancy for them to come up with something sensational. But why the back page this time?

As to the questions from my enquirers, my answer was that it was not for me to respond to the foolish allegation, but for the Anti Corruption to issue a statement as they often do in such cases whether they had invited me at any time rather than for me to waste my energy issuing a denial. That they have done no such thing may be due to the absence of their boss from the country. We may have to wait until then. And only after that will I make any comments on the African Champion’s foolish headline.

Supporters of the red sun continually make wild and unsubstantiated allegations that despite overtures from the APC leader President Ernest Bai Koroma, leading members of the opposition SLPP have refused to cooperate with him to push forward his agenda for change or join him in his development strides. The question such people never ask themselves is with the utmost respect, how sincere are his Excellency’s pronouncements?

Readers may recall that after the vandalism, looting and destruction followed by daylight raping of some of our women (those who refuse to believe that rape is possible sex maniacs even under those circumstances have only to recollect the awful stories from Conakry) at our headquarters in March the diplomatic community led by the UN organized a dialogue among the leadership of the main parties. A communiqué was signed in the presence of his Excellency himself; among some of its provisions was the undertaking by the President that he would consult with the opposition on important national issues. When the government was taking a delegation to the Peace conference at the UN, it unilaterally took along the Minority opposition leader without any reference to the SLPP leadership.

The government is scheduled to attend an international donor and promotional conference in London. Again the government has invited retired Lt. Colonel Tom Nyuma  to go along. Tom is not just an opposition member, but the chairman of the SLPP controlled Kailahun district council so how could his be a personal invitation as he views it?

Despite SLPP chairman John Benjamin calling the President’s attention to the anomaly the government has paid no attention. When we got wind of the government intentions I wrote expressing regret at their action but they have gone ahead with impunity as they always do.  You can bet your last weak Leone that no pro APC newspaper will see anything wrong in the action, let alone condemn it. But this time I am calling the attention of DFID who are co-hosting the said conference while I wait for any nauseating super hypocritical comment from a pro APC publication.

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