Over to you IB!

I had stopped at the Total Filling station at the junction of Wilkinson Road and Murray Town junction on Wednesday morning; as I waited to be served a news vendor came up to my vehicle with a bundle of newspapers. Although I showed him the bundle of newspapers that I had already bought for the day the fellow persisted in showing me what he was offering. When I looked there was a copy of the APC propaganda mouth piece, the WE YONE newspaper with a front page headline, “Dr. Sama Banya Can’t Hide Behind The Finger.’ The article was authored by one Idris Balogun Tejan; my first impulse was to call Cornelius Davinaux and tell him to advise his columnist to quote correctly because the sentence should have read, “Dr. Sama Banya Can’t Hide Behind HIS Finger,’ and Not behind the finger, which finger? (Photo: Dr Sama Banya, author)

On page five of the publication under the heading Rebuttal was a whole page article, which was continued on another page and written by one Idris Balogun Tejan. I must confess that I had never come across the name in the print media but then I am also aware that every one of them is anxious to jump on EBK’s band wagon but I proceeded to read. “Dr. Sama Banya once again confirms himself a mischief maker with his conclusion ‘we will never be coerced or silenced.’ This gives a negative impression that the APC is intolerant of criticisms and doing all in its reach to silence the opposition. Going through the entire piece one is left convinced Dr. Sama Banya is not only a mischief maker but a politician who hides behind his finger in the face of glaring realities.” Then followed the bombshell. “First and foremost Dr. Banya pretends to be oblivious of the fact that the APC throughout its fifty years of political existence has never attempted to coerce or silence legitimate opposition. Even while in governance, the APC has never been a government that coerces or silences opposition.”

My, o my, o my! Cornelius, did you read that before printing it? This miserable chap must have been born after the overthrow of the 24 year old APC regime, first of Siaka Stevens and then of Joseph Saidu Momoh and now of Ernest Bai Koroma. Where was he on September 17 after Christiana Thorpe had declared the APC’s Ernest Bai Koroma as the winner of the Presidential runoff election and when APC thugs descended on the SLPP headquarters? Where was he when I B Kargbo unilaterarly and unlawfully shut down the SLPP’s Unity Radio and subsequent attacks on the station with the building set on fire, women raped and considerable damage done to the property including vandalizing it by APC thugs. Where was this fellow, lacking in moral integrity during the local government bye election in Pujehun district which forced even Christiana Thorpe of all persons, to cancel the exercise? Where was this miserable fellow during Parliamentary bye elections in two constituencies in the Pujehun district as well as the local government bye election in the Kenema district? I could go on and on with instances of intimidation and vote buying efforts and threats to chiefs, but why bother when it would make no difference to the moral integrity to a fellow like Idris Balogun Tejan?

On reading his introductory paragraphs I said to my lady companion, why bother to read the rest of the article when the opening paragraph is untenable. I am sorry to disappoint you Idris, but I have not bothered to read the rest of your unproductive endeavour. I know what motivates the likes of you to be so blatantly dishonest and which is to catch I B Kargbo’s attention for an overseas assignment. In order to enhance your chances I have referred your article to him.

People like you, along with other propagandists think that this country has never had it so good under the APC. In the editorial review of the same edition in which you make a total mockery of yourself, is the following headline: “The Need For Concerted Effort in Addressing Rising Prices Is of Importance.” That is the reality about which you should concern yourself and rather than on ridiculous praise singing in the midst of suffering and misery. No, young man, we will not be coerced or intimidated into silence.

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!