Bo Violence – Usu Boie calls for prompt investigation
Following the aftermath of the political upsurge that engulfed Bo city this past Friday, Alhaji Usman Boie Kamara (in photo), runner-up of the just concluded opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) flag bearer election, has urged the Ernest Bai Koroma led government to institute a prompt and robust investigation into the skirmishes that led to the loss of lives, the burning of houses, and the wounding of numerous defenseless citizens.
From his vacation in the United Kingdom, a disturbed Usman Boie told SEM’s CEO, Adeyemi Paul that the action of violence in Bo must be considered a breach of the peace and security of the state and must therefore be investigated.
He was doubtful as to how such an unwarranted and uncalled for duel could have happened in a city that is widely considered to be a stronghold of the opposing SLPP.
He stated, “How could a ‘Thank-the-people entourage’ of the SLPP pass through the APC dominated township of Mile 91 unhindered, yet face attacks in their own stronghold?”
Meanwhile, news about the resignation of members of the SLPP abound with positions especially in the Western District, remaining vacant.
Even as we go to press, Blamoh Roberts, who was the SLPP Young Generation Leader has stepped down following the resignation of the Western Area Regional Chairman, Lansana Fadika.
It is expected that more will resign in the weeks to come.
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Emmanuel "Shelley" Conteh, Mankato, MN
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I knew Sanusi would react angrily, just like the Angry Mende man he’s always been. He’ll either cuss or make veiled threats at those who disagree with his views. This demonstrates he’s either dishonest or just plain stupid when it comes to debating issues. Although he has reduced himslef into a clown a long time ago, he’s still refusing to face up to this reality. Submerged in his rants, he’s now claiming to hear my pronounciation electronically though he has never heard me speak in person. The fool must be hearing some strange voices in his head – a sign of paranoia schizophrenia!
Now to set the records straight: Usman Boie Kamara isn’t my candidate as I’m not a member of the SLPP or any political party for that matter. My ethnicity and regional affiliation are as irrelevant to me as Maada Bio becoming the SLPP’s presidential candidate. What isn’t irrelevant however, is to sit and say nothing about his politics, which are toxic.
As for Sanusi’s rants and unfounded stereotypes about Temnes and Limbas, he ought to think well before he writes. Experts in ethnic studies/race-relations or in the field of social sciences would have to caution him that using negative and inaccurate stereotypes (NIS) such as those he used to characterize Temnes and Limbas isn’t only unhealthy to a nation as ours, but also exposes him as a bigoted dimwit. The brother should know NIS is a dangerous approach of stereotyping a group! The evidence is everywhere, from Rwanda to the former Yugoslavia.
With that in mind, let’s go back to Usman Boie’s entire thesis in the aforementioned article. It is simply an appeal to have an independent investigation conducted so as to establish what really happened in Bo on Sept 9, 2011. It’s apparent this has overworked Sanusi, who is going berserk in his opposition to an investigation. As usual, instead of telling readers why he’s against an inquiry into the Bo melee, rather he allows his rants to cloudy his thoughts. As such, he’s dreaming up things that have nothing to do with what Usman Boie suggested. This sort of bunkum is what Sanusi and most of Bio supporters have to offer readers.
Now, to Frank Talk who raised several disconnected issues in his rebuttals. He should have known by now that politics is a dynamic process, whose fluidity makes it hard to predict the future. This is why his idea of turnism (ie for Usman Boie to wait his turn) only resides in his stomach. Talk of conspiracy theory shows a larger disconnect to Usman Boie’s appeal for an inquiry. There is no where in the above article where he apportioned blame on anyone. This is Frank Talk’s attempt to put words into Usman Boie’s mouth, the man he has decided to censor for being a public figure!
Who’s he to decide what Usman Boie or any public figure should say, how to say it, when to say it and where to say it? Why is Frank Talk hitching to become a censor all of a sudden?
Earlier on, he tried to draw a moral equivalence between the presidential candidacies of Boie and Ronald Reagan. The truth is that with the Reagan scenario, ethnism/racism or some other intolerant human behavior didn’t play a role in the election process during the Republican convention. Frank Talk won’t say the same thing with the Usman Boie scenario, where virulent ethnism did play a major role! He won’t explain the sudden change in demographics and statistics that were heavily in favor of Usman Boie prior to the secret meeting attended by a few chosen southeasterners including Benjamin, Bio and others. This was a meeting Bio himslef requested hours before convention delegates started casting their votes to elect the party’s 2012 presidential candidate. Though this might sound fishy to most Sierra Leoneans, yet to Frank Talk, Sanusi and the host of Bio clones, it is fair game. Usman Boie should wait for his turn! But who says there is a turn in politics?
And by the way, why are we even talking about the tweaked SLPP convention that saw Maada Bio emerged as the party’s presidential candidate? Isn’t this debate about the need to institute a commission of inquiry into the disturbances that took place recently in Bo in which Bio was “pelted with stones, sustained multiple head injuries” (according to BBC stringer Umaru Fofanah) and yet had no blood on his clothes? These Bio goofballs must stop this kind of gimmick that they’ve engaged in of late! It’s revolting and doesn’t make good politics!
17th September 2011Emmanuel "Shelley" Conteh, Mankato,MN
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Frank talk, who are you to tell Boie how to talk and when to talk? This is the kind of crap that you and other Bio clones are trading around. Aren’t you trying to suggest that you want to be a censor?
Read Boie’s lips correctly; the article didn’t show he’s laying blame on anyone, but rather suggested that an inquiry be conducted. What sort of free speech you, Sanusi and other diwits practice? Focus on the concern Boie raised and not stray away from it! Stop making fools of yourselves!
16th September 2011John Wilkinson
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But who is Emmanuel to start scaring people about the investigation. Does setting up an investigative team mean Maada Bio is culpable? What a bufoon you are Emmanuel? I taught i was discussing with someone who is upright in legal issues. Your emotions have swayed you from thinking squarely Emmanuel. I’m sure no amount of education would enlighten you about legal issues so stay stupid. For the likes of you, tribalism is all that matters in everything. Who ever told you that Maada or the SLPP has anything to fear? If thats flying your emotions high, its the least of our concerns. It would surprise you after the investigation that the APC which you so adore will dissapoint you. You want to discuss Sierra Leone politics yet you don’t even know what the APC is capable of doing! What an unripe politician you are? I had to slow down the pace in respect of the indeendent voice (Frank talk). Otherwise, i’m available at any time.
16th September 2011FRANK TALK
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Boie is a public figure, so he has to be very careful in what he says and how he says it. This could be subjected to various interpretations. I do not think Sanusi has any beef with Boie’s calling for credible investigation, but Boie as a public figure should not have advanced a conspiracy theory and further go on to gloat over the defections of whosoever.
16th September 2011In Sierra Leone we are quick to pull out the tribal card instead of seeking the truth in any thorny matter. Lives perished and property destroyed. No one is against the investigation, but to blame the other side before the jury is in is wrong. Mr Boie is a public figure , so he should think twice and speak once and make his position crystal clear without a shadow of doubt.
Emmanuel "Shelley" Conteh, Mankato, MN
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Mr. Wilkinson, address your rebuttal to the focus of this article, which is Usman Boie’s suggestion for an independent inquiry into the causes for the Bo town melee. You don’t have to redirect your anger at Mr. Johnson or anyone who holds a view contrary to Bio’s selection as SLPP’s presidential candidate.
As for your citation of paragraph 4 of the aforementioned article, it is insinuating that the violence could have been orchestrated by some dark forces. Boie, like the majority of Sierra Leoneans and the world, wants to know why the motorcade carrying Bio and his entourage wasn’t attacked while passing through APC-dominated towns like Mile 91, but was allegedly attacked in Bo Town where SLPP supporters significantly outnumbered their rival APC counterparts. There is no vagueness in paragraph 4, as Wilkinson would wish readers to believe. It’s just Wilkinson’s attempt at playing linguistic gymnastics. Hopefully, this won’t fly with readers, as they, like Usuman Boie, need answers to “the skirmishes that led to the loss of lives, the burning of houses, and the wounding of numerous defenseless citizens.” One may add, the melee left some Bo residents dead including a 6- year old girl that was burnt alive while taking a nap at home!
Now even though Wilkinson, Sanusi and scores of others like them are passionate in their support for Maada Bio and the SLPP, I’m pretty sure they aren’t cold and callous enough to oppose the Sierra Leone Government’s efforts to get into the bottom of things.
16th September 2011Joseph Sanusi
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I can’t be reduced to your likes Emmanuel since you have nothing else to trade but tribalism. You possibly are from one of those crooked and power-hungry tribes (Limba or Temne)in Sierra Leone thats why you think whoever talks about the SLPP or Maada Bio is a Mende. By your pronoucement, you are the very people who are at the heart of the current events taking place. What standards do you base your judgement on that the SLPP is made up only of the Mendes? Is it because your candidate woefully lost?
And there you go arguing lamely that i’m scared because a commission has been set up to investigate the Bo incident. Because of the tribal prejudice that is in you,i can’t be surprised that you have readily convinced yourself and your likes that Maada is guilty so as to appease your APC god-fathers. How flawed your reasoning can be? If this is what Usu Boi had wanted to take advantage of, let him told loud and clear that he has failed again. There is nothing to worry Maada and his very capable campaign team. He is well-liked by Sierra Leoneans and be he Mende or not, we are ready to vote for him. Thats why as a politician, its good to have a constituency. Maada will win because he identifies with a constituency that love and trust him. This is what money can’t buy. Maada is a symbol of gentleness, passion, obedience and dynamism. He has worked hard to make himself into who he is today so regardless of what you think of him or the venom poised at him by the likes of you, he is sure to be your president come 2012.
16th September 2011FRANK TALK
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I used to like this Boie guy, but there is an undertone of tribal baiting in all his remarks since the party elections.I once remarked to him that if you love your country,you must love all your coutrymen.Cleary, I can understand his frustration after working so hard to get the party nomination.It did not happen.Remember Ronald Reagan failed once to win republican nomination. He did not bad mouth the party, but he tried again in the late 70’s and he won and became one of America’s greatest president. What Sanusi is saying is that there is always a second time and if Boie shows up in another campaign few years from now, people are going to remind him of what he has said about the party in the past and hold his feet to the fire so to speak. I do not see where the tribalism comes from and I hope you are not saying SLPP is only good when the elect a non-mende for the number one post.There is nothing like being half pregnant. A woman is either pregnant or not pregnant at all, likewise one cannot be HALF SLPP so as a pillar in the party you do not have the luxury to go on record to gloat over others leaving the party you claim to support. Mr Boie should suck it in as a man and wait for his turn as the result of the last contest proves that he has a big following. He should quietly strategise how well he can attract more people to his cause next time around.I do believe his following cuts across tribal lines, that is the reason he garnered so many votes. He cannot call others tribalistic without himself being tribalistic, after all he is not different from any other Sierra Leonean except in his maternal dialect.A lot of people hold you in high esteem so stop the knee-jerk reaction to your defeat.Work within the party hierachy to defeat tribalism if you think it is the cancer eating up the party.
16th September 2011John Wilkinson
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John Johnson would need to have his head examined! What do you make of paragraph 4 if you really claim to understand simple english? You rabied tribalist. I can understand why naive and parochail-minded people like you merely interprete tribalism in terms of a Mende-man becoming head of SLPP. You can go to hell with that mentality but we can no longer allow any opportunist to just come knocking, thinking that by pouring stolen money, he can readily become a presidential candidate. Never will that happen again. You can go to hell John and the like of you!!!
16th September 2011Emmanuel "Shelley" Conteh
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By allowing anger to consume him, Sanusi is no longer able to adjust his myopic lenses. This explains why he can’t follow the gist of any debate and more unfortunately why he can’t understand Usuman Boie’s main message in the aftermath of the Bo violence that took place last Friday, September 9, 2001.
His support for Maada Bio has taken a religious form in which any sort of opposition or criticism is considered as blasphemy. But for his subjectivity and proclivity for reading things out of context, he could have cut himself a fine image of being a reasonable Bio defender and an impressive Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) loyalist.
Sanusi’s rage tends to always appear in his lame rebutalls. One can only imagine what he’ll do to those who oppose Bio and the SLPP if he were to share the same physical space with them! Either in his rebuttal to this article or the one to Ojuku Sesay (see “Welcome to Maada Bio” August 1, 2011),he seems to always make veiled threats at the end. In the one involving Ojuku, this was his threat, “Remember however that the days of reckoning will surely come.” As for this one, the threat is directed at no other person than Usman Boie. “Don’t forget, we are listening and you can appropriately hear from us at the right time.” Wow! So much for party democracy within the SLPP!
With such veiled threats, why does Sanusi want us to believe that the recently concluded SLPP race for presidential candidate that Bio won was fairly conducted under a democratic environment? Of course, Sanusi knows about the secret Mende oath sworn hours before the election for the party’s presidential candidate involving Bio, Benjamin, Nyuma, Sama Banya and others, as reported by the Awareness Times newspaper.
But even if all this doesn’t make sense to Sanusi, one wonders why he’s jittery when Usuman Boie suggested that the Sierra Leone Goverment institutes an effective investigation into the Bo incident. And yet showing further signs of panic (and perhaps guilt), Sanusi has joined the pack of SLPP supporters that have long jumped the gun even before the non-partisan commission starts its investigative work into the circumstances that led to the recent mayhem in Bo.
16th September 2011John Johnson
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But the man never said that, Joseph Sanusi? You SLPP Tribalise will never see Red and Call it Red or Green and call it Green….
The party is becoming more tribalistic then ever before…. I think people should just leave the SLPP to the mendi people alone and see how far they go with it…….
15th September 2011Joseph Sanusi
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Is Usman Boi suggesting that the SLPP may have carried out that attack on its own supporters? How ridiculous this sounds Usu Boi? Come-on, Usu, i thought you were mature enough but this line of thinking makes one doubt both your level of thinking and maturity. Even if you have not yet overcome your defeat at the last convention, this is the least of things to hear from you. Its surprising that you can fall so low. This kind of utterances makes one wonder if you are a genuine SLPP supporter. At a time when others are in pain from the brutal acts of the APC, all that you can think of is to cast the blame on the SLPP. Don’t forget, we are listening and you can aprropriately hear from us at the right time.
14th September 2011