Orlangba Khanu, African Champion and the SLPP

It is always a Herculean task to attempt to separate the antics of the African Champion newspaper from those of one of its lead writers. It has been suggested that Orlangba Khanu is the pen name of the newspaper’s proprietor and former managing editor, Mohamed Dadis Koroma, the very active and result oriented deputy Minister of Health in the current APC government. What lends credence to the story is that Orlangba now only writes occasionally in the newspaper. Nevertheless, Orlangba’s article in the Monday February 1, edition of the paper carries distinct marks of the former managing editor’s trademark. It is as always a mixture of fact and fiction, cleverly arranged in such a way that one has to struggle to separate the grain from the chaff. The title is, “Do the APC know their political enemies?” In it the writer states that during the life of Sir Albert (whom he refers to as Sir Milton) Margai, the SLPP decided to infiltrate the APC in order to undermine or sabotage that party. Nothing could be further from the truth. But as is usual he deliberately makes no mention of the gallant stand of the late honurable Salia Jusu-Sherriff and  the minority SLPP opposition of no more than twelve erudite and well articulated members against the introduction of the one-party constitution in 1978.

Has Orlangba any idea that it was under the SLPP that the impressive structure which is the National School of Nursing was put up? Sadly, when the main donor who was head of the American Heath Education for African Development (AHEAD) Mrs. Bagley-Bloom returned to Sierra Leone some years later she wept at the filthiness and lack of maintenance of the building. And don’t ask who was then in power. Nobody can deny the infrastructural achievements carried out under Siaka Stevens, but does Orlangba remember under which government the Milton Margai Teachers College, now a constituent college of the University of Sierra Leone was established, or the Port Loko Teacher’s College?

The poor fellow cannot even recall, or perhaps refuses to recall that Francis Minah was the main architect of Steven’s one-party constitution, which he piloted through Parliament almost with a sledgehammer. His zeal for the APC was such that he unleashed violence on his people of Pujehon because of their support for his rival Kemokai and their lukewarm attitude to the APC. That was the background to the Ndorgboyosoi affair and not for Orlangba’s perceived undermining of the APC. Although my relationship with him had cooled considerably, I remain convinced and I have said it repeatedly, that Francis Minah was NOT a party to the Gabriel Kaikai attempted coup. It was after the verdict of his being guilty that a very highly placed former cabinet colleague of mine in the APC admonished me to be very careful with the APC as the then Inspector-General of Police was capable of making the most convincing case against anyone perceived to be an enemy of the party.

How could Francis Minah who played a very decisive role in amending the 1978 constitution which  Major-General Joseph Saidu Momoh eligible for election to Parliament, turn around and attempt to topple the same President Momoh’ government? It just did not add up. It was also Minah who suggested to Siaka Stevens that S I Koroma who, under the 1978 constitution should have succeeded Stevens as President until elections ninety days later, to nominate Momoh as the APC party leader. Poor S I had to comply.

If Orlangba had knowledge of these matters, or if he has but feigned ignorance, it would be better if he practiced his sycophancy elsewhere rather than dabble in matters which only expose his kind.  

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

© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.