What is all the fuss about?
What is all the fuss and talk about “JOB and Kadi Sesey vs. Abass Bundu and Sama Banya?” From my contribution to the discussion on the interpretation of what transpired at the SLPP Kenema Convention and the tendency of our detractors to capitalize on the matter in a negative or sensational way, in that light I took Abass Bundu to task for issuing an ultimatum. Does such a position make me an ally or opponent of Abass Bundu or of Kadi Sesey? Even though Abass had been quoted by Sorie Fofana in the Global Times newspaper as having stated categorically that he would not be contesting for any of the vacant positions, he is still being accused of having his eyes on the leadership, Among the reasons given is that he sees no alternative to him. Abass has not confided in me, but even if he is interested he would never sound as arrogant as is being unfairly attributed to him. All of this “she says, he says, they say” etc., may just be a ruse to confuse our supporters. But of one thing I am certain; such cunning and destructive tactic will not work with us.
This makes me wonder over the point raised by Kanji Daramy and to ask if anyone has challenged the democratic rights or other inhalable rights of Abass or Kadi or anyone else to their opinion. I was merely saying, and I repeat, that I do not expect any one leadership of our party to conclude a logical initial statement with an ultimatum, or doesn’t Kanji Daramy understand it that way? He complains that the SLPP did not raise the issue of northerners being sacked except for southeasterners. If this man had been participating or even following the trend of our case he would not come up with something that has to do with his personal position. Did sacking and replacing him with Siray Timbo create any regional imbalance? Was his in contradiction of the norms of dealing with political appointments? Does he need to be reminded that he combined the posts of Managing Director and Chairman of NaTCOM. Why did he stay in post until he was literarily chased out, did he think EBK was going to have a change of heart specifically because of him? All that not withstanding Kanji, if your case fell within the principle that we have been pursuing believe you me we would have included yours too as an example. Did you go through a formal interview as the formal deputy Commissioner of NaCSA who was also dropped by the APC along with others like a hot potato?
Moa Barracks is the oldest training camp for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces or RSLAF. In the early days the Sierra Leone regiment was referred to as the Royal West African Frontier Force or RWAFF or more popularly referred to as WESTAFF. The place looked majestic and awesome in those days even from the safety of a Sierra Leone Railway coach. I first entered the garrison at Christmas 1940 when it was under the command of a Colonel Bean. In case the African Champion and its allies rush to restate my age, I was 10 years six months and on holidays from Bo School. I didn’t know the Colonel Bean referred to then, but his name was all over the place. Later when I began to play club cricket in Freetown, Colonel Bean’s name was mentioned along with that of Rev. Father Mulchy of St. Edward’s School.
The uniqueness of the Moa or Daru Barracks is that although it was only across the bridge over the Moa River, it was in fact in Njaluahun chiefdom although its name was never associated with the latter chiefdom.
Sierra Leones’s first commissioned military officer was David Lansana; he was followed by John Bangura, Ambrose Genda, Andrew Juxton-Smith, Joseph Saidu Momoh and much later by many others. All those men received their initial recruitment training in Daru before proceeding to Sandhurst or Mons in the United Kingdom. Daru was also the main training ground for all ranks of the then Sierra Leone Army, long before Benguema. Our men formed part of the West Africa Division in Burma and received their most intensive training in Daru.
I had many interesting stories from many of the above most of who were personal friends and in the case of John Bangura a classmate as early as the elementary division of Bo School and with Juxton-Smith at Prince of Wales.
This is the Daru garrison that now has the sword of Damocles hanging over it. The plan is to close it. Can’t we ever preserve any relics or monuments? We shall all weep over Daru. I plead with the decision makers, especially our Commander-in Chief of the RSLAF to rethink over Daru
His Excellency has made a special broadcast announcement on the spate of armed robberies all over the country. Sadly, this columnist has NO COMMENTS!
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