Is NAFFSL a two man show?
Following publication by this reporter of the National Federation of Farmers-Sierra Leone (NAFFSL) & Farmers Based Organization (FBOs) constitutional battle on 22nd May 2014, there are now startling revelations that have attracted the immediate intervention of the Agricultural Ministry and stakeholders calling for the immediate resignation of Jesse-Olu John, President of NAFFSL and Mohamed Kabiru, Secretary-General.
The two referred to by the Farmers Organizations (FOs) as Aki and Pawpaw have been running the organization as a two – man business representing it in meetings. Documentary evidence made available to this medium stated that the Permanent Secretary of the umbrella Ministry (MAFFS) sometime ago sent a query letter to the Federation for lack of transparency.
Because of the perceived administrative incompetence, this medium gathered from an FO head that the President and Secretary-General are grossly incompetent as they lacked administrative skills.
The insider stated that the “guys have nothing to show for the five years they have been in office; no farmers data-base, no farmers newsletter, no Annual General Meetings, no monthly or quarterly meetings with the executive /Farmer Organization (FO) heads, no established bye-laws, no organized fund-raising plans and a whole lot of issues.”
Another FO head with a contrary view stated that the headline for the last article was misleading as there was no constitutional battle within the Federation but rather a disregard for democratic values culminating in deceptive manipulation and unacceptable strategies by the “duo.”
A senior Ministry Official who is conversant with the details of the Federation’s Constitution expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which the PS in the Ministry is seemingly ‘projecting’ an administration that is practically not performing to the expectations of its members and the nation.
A talented consultant had this to say to this reporter, “The whole problem of the Federation springs from semantics and proper understanding of the legal language in Article 14, which states:”
“Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Constitution, the person (s) or group of persons elected, nominated and or appointed to any office mentioned in this Constitution, IMMEDIATELY BEFORE (note the capitalized words) the coming into force of the constitution shall be deemed to have been duly elected, nominated or appointed for the purpose of the Constitution”.
The article did not say those “holding offices” but rather those elected, nominated or appointed IMMEDIATELY BEFORE. There was no election, nomination or appointment IMMEDIATELY BEFORE the ratification at Moyamba. The dictionary definition of “immediate” is “net to, very near to, and within seconds, minutes or hours (of an event). That clause in Article 14 therefore does not refer to any official in the Federation. Those who were there had been elected/appointed etc. years before the Moyamba event.
The consultant also pointed out that it was within the powers of the Ministry to use the sledge hammer to solve the impasse in the interest of the poor farmers of this country from the very Constitution of the federation which states: “it shall be the responsibility of the Ministry to ensure that the Federation functions in the best interest of the farmers and the nation and to take measures to ensure that this is done.” So, why the delay?
By Abdul R. Bedor Kamara
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