Politicizing Every Institution
SLPP Destabilizes Bike Riders Union
According to a telephone interview with the union’s Secretary General, Mohamed Turay, the Sierra Leone Bike Riders Union is about to be distracted by some callous and self-centered politicians of the ruling party. According to the Secretary General and a staunched member of the media team- duly informed this press that there is a minute aggrieved group hailing from the South East amongst the union referring to themselves as “The SLPP Bike Riders Association” in their expedition to possess that instrumental union that had been impacting the lives of quite a good number of unemployed youths especially the ex-combatants who were left in the wilderness after our eleven (11) years senseless war.
“During the tenure of the past regime, things were going on well without any political interference. In fact the former president, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma served as a great motivator to us but they have never attempted to brand us in their party’s name. Financial supports were offered in order to inspire and kept us going. On the 17th June, 2018, we went to the Kenema district on a meeting where the deputy minister of Youth Affairs called on the Board of trustees and disclosed that the ministry is planning to host a meeting with the national executive of the union on the 24th June, 2018 in Freetown. We been respecters of authority and well-meaning young Sierra Leoneans endorsed that proposed meeting as was outrightly slated. What sounded and seemed scary on that meeting( 24/06/18) was the fact that our deputy minister whom we held in high esteem totally disappointed us by posing threat on us with the appearance of more than fifty(50) OSDs in our midst at the deputy minister’s office after we have been thoroughly searched as if we were suspects.
However, the authoritative minister clearly manifested that by the power vested in him that he was emphasizing that they have got an agreed body because the union’s tenure in office has expired and he will dissolve the national executive though his power is limited to impose such a decision on us”. Exclaimed the subtle Secretary General. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was presented to them to be either signed or they quit by the spiteful deputy minister .But they refused to sign on the context that it was unconstitutional, it is against the union’s mandate and highly unacceptable. In responding to their defiance, the PAOPA deputy minister opined that whether they could sign or not, that old national executives have been dissolved with immediate effect. “This is the new direction where we dictate the pace and give vindictive executive orders.” He vehemently shouted at them. Turay further revealed to this Media that they have successfully conducted more than two thousand and fifty-two (2,052) elections nationwide without any undue influence by the past Government.
According to unswerving sources within the union, we were told that those aforementioned minute riders had been involved in corrupt practices that have automatically debarred to attain any position. Those alleged PAOPA guys are now bragging all over the place that they are now in governance determined to operate in their own political interest regardless of the union’s reputation.
By and large, the uncompromising Secretary General has categorically made it clear with the consent of the Labour Congress that their stance relatable to this scorching issue is sacrosanct. “We are quite aware of the fact that the tenure of the national body has been terminated but electioneering is a process which must be upheld. On the 31st July, 2018, we shall be having our delegate conference of which we will decide within a time bound of ninety (90) days, when to go to our parent body (the Labour Congress)”. Hypothesized the well informed Secretary.
By; Allieu Lamin Kamara
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