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True Confession:

Bank Governor Admits $68 Million Dollars Bribe!

By Vidal Bultman

The fake promises of the Bio government that they have the capacity to transform Sierra Leone’s economy in record time for so-called paradise in Sierra Leone continue to crumble like pack of cards as latest reports state, the Governor of Bank of Sierra Leone, Prof. Kelfala Kallon has confessed of bribing business sector close to 70 million dollars to entice them to bring their monies to the banks.

 Governor Kallon who brags of being a ‘highly USA-qualified and trained Economist,’ made this revelation when facing the Public Accounts Committee in parliament during a recent engagement.

According to the Governor, since SLPP assured governance, they have faced difficulty to ensure monies are kept in banks, therefore, they are out to redenominate the currency.

Meanwhile, an economic commentator has pointed out to

We Yone, the Bank governor made a major political blunder by openly pointing out they bribed.

“How dare for a so-called reputable Bank governor to have confessed of bribing people in this age of transparency and decency,” the seasoned Economic Commentator asked, while informing We Yone, the problem with the Bio regime is as a result of unfavourable financial and economic policies and actions they have been unleashing since 2018 to date.

“These unfavourable policies panicked the business community and they lost confidence in the economic system, thus by passing the financial system,” the Economic Commentator expressed, while arguing even if the Bio regime is to redenominate the currency, as long as their policies are not business-friendly especially with a killing tax regime, people will continue to hoard monies in their homes.

“It is now apparent Bio came with a sole perception that APC officials in the erstwhile government have ‘Banks of money’, so they should be pursued and their assets illegally seized,” the Economic Commentator explained, adding the Bio regime from day one behaved and continues to behave like a dictatorial regime that is out to impoverish political opponents, failing to realize that these policies and actions have boomerang on their faces.

The Economic commentator concluded by blasting the Bank governor, while calling on him to resign because as he noted, “a key figure in the financial and economic circle of government has exposed his inadequacy and unprincipled attitude.”

2022: “Suffer Posh Budget”- APC MP Asserts!

HON. SALIEU OSMAN SESAY

Member of Parliament for the All Peoples Congress, Honourable Salieu Osman Sesay of Constituency 038 on Wednesday 24th November 2021, during the debate on the Appropriation Act, 2022 referred to it as a “Suffer Posh Budget”.

The Appropriation Act, 2022 is an Act to authorize the expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for the services of Sierra Leone for the year 2022 and for other related matters.

Hon. Salieu O. Sesay stated that in his opinion, “the Covid-19 is a blessing in disguise for the economy and had it not been for the support of donor partners, it would have been something different.

He said that the country is experiencing a hyperinflation, that is why the Bank Governor is going to redenominate the currency.

He said that President Bio promised the people and the House of Parliament that they are not going to celebrate Independence Anniversary until the economy has a GDP of 20%.

The projection of 15.1% has not been achieved, he continued, adding the people will not celebrate independence anniversary until 2023 when the government is going to leave power.

According to Hon. Sesay, the Bank Governor is saying X and the Finance Minister is saying Y, adding they are not complementing each other.

The exchange rate, Hon. Sesay added, has exposed the government.

The only time that we experience a stable exchange rate was during the Covid-19 because the President Bio and other members of the government were not traveling, he maintained.

Hon. Sesay reiterated that the budget is a “Suffer Posh Budget”.

He explained why a suffer posh budget:

“Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, let us come to the wage bill. The Financial Secretary was on radio making statement that are misleading in my view.”

Hon. Sesay affirmed “the 25% increase in the salary for teachers and the forces are not the reason for the increase of the wage bill. The main reason was as the results of the creation of more agencies.’’

 He said over 9 new agencies were created, among which include, but not limited to, Peace and Reconciliation Commission, Disaster Management Response Agency amongst others.

He said that the creation of more agencies and commissions goes with cost and that has resulted in the increase on the wage bill, noting some heads of agencies are paid more than the Speaker of Parliament.

Also during the debate, Abdul Karim Kamara, Member of Parliament for Constituency 069 in Port Loko District said, “the economy growth rate and GDP has been a downward trend and that we need recovery.’’

He said on the budget, ‘‘you will have realized that in 2020 President Bio promised the nation to give red card to players on the executive arm of government, but what we see is a swap.’’  He said that is creating a serious burden on the budget.

APC MPs Say No To Illegal Mid-Term Census

BY SARRAN KABBA

Hon. Chernoh R.M Bah, Leader of the APC in Parliament, on behalf of his colleagues held a press conference in committee room 1 in Parliament on 9th December 2021 to inform the press and the general public that their position on the Mid Term Census is “No Census”. 

He stated that their position before 19th April 2021, post 19th April and even as of today is no to illegal mid-term census.

  “We are standing with our party to reject the census because the government failed to follow due process, illegality plus legality is still illegal”.

Hon. Chernor Bah pin pointed two reasons why they as opposition MPs including NGC MPs and  C4C MPs collectively informed the public in the chamber of Parliament about their position on the mid-term Census. He said that the census that is supposed to start on 10th December 2021 is not a legal census based on the procedures they followed and that they as opposition MPs don’t believed that a mid-term Census is necessary in Sierra Leone at this point in time. More so, they were not told of any country in the sub-region that has held a mid-term Census and definitely not in Sierra Leone.

He said elections will be in 2023, a year and few months from now. He added that there are certain things in the 2015 Census that need to be discussed but they are considering about the legitimacy surrounding the April 2021 statutory instruments laid in the House of Parliament and their position remained the same.

“It was only after we granted interview to the AYV media and talked to the public, that was the time the government brought in the House of Parliament a Statutory instrument,” he said, pointing out that shows that they accepted what they were doing was wrong.

He said, “we still challenged the procedures used to bring the instruments in Parliament is still not correct.” He said that the Standing Orders are very clear on when the President should call Parliament and that they have explained it before and that their position is very clear.

Hon. Chernoh said that the Speaker should consult the two leaders in parliament, that is the majority and minority, and the clerk, then they would agree but that did not take place.

“What compounded the problem and makes it worse is that, all the things the government did before 19th April when we detected that they were doing something wrong, twenty one days after they claimed that the statutory instrument has taken effect, they didn’t go back to start all over, the government just continue with the census activities before 19th April, it is like they are taking illegality plus legality and claimed that it is legal. Illegality plus legality is definitely illegality” he highlighted

Ironically, he stated that Statistics Sierra Leone came to the House of Parliament for the first time on the eve of the so called mid-term census since they started the census process.

However, Hon. Bah said that there was no communication on how to engage Parliament, so that they will be able to ask SSL the relevant questions, therefore they only engaged MPs that are not opposed to the census. He said that he believed the entire membership of the APC, NGC and most of C4C were not part of the SSL engagement in parliament.

He reiterated that their position on the census remained the same.

The mid-term census stipulated for 10th December 2021 is not legal and that they stand by the position of their political party.

He concluded by calling on the press to reiterate what has been their position since the government started the census process.

“Today we have manifested our position in the chamber and yes, we say no to the Mid Term Census and that through this medium, we have informed you that Statistics Sierra Leone today, for the first time attempted to engage Members of Parliament and that we don’t know how it happened because the engagement of MPs is a process more so on the eve of the so-called mid-term census,” the leader of the opposition stressed.

We Yone News

“People’s Rejection of Mid-Term Census Portrays Bio’s Failure in 2023”Political Analyst Notes

By Septimus A. M. Saffa

Reports filtering in to We Yone press relating to the botched mid-term census nation-wide, may have drawn the attention of a seasoned Political Analyst who in a latest interview with We Yone has noted, “People’s rejection of mid-term census portrays Bio’s failure in 2023.”

According to comments by the Political Analyst, the fact that the so-called mid-term census has from day one hit rock bottom with many technical, logistical and material challenges coupled with the refusal of citizens across the political divide to participate in the process indicates it is a project not in the interest of citizens.

“The World Bank has withdrawn its support having its reasons for doing so on the grounds that, “there is insufficient time between now and December 10, 2021 to satisfactorily address all pending actions.”

The Political Analyst reinterated the concerns of the World Bank like the failure of the government to produce a pilot census report as well as an evaluation; field operation plan for the enumeration, and training of enumerators.

“The major set-back of the project is the non-cooperation and non-participation of major political parties including APC, NGC, C4C, etc forming the Consortium of Progressive Political Party (COPP),” the Political Analyst noted, while equally lambasting the SLPP Bio-led government for attempting to coerce citizens to participate in a sinister project.

“Coercion will not work because in a democracy, the powers of authority do not cancel the freedom of the citizens,” the Political Analyst quoted sections of the latest press statement issued by COPP.

The Political Analyst ago intimated We Yone that citizens especially the poor and suffering majority are preoccupied with salient issues of survival in this dispensation of ‘paopaism’.

“Citizens are hungry as the cost of living is astronomical; citizens are largely unemployed and they are tired of the brutal and frontal attacks of the Bio regime on the rights of citizens,” the Political Analyst expressed, adding it is an insult on the poor people for Bio to be trying their patience with a project calculated to ensure Bio wins an underserved second term.

“Hence, by rejecting this so-called mid-term census, majority of citizenry have already rejected Bio for any so-called second term,” the Political Analyst noted.

Meanwhile, reports have confirmed that most of the tablets are faulty and others have already been configured to give advantage in numerical strength to the Southern-Eastern regions.

However, what makes the so-called mid-term census disastrous is the fact that Bio’s assumed supporters in Kenema, Bo, Pujehun, Bonthe, Moyamba and even Kailahun have rejected the project, equaling stating ‘bread and butter issues’ are their concern and not Bio’s illegal and sinister mid-term census project.

Latest reports from Kailahun and many other districts indicate the workers are in a tug of war with Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) for non-payment of training allowance. Intelligence reveals President Bio has succumbed to genuine concerns and has reportedly instructed for the project to be abandoned, though yet to be independently confirmed.

“Close family sources disclose, Bio and his overbearing wife, First Lady Fatima Bio have accepted that they will not succeed in 2023 and that they are working out exit strategy,” reports state.

Party News

Calls for Hierarchy to Mend Fences with Rank and File

By Momoh K. Kanu

As the clock ticks to 2023 elections with apparent signs that APC will win the elections and take back power for the development of Sierra Leone, calls continue to inundate We Yone Press office, calling on the hierarchy to urgently consider embarking on ‘fence mending and bridge building’ efforts to inject impetus to APC’s preparedness. One of the callers, Joseph Sesay, who says he lives in Moyamba district, noted, “APC as a party should be wary of over confidence and complacency.”

“That was the situation in 2018 when certain big guns of APC disregarded the aggregated views, opinions and concerns of large number of members, supporters and well-wishers,” Joseph Sesay explained, adding the level of disregard was responsible for the award of the party symbols to number of unpopular and unwanted candidates who lost elections across the board especially in few constituencies in Western Rural Area. Another male caller by name of Alfred John of Western Rural Area solicited the attention of the hierarchy of APC to mend fences with stalwarts in the rank and file of APC.

“Humility is ambition’s ladder,” Alfred John quoted the outstanding British Playwright, William Shakespeare, thus advising politicians in the hierarchy who assume to be all-powerful and popular to display commonsense and ensure reconciliation takes place by bringing all onboard APC.

“This is the time for the hierarchy to reach out to key APC stalwarts in every districts and ensure they take lead to educate the grassroots that every body counts in APC,” Alfred John stated. A female caller by the name of Kumba Sam who was speaking from Kono, equally called on the hierarchy to mend fences.

“Kono is a swing district and it will be the decider for the person who will win the 2023 presidential election,” she explains, adding by the look of things, APC needs to address the political dynamics in Kono.

“Commonsense dictates for APC to ensure leading male and female politicians are reconciled and brought into the fold of APC to prevent SLPP taking over the district in 2023,” Kumba Sam intimated We Yone, adding the result of the last bye-election shows that a particular male political giant should be brought back into the fold of APC, adding the hierarchy should not allowed themselves to be deceived any longer.

“Kono is a patriachial society and the residents are more receptive and supportive of male politicians,” she stated, adding if APC fails to urgently address Kono dynamics, the future will be ‘bleak’ for the party.

Several callers from many districts also advised the hierarchy to be much more strategic and committed in their thinking and approach for APC to strongly unite to give SLPP and Bio a ‘bloody nose’ in 2023.

“OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK”

NSG Affirms!!!

BY PA-DIKALI

All Peoples Congress, in a release signed by its National Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, has joined other well-meaning Sierra Leoneans at both home and abroad, local and international organisations, to condemn what the party described as “unconstitutional suspension of the country’s Auditor General and her deputy.

The release states, in the affirmation, that the country’s hard-won democracy, is under attack.

The release notes that, the APC is baffled by the insistence of the government to go ahead with the flawed procedure by which His Excellency, the President, had suspended Mrs. Lara Taylor- Pearce, the Auditor General and Mr. Tamba Momoh, the Deputy Auditor General. The APC, according to the release, is baffled “this suspension conveniently comes two weeks before the Audit Report is to be laid in Parliament”. The Party is wary about the setting up of a Tribunal by the Attorney General to investigate them for alleged ‘‘professional misconduct’’.

“The APC brings to the attention of all Sierra Leoneans and the International Community that this unprecedented action to suspend the Auditor General and one of her deputies and then establish a Tribunal, after the fact, to find reasons to justify the action of our Executive is unconstitutional and undermines our nascent democracy that our people so zealously guard and nurture,’’ the release states, adding “as a Party representing the interest of the people, ‘‘we condemn and challenge this action with a view to safeguarding our Constitution and the Independence of State Institutions.’’ The APC cited portions of  the Constitution and take note of the various safeguards placed on the Office of the Auditor General, with a view to protecting its independence and mandate so as to ensure accountability in the financial management of the country’s resources, as encapsulated in Section 119(6) of the Constitution, which  states in relevant part that “in the exercise of his function under this Constitution or any other law, the Auditor General shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority.”

Additionally, pursuant to section 119(9) the Auditor General’s tenure in office has the same protection as that of a High Court Judge, the release further notes. The release adds: “Section 137 (4) of the same Constitution sets forth in detail the process to suspend or remove a judge which is applicable to the Auditor General and states in relevant part that ” subject to the provisions of this section, a judge of the Superior Court of Judicature may be removed from office only for inability to perform the functions of his office, whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or for statement misconduct and shall not be so removed save in accordance with the provisions of this section. “

The APC believes, since the due process was not followed, the suspension or removal of the Auditor General should be rescinded. The APC has also notes the attempt by the Attorney General of Sierra Leone with his November 8th 2021 letter, to legitimize a flawed and unconstitutional process. The APC respectfully maintained, the Attorney General is a mere busybody in this process since the Constitution does not give him any role to play in the suspension or removal of the Auditor General.

“We urge the Attorney General to stay out of the process and urge the Judicial and Legal Service Commission to strictly abide by the mandates of the Sierra Leone Constitution,’’ the release urges, noting “We also urge the Judiciary to act as one of the arms of government as the Constitution anticipates and rejects efforts of the government to bypass the mandates set forth in our laws.’’

The APC also believes the Government is testing the waters to see just how much more illegalities they can inflict and get away with.

“Our governance structures are being eroded, our rights are being chipped away and our electoral integrity is on the line as is evident from the EU Reports a fortnight ago; this blatant unconstitutional action further illustrates and compounds the problems we face and points to a crisis that is at the heart of our survival as a country and as a people. The APC also suggested the blatant unconstitutional action affects the economic stability of the country and that, it further erodes investor confidence, which in turn impacts our economic activities and ability to create jobs – the real Bread and Butter issues facing the people at the moment.

“This line of action has no place in our modern democracy, and we therefore call on the President and on Parliament to whom the Auditor General is to present the 2020 Audit Report to ensure that due process, as laid down in the Constitution is adhered to and that our Auditor General and her Deputy are reinstated,’’ the release calls. “We urge Parliament to insist that the Audit Report 2020 prepared by our respected Auditor General and her team be released forthwith and without being tampered with,’’ the release concludes.

We Yone News

Kono Reject Lies: Re-echo ‘Hardship’, ‘Hunger’ & ‘Acute Blackout’

By Pa-Dikali

This is unprecedented! For the first time, in recent history of Sierra Leone, for a sitting President to be scolded by a partisan crowd, in an open air. His Excellency President, Julius Maada Bio, would certainly not be a happy man after such sweet/bitter experience in the diamond-rich Kono.

In full glance of such crowd, President Bio was certainly taken aback with the outburst of young people demonstrating in his presence, for the abysmal hardship, hunger and the acute blackout, the people of Kono are facing since 2018, a political commentator told We Yone last evening. Fragmented APC operatives in Kono have been criticized by many for given a field day to the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) executives members and government appointees, to rig the recently concluded Ward 091 bye-election, in Bangabaya village, Sandoh chiefdom. It could be a dismay to the President. The hired crowd, full of young people, could not accommodate deceits of increased electricity, economic and infrastructural gains the SLPP is claiming to have achieved in Kono. Unlike before, the so-called city, is now swimming in acute blackout.

The imported crowd couldn’t mice their words, yelling about the hardship, hunger and acute blackout, Kono is suffering since President Julius Maada Bio assumed the mantle of leadership of the country in 2018. This development had sent shockwaves to officials of SLPP in Kono, as to whether they would get away after deceiving the President over his popularity in Kono. Deputy Organizing Secretary of the All Peoples Congress, Karamoh Kabba, on the day of polls updated the public about the situation at Bangabaya, which he revealed, the SLPP changed the peace and quietness.

He further revealed: “The APC and C4C polling agents caught a woman who voted with a voter ID card from another Ward. She was handed over to the police. We asked for the identification of the NEC officer who aided the process for the woman to vote,’’ he revealed, adding “In the presence of the LUC and his team of police, Laurence Kai Mbayo, deputy minister of sport, trooped in with SLPP thugs, who were all unaccredited. They heaped insult and assault on Ibrahim Sesay, Richard A Koniga and my very self in the presence of the police.’’

‘‘They commanded the police to take our phones from us on false accusation that we took photos of the woman who had voted illegally. All this happened in the presence of EU and NEW observers,’’ Kabbah said, further saying, ‘‘the police literarily used undue power to force us out of the centre with a police escort leaving behind an exposed centre to rigging’’. Philip Tehtehma Tondoneh, deputy minister of works was permanently stationed at Yaryah, while Kai Laurence Mbayo was permanently stationed at Bangabaya organizing and executing vote rigging in broad day light, Kabbah noted while saying, he notified the IGP Sovula’s over policing of Ward 091 bye-election, pointing out the unholy role of the police, aiding and abetting vote rigging in favour of the SLPP. He also reported that the NEC Kono District Elections Manager and his team are simply lame in this arrangement with some even facilitating the vote rigging as in Bangabaya.

Financial Act 2021….

APC MPs Pick Holes

By Sulaiman Alim Bangura

As the amendment of the Finance Act of 2021 goes before parliament, members of parliament of the All Peoples Congress stood tall in bringing forward issues that can benefit the citizens of Sierra Leone. The Finance Act of Sierra Leone has been an act created to provide for the imposition and alterations of taxes. It also gives effect to the financial proposal of Government and to provide for other related matter that deals with finance for every year. On Monday 16th November, 2021, the Finance Act of 2021 was brought in front of parliament in order to make necessary amendment by parliamentarians for the year 2022 for the betterment of its citizenry. The APC MPs were in full gears as always in order to ensure that necessary things are effected in the amendment of the Act, in the interest of the welfare of every Sierra Leonean. Leader of the main opposition party – Honorable Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah pinpointed that, since 2006, the Finance Bill has been the most important bills brought to parliament year in – year out.

In his contribution towards the debate of the amendment on the finance Act of 2022, as highlighted, he stated that the creation of a special account or fund outside of the National Disaster Agency is questionable, saying the agency cannot have any control over itself. He highlighted that, the Wellington fire disaster caught ‘‘us all pant down’’.

Hon. Bah noted the disaster is a lesson learnt for the House of Parliament to press for more funding for the National Disaster Management Authority as the Finance Bill is being put forward once again for amendment. He added that, the Finance Bill is in front of parliament and that members of parliament should more focus on the area of revenue generation. He states that, as a representative of the people, he called on the minister, through his office, to cut down the taxes of housing commodities, like cement, as it has been greatly affecting the poor people.

“The fact that the Finance Bill is a special Bill that covers the livelihood of all and sundry, members of parliament should not look into it abruptly. I do not want to part of the creation of any laws that tend to have a side effect on the people,’’ the seasoned MP added. Honourable Abdul Karbgo of Constituency 079 is known for his dedication   to speak out on burning issues that is of public centric.

He reiterated on the reduction of customs and taxes on imported commodities, as it has been one of the key factors for the uncontrollable increment of prices in the market. He pinpointed that, another opportunity has been given once again to members of the House to set the record straight, as the Finance Bill is in front of them. Honorable Abdul Karim Kamara (AKK) of 059 stated that, the laws passed by parliament sometimes is among the many reasons the judiciary system of late has nothing good to write home about. He advised members of parliament to be mindful in dealing with certain bills, saying whenever a drafted bill is presented to the house, members should ensure that they looked at it well and debated it, in tandem with other laid down laws or acts, in order to prevent any conflict of laws. As he puts it in his words that ” The integrity of the house of parliament, wholeheartedly depends on what Parliamentarians do and say” Summarizing, Leader of the Opposition in the House of Parliament, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah craved on the indulgence of the minister and the House of Parliament, in its entirety, to look into all the issues pointed out by members in House in a bid to ensure the furtherance of all Sierra Leoneans.

APC MPs Say No To Illegal Mid-Term Census

By Sarran Kabba

Hon. Chernoh R.M Bah, Leader of the APC in Parliament, on behalf of his colleagues held a press conference in committee room 1 in Parliament on 9th December 2021 to inform the press and the general public that their position on the Mid Term Census is “No Census”.  He stated that their position before 19th April 2021, post 19th April and even as of today is no to illegal mid-term census. “We are standing with our party to reject the census because the government failed to follow due process, illegality plus legality is still illegal”. Hon. Chernor Bah pin pointed two reasons why they as opposition MPs including NGC MPs and  C4C MPs collectively informed the public in the chamber of Parliament about their position on the mid-term Census. He said that the census that is supposed to start on 10th December 2021 is not a legal census based on the procedures they followed and that they as opposition MPs don’t believed that a mid-term Census is necessary in Sierra Leone at this point in time. More so, they were not told of any country in the sub-region that has held a mid-term Census and definitely not in Sierra Leone.

He said elections will be in 2023, a year and few months from now. He added that there are certain things in the 2015 Census that need to be discussed but they are considering about the legitimacy surrounding the April 2021 statutory instruments laid in the House of Parliament and their position remained the same. “It was only after we granted interview to the AYV media and talked to the public, that was the time the government brought in the House of Parliament a Statutory instrument,” he said, pointing out that shows that they accepted what they were doing was wrong.

He said, “we still challenged the procedures used to bring the instruments in Parliament is still not correct.” He said that the Standing Orders are very clear on when the President should call Parliament and that they have explained it before and that their position is very clear. Hon. Chernoh said that the Speaker should consult the two leaders in parliament, that is the majority and minority, and the clerk, then they would agree but that did not take place.

“What compounded the problem and makes it worse is that, all the things the government did before 19th April when we detected that they were doing something wrong, twenty one days after they claimed that the statutory instrument has taken effect, they didn’t go back to start all over, the government just continue with the census activities before 19th April, it is like they are taking illegality plus legality and claimed that it is legal. Illegality plus legality is definitely illegality” he highlighted Ironically, he stated that Statistics Sierra Leone came to the House of Parliament for the first time on the eve of the so called mid-term census since they started the census process.

However, Hon. Bah said that there was no communication on how to engage Parliament, so that they will be able to ask SSL the relevant questions, therefore they only engaged MPs that are not opposed to the census. He said that he believed the entire membership of the APC, NGC and most of C4C were not part of the SSL engagement in parliament. He reiterated that their position on the census remained the same. The mid-term census stipulated for 10th December 2021 is not legal and that they stand by the position of their political party.

He concluded by calling on the press to reiterate what has been their position since the government started the census process.”Today we have manifested our position in the chamber and yes, we say no to the Mid Term Census and that through this medium, we have informed you that Statistics Sierra Leone today, for the first time attempted to engage Members of Parliament and that we don’t know how it happened because the engagement of MPs is a process more so on the eve of the so-called mid-term census,” the leader of the opposition stressed.

“People’s Rejection of Mid-Term Census Portrays Bio’s Failure in 2023Political Analyst Notes

By Septimus A. M. Saffa

Reports filtering in to We Yone press relating to the botched mid-term census nation-wide, may have drawn the attention of a seasoned Political Analyst who in a latest interview with We Yone has noted, “People’s rejection of mid-term census portrays Bio’s failure in 2023.” According to comments by the Political Analyst, the fact that the so-called mid-term census has from day one hit rock bottom with many technical, logistical and material challenges coupled with the refusal of citizens across the political divide to participate in the process indicates it is a project not in the interest of citizens.

“The World Bank has withdrawn its support having its reasons for doing so on the grounds that, “there is insufficient time between now and December 10, 2021 to satisfactorily address all pending actions.” The Political Analyst reinterated the concerns of the World Bank like the failure of the government to produce a pilot census report as well as an evaluation; field operation plan for the enumeration, and training of enumerators.

“The major set-back of the project is the non-cooperation and non-participation of major political parties including APC, NGC, C4C, etc forming the Consortium of Progressive Political Party (COPP),” the Political Analyst noted, while equally lambasting the SLPP Bio-led government for attempting to coerce citizens to participate in a sinister project.

“Coercion will not work because in a democracy, the powers of authority do not cancel the freedom of the citizens,” the Political Analyst quoted sections of the latest press statement issued by COPP.

The Political Analyst ago intimated We Yone that citizens especially the poor and suffering majority are preoccupied with salient issues of survival in this dispensation of ‘paopaism’. “Citizens are hungry as the cost of living is astronomical; citizens are largely unemployed and they are tired of the brutal and frontal attacks of the Bio regime on the rights of citizens,” the Political Analyst expressed, adding it is an insult on the poor people for Bio to be trying their patience with a project calculated to ensure Bio wins an underserved second term.

“Hence, by rejecting this so-called mid-term census, majority of citizenry have already rejected Bio for any so-called second term,” the Political Analyst noted.

Meanwhile, reports have confirmed that most of the tablets are faulty and others have already been configured to give advantage in numerical strength to the Southern-Eastern regions. However, what makes the so-called mid-term census disastrous is the fact that Bio’s assumed supporters in Kenema, Bo, Pujehun, Bonthe, Moyamba and even Kailahun have rejected the project, equaling stating ‘bread and butter issues’ are their concern and not Bio’s illegal and sinister mid-term census project.

Latest reports from Kailahun and many other districts indicate the workers are in a tug of war with Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) for non-payment of training allowance. Intelligence reveals President Bio has succumbed to genuine concerns and has reportedly instructed for the project to be abandoned, though yet to be independently confirmed. “Close family sources disclose, Bio and his overbearing wife, First Lady Fatima Bio have accepted that they will not succeed in 2023 and that they are working out exit strategy,” reports state.

‘’Our Job is a Commitment Made to the People of Sierra Leone’’

…COPPP Chair Maintains

By Vidal Bultman

The Chairman for the Consortium of Progressive Political Parties (COPPP), Madam Femi Claudius- Cole over the weekend at a press conference held at her Pademba Road Office told newsmen that part of their responsibilities is to fulfill the commitment they made to the people of this country during their campaign in 2018 and to serve as whistle blowers by calling the ruling government to order. ‘’We have been monitoring things as they unfold and we have been calling the government to order in order to avoid mis-happenings in the country,’’ she noted, while re-echoing COPPP’s stance with regards the ongoing mid-term census.

Reading the press release, the National Secretary General of the Opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Party, Alhaji Dr. Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh said among other things, COPPP notes with concern the decision of the government to proceed with the mid-term census in spite of the numerous issues surrounding the project. He referenced world Bank decision as contained in the release dated 7th December, 2021 to the government expressing it decision to stop giving technical assistance or funding support to the mid- term census.

‘’Several critical action points require further technical work to be satisfactorily address including evaluation of the pilot census result, the field operation plan for the remuneration and ensuring Enumerators are adequately trained.

All these outstanding actions are necessary and must be addressed prior to commencing data collection to minimize the risk of inadequate and poor data quality.There is insufficient time between now and December 10, 2021 to satisfactorily address all pending actions,’’ O.F. Yansaneh quoted the release from World Bank. After giving COPPP’s current stance on the so-called mid- term census, he reiterated the position of COPPP on the mid-term census, stressing the position remains unchanged.

According to the release, the position includes seven points ranging from unresolved technical problems, suspicious object of the census vis-a-vis boundary delimitation before the next election; controversy surrounding the project, rights of citizens to challenge bad decisions, intimidation/ arrests of political leaders to brazen determination by players of the government to waste tax payers- money on a fruitless project and their belief that the project is not good for the country at this time. Several COPPP members responded to questions posed to them by newsmen who covered the press conference.

“Booing of President Bio: Premonition of Defeat in 2023!”

-Political Commentator Maintains

BY MOMOH K. KANU

As a trail of sustained signs of embarrassment and rejection continues to dogged the lame-duck President of Sierra Leone in the person of Falstafian Bragadier Julius Maada Bio, a political commentator who spoke to We Yone hours after last week’s video clip of President Bio been booed in Kono went viral on social media and even in traditional news outlets, noted, “the booing of President Bio is a premonition or sign of defeat in 2023 election”. According to reports, President Bio was addressing a gathering of educationists, Kono stalwarts and students in Koidu City, Kono district on a so-called ‘Kono university’ when he was spontaneously booed at by people who by all indications are frustrated and dismayed over the failures of the Bio SLPP-led government almost four years at the saddle of national governance.

Shouts of “we are hungry!!!, “we want light” were heard audibly, thus placing the President in a state of discomfiture and embarrassment.

According to the Political Commentator, the outburst could be likened to the ‘busting of suppressed anger and pain” in the hearts of Kono residents. “It is no hidden secret that it is this Bio regime that in less than three months in office in 2018 that carted away Kono district electric plant to Bo; this same Bio government that failed to build on the gains made by erstwhile APC government in sectors of road infrastructures, health, education, energy and national cohesion; this same Bio government that created a climate of fear, intimidation and violence as evidenced in the stolen victory in Ward 091 local council bye-election; this same Bio government that is faking Kono residents of their so-called preparedness to build Kono University when the SLPP has just one year left to exit power as indicated in popular opinions of citizens,” the Political Commentator noted.

The Commentator pointed out to We Yone downfall of failed leaders always precipitated by public booing and snobbish disregard by the governed. “This happened to former President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Donald Trump in USA as well as Yayah Jammeh in Gambia before they were booted out of power, democratically,” the political Commentator explained, and concluded by asserting that the failures of the Bio regime are sources of annoyance to Sierra Leoneans and by booing the President now in public gatherings, they have demonstrated their determination to vote Bio out of power in 2023 Presidential election.

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