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SOCIAL SECTARIANISM IN THE SLPP: The Kenema killing - is MAADA BIO connected:
An SLPP supporter speaks!
Track: Dakeh Gbenyama!!
{Courtsey: Senesie Jannie Tarawally - Facebook Post}
Fellow SLPP, it is sad that we are using the death of Daddy George in Kenema to score political points.
In the first place, we have already judged the assassin of Daddy George, and found him guilty of an act, without the due process of the law. Fonnie, is named by the mp, and Umaru Fofana, who were not at the scene of the crime, mainly because he is known as an assassin in Kenema, without even investigating the matter further. We have already set aside the criminal proof of guilt beyond all reasonable doubt, in this case, because the mp who reported the matter to the general public named Fonnie, as a supporter of PAOPA, belonging to Maada Bio.
And the mp is not a Paopa member. The aspirants in the alliance are fanning the killing as an act committed by their enemy, Julius Maada Bio, whom they see as a stumbling block to their flag bearer ship.
Although the killing is sad, we can not use it to vilify Maada Bio as a violent man, and attribute it to him. JOB had for long planned to hatch a plot to tarnish the good name of Maada Bio, so that he can meander his way to the SLPP presidential leadership, which he can not do while Maada is running.
We saw it in 2012, when he intrigued to torpedo Maada Bio at that election, through various treacherous manipulations. But Maada was smart for him. Ever since the 2018 presidential election was mooted, JOB has been jittery, and mischievous towards Maada's candidature for the position. Is there no sinister movement in the assassination of his body guard, to lay the crime at the door of Maada Bio, who is a stumbling block in his way?
If not, why did the mp who reported the assassination to the world, name Fonnie, and even insinuated that he was a miscreant in the Kenema township, even though he was not at the scene where the crime was committed? Was it a set up? Or an accident?
I saw a situation like that in the seventies, during the Siaka Steven regime. Kanray, and some APC thugs waylaid M S Mustapha and Salia Jusu-Sheriff, on the Kenema/Bo road, while they were returning to Freetown from an SLPP campaign in Kaikahun.
The driver of the vehicle saw the ambush in time and manoeuvred to avoid them being killed by the thugs. In the process, Kanray, one of the APC thugs, was killed on the road. The next thing we heard was that Jusu-Sheriff and Mustapha had killed Kanray with their vehicle, even though they were passengers in the vehicle. They were arrested, and charged with murder, and locked up at the Pademba Road Prison. Mustapha and Jusu- Sheriff were tried snd found not guilty of the murder. This was the early party of the APC rule when the one party had not been established, and the judges were in their cocoon of justice.
As you read the polemic articles on the assassination of Daddy George, you can hear the voices of the members of the alliance, who are disappointed that Maada has stolen the show, and beaten them at the race. They want him removed by hook or by crook. The alliance has not worked to sideline Maada Bio, so they are looking for another avenue to defeat Maada, by implicating him with the murder of JOB's security. S K Foyor did not minx his words, in his video. He squarely laid the murder at the door of Maada Bio. PAOPA should bless its stars that Maada Bio was not at the scene of the murder. If he was, he would have been arrested and charged with the murder of Daddy George. This what JOB and his alliance are looking for, through their machinations.
What is disturbing in the whole scenario, is that members of the SLPP shy away from fighting the APC, which is their opponent, and are determined to fight Maada Bio, who is one of them mainly to oust him from the flag bearership.
What is the reason for that? Is it because he is a Mende, or he is considered to be disciplined and strict to rule a country that is infested with corruption, filth and nepotism.
Are we sure that a third party is not involved in this assassination saga which is blamed on the SLPP? As I watched the incidence on the Independence Day, in Freetown, on the video, I could see the police and APC thugs in plain clothes, arresting innocent SLPP party members in the party office and on the street, even though they had not violated any law. The ruling party and the police were only flexing their muscles against the poor opposition who were vulnerable. And guess who are the witnesses against the SLPP in the case? The Mendes of course!
An alliance member has blamed the killing of Daddy George on Maada Bio simply because Maada had once said, "while the cat is away, the mice play". I fail to see the connection between that proverb and the killing of Daddy George, unless we can say that the killing itself was premeditated and orchestrated by the alliance to implicate Maada Bio because of that proverb. For me, the proverb merely states that you are claiming popularity in the polls because I am away. When I am in the country, I will dwarf your popularity.
Maada Bio has nothing to do with violence and intimidation. If he was a violent man, he would have reacted when Christiana Thorpe denied him victory at the 2012 polls and told him to go to the police. A violent man would have even thrown stones at such blatant rigging of the votes. The violence which JOB orchestrated in Kenema with the two parallel executives, has just boomeranged against the party, with serious under tones that a compassionate police should thoroughly investigate without fear or favour.
Maada Bio has nothing to do with violence. He has exonerated himself, and offered condolences to the bereaved family and the party. The party should now look under its foot to see if there is any subterranean movement by the alliance to strip Maada of the opportunity to run the race, and give themselves the boost to overtake him. But the alliance should be careful not to over reach itself and fall on the other side.
Joe Genda.
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Government of Sierra Leone
Ministry of Political and Public Affairs
Press Release
29th May 2016
Political Violence in Kenema
On Friday 27th May 2016, the Ministry of Political and Public Affairs received reports about skirmishes among Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) supporters in Kenema.
The incident reportedly started as a disagreement between two main SLPP factions in what was supposed to be a peaceful meeting , then later developed into a serious stand-off between supporters of Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and Mr John Oponjo Benjamin.
The situation reportedly led to the destruction of private property and the killing of a young man believed to be a supporter of Mr. John Benjamin. Police have since arrested a key suspect also described as a staunch supporter of Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio.
As we unreservedly condemn this act, we wish to express a serious concern over the recurrence of political violence especially among members of the main opposition party. As the Ministry charged with the responsibility of providing oversight on the activities of political parties in the country, we are calling on the leadership of the SLPP to ensure sanity prevails within its rank and file.
We believe that the foundations of our democracy shall remain weak if the opposition fails to live up to its expectation of providing alternative development policies that will guide government on its mission to accomplish essential service delivery to the people of this country.
In view of this, we wish to make the following recommendations to the Sierra Leone People's Party.
1) That the national leadership of the SLPP come out with a statement to unequivocally condemn the killing of an innocent supporter.
2) That the party fully cooperate with the police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.
3) That the family of the deceased is duly compensated.
4) That the SLPP leadership maps out effective strategies that will bring a stop to the spiraling violence among its supporters.
Finally, we are calling on the Sierra Leone Police and the Judiciary to speedily investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this unfortunate incident.
The Ministry, on behalf of government wishes to express sincere condolences to the family of the bereaved.
Signed:
Nanette Thomas
Hon Minister
9th Floor, Youyi Building
Freetown.
Media Contact: + 232 -76 190-017
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IS MAADA BIO VICARIOUSLY RESPONSIBLY FOR THE VIOLENT ACT OF HIS BODY GUARD? Ministry of Intrenal Affairs says BIO must be arrested and questioned by the Police.
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Senesie Jannie Tarawally:
When selecting a candidate for the next election, SLPP members will have to take into account the circumstances on the ground. We cannot ignore the many obstacles in our path to victory. The backdrop to the next election, the elephant in the room is the formidable APC Political Machine.
A ruthless political mafia runs our government. Creating ever increasing divisions (tribe, region) and lawlessness on a scale unimaginable only a few short years ago.
I must stress. We will be facing a ruthless well financed political machine that operates just like the worst mafia organisations around the world—they take no prisoners and are prepared to subvert the democratic rights of our citizens.
We are unlikely to match the fundraising prowess of the APC Political machine. They treat our nation’s treasury as a personal “piggy bank” and have total control of all state apparatus. This is the kind of opposition we are facing. These are people who would do anything to stay in power. They are ruthless.
They control the National Electoral Commission. They have gerrymandered our country to the point now that they say 60% of the population is in the north and ONLY 40% in SOUTH and EAST. This is what we are facing. We are the underdog. This is a huge challenge.
This gives them an unfair advantage; the playing field will not be level and we simply do not have the luxury of time and space.
We have one candidate (only one candidate) who has the required EXPERIENCE of running a national campaign.
We have one candidate who has EXPERIENCE of holding the highest office.
He is the only candidate“tried and tested” at the highest level. There is no substitute for the experience gained at the highest levels.
My candidate is battle-hardened, been there, done that and lived to fight another day.
Many of the world’s greatest leaders failed in their first attempt to gain the highest office. In 2000, Barack Obama lost an election when he ran for Congress.
Why were these leaders able to succeed after such painful setbacks? They learned from their mistakes. They were uniquely placed to review and analyse what went wrong and to put it right the next time.
Julius Maada Bio is uniquely placed to bring his experience to the challenge of overcoming the formidable APC Political Machine. He has analysed and reviewed the mistakes of the past in a way only he could.
He is ready to hit the ground running on day one.
He will not require any “on-the-job-training”
He has a tried and tested campaign apparatus already in place.
It takes many years to forge the type of EXPERIENCE Julius Maada Bio possesses.
Can we really afford to dispense with such accumulated EXPERIENCE at such a critical time?
I sincerely believe that many of the other candidates possess huge potential and offer our party much needed intellectual resources, but the stakes are too high.
I could not choose potential over tried and tested experience when facing the most ruthless Political Machine in our country’s history. Could you? “AH BEG, DO YA. WUNA NOR DO DIS TO WE PEOPLE DEM.
I support Julius Maada Bio because I believe he is best placed to take advantage of the criteria needed for success.
Blama's Finest,
The Man Who Conjures Something Out Of Nothing!!!
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PRESS BRIEFING BY TEAM JOB COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE ON THE COLD-BLODED MURDER OF MOHAMED KARIM aka DADDY IN KENEMA ON MAY 27TH 2016.
{Courtsey: John Oponjo Benjamin Jr: in Promote Sierra Leone - Facebook Group}
On Wednesday May 25th 2016, a high powered delegation led by Chief Somano Kapen, Chairman and Leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party and comprising of Mr. John Oponjo Benjamin, among other stakeholders, travelled to Kenema after several days of discussions at the PPRC. The mandate of the visiting delegation was to engage party stakeholders in both Kenema and Kono districts to resolve the issue of parallel executives that hitherto existed in the two districts in order to ensure peaceful coexistence prior to the imminent lower level elections slated for June 2016.
The team held successful discussions with all major stakeholders of the SLPP, including meetings with the Kenema City Mayor, Kenema District Council Chairman, Eight Members of Parliament, the previously elected Kenema District Executive, members of the parallel executive otherwise known as the Paopa group etc. etc. The various consultations were peacefully concluded by the evening of Friday May 27th 2016. The visiting team agreed to continue to Kono district on Saturday May 28th 2016.
As with the other members of the delegation, Mr John Oponjo Benjamin’s convoy left for his usual place of residence in Kenema along the Kenema-Bo Highway. The Team JOB convoy suddenly realized that they were been hotly pursued by a group of rowdy supporters of Maada Bio, headed by a security detail of Maada called Mohamed Fonnie. In a sudden twist of events and without any provocative act on the part of members of Team JOB, Mohamed Fonnie stabbed one of JOB’s supporters called Mohamed Karim aka Daddy, a citizen of Segbwema town and dedicated member of Team JOB, Njaluahun Chapter. The police hurriedly rushed Daddy to the Kenema Government Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Team JOB unequivocally condemns such barbaric act of violence in our noble party that has always been renowned for its commitment to the tenets of democracy and civilized politics. In our view, violence before or after flag bearer election should never be condoned in SLPP and all those connected with this needless killing of our party member should receive the maximum punishment as guaranteed in the National Constitution and the applicable laws of Sierra Leone.
Team JOB extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of our late colleague in Segbwema as well as to Mr John Oponjo Benjamin to whom Daddy provided dedicated and exclusive support for the flagbearership contest of the SLPP. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Since this murderous act was carried out, Mr. John Oponjo Benjamin has been incessantly receiving telephone calls expressing sympathy, shock and concern notably from His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma, Cabinet Ministers and several senior government functionaries with assurances that the incident will be speedily investigated and culprits made to face justice accordingly. Team JOB extends special thanks and appreciation to His Excellency the President and other government functionaries for the concern and, significantly, the assurance that the due process of law will be transparently followed.
Team JOB is also profusely thankful to the police under the leadership of AIG Karrow Kamara for the prompt and professional handling of the investigation into this reprehensible act perpetrated by criminals some of whom have already been apprehended. As a result of the prompt intervention of the Eastern Regional Police Command, the alleged assailant, Mohamed Fonnie who doubles as security for Maada Bio has been arrested together with other suspects and helping the police in the investigation.
While the investigation continues, Team JOB urges and appeals to party members, family members and the general public to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed to conclusion unhindered.
As police investigation proceeds, we urge the SLPP leadership that was present in Kenema at the material time to institute prompt internal investigation with the objective to identify any culprits for appropriate disciplinary action in line with the SLPP Constitution.
Team JOB will keep all informed about funeral arrangements and other developments in due course
Team JOB Communications Centre.
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MAADA BIO IS THE CANKERWORM
By Samuel Banya - 31 May 2016
While the Sierra Leone People's Party also known as the Grand Old Party (GOP) is famous for its many charms like the once peaceful party, democratic, intellectually endowed and so on, it is also notorious these days for violence, arrogance, conceit and deceit. As a coterie of aspirants gear up to contest for the party's presidential candidate for the 2018 elections, fear of violence from stabbing to cannibalism is seeing people in especially its south/eastern strongholds are becoming exasperated and anxious as to what might befall them when the titans Maada and KKY clash.
A few days ago, a young SLPP member was stabbed in cold blood by a bodyguard of Julius Maada Bio. According to reports, the plan was to kill another contender, former chairman and leader, John Benjamin. JOB as he is fondly called, even claimed that he was the target of the assailant - Mohamed Fonnie aka Abacha. The suspect has already been arrested and now behind bars far away from JS Keifala and Fokai who normally serve as sureties for this alleged killer.
Daddy George as the late youth who served JOB diligently was called, was murdered in a barbaric manner, an aged woman said in Kenema. But it was not strange because the SLPP, since Maada Bio appeared on the block, has become increasingly and unrepentantly violent and chaotic. But yet, Hon. Philip Tetema Tondoneh has accused JOB of "midwifing" violence when he was Chairman of the party. Maada Bio has merely build on his legacy.
While the SLPP is perhaps known for its good "naturedness" and "civilised" political mingling, it is notorious for violence, intolerant of opposing views and perspectives. Cut throat fights are commonplace, and about 6 out of every 10 SLPP member in the West/North are leaving the GOP weekly because of fear of violence, intimidation and mammy cuss. Even the elders of the party are not speared. "The other day the mother of Kandeh Yumkella was spat on because she accompanied her son to the party HQ at Wallace Johnson Street," a supporter of KKY bemoaned.
A recent analysis discovered that, of the 10 or more flag bearer aspirants of SLPP, Maada is the most dangerous because of the thugs he had deployed at the party HQ, effectively monopolising the office and shutting out the others. This, according to JOB is unacceptable and therefore called for a level playing field.
"Things are getting uglier in this party every day. I advise those young people who are around them to find something productive to do instead of following politicians like JOB or Maada Bio. If they kill you for power, you will die in vain," said Pa Abdulai Komeh of Kenema District Council.
SLPP is well known for the death of Harry Yansaneh (does the name Fatmata Hassan ring a bell?). Lansana Fadika was also stabbed and had it not been for God’s intervention and the police, he was already marked for death. Chief Sumano Kapen had been severally mobbed and molested by thugs of Maada Bio. What's the way forward for the GOP? The answer as JOB said on radio, is for the canker worm to be uprooted by all means necessary.
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