PMDC makes headway after intense internal dispute

By Theophilus S. Gbenda

The People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), the original campaigner for positive change, has made an impressive headway in handling the internal dispute that threatened to tear the party finally apart.

It could be noted that the PMDC has been in disarray for the past three years, a situation that has delayed the party’s much awaited national delegates’ conference to elect new officials into office.

The dispute saw the suspension of key executive officers of the party and a number of court cases seeking the resignation of Lawyer Charles Francis Margai, the controversial leader of the party.

The dispute also saw Charles Francis Margai falling apart with PMDC appointed ministers serving in the current government, and even resulted in Mr. Margai running into the bad books of his former political ally, His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.

One PMDC minister, Dr. Dennis Sandy, formerly of the Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment, got sacked as a result of his unflinching support for Margai and his utterances against President Koroma and the APC.

The said dispute attracted widespread publicity both in the local and international media, and also left many observers with the impression that the party has lost grip of it and therefore cannot make any major impact in coming elections.

In a bid to save the neck of the party ahead of the crucially important 2012 general elections, a major breakthrough has been reached by all stakeholders involved in the conflict. The breakthrough will warrant the withdrawal of all court cases against the party and its current leadership.

According to impeccable sources, Charles Francis Margai will remain the leader and presidential candidate of the party for the 2012 elections and that the party will finally hold its national delegates conference on Friday 7^th September 2012 in Freetown to fill in various strategic positions.

It is hoped that the delegates’ conference will last for a day and will endorse all decisions reached by the National Council of the party on the way forward.

According to impeccable sources also, the party plans to hold a press conference Monday 3^rd September 2012 at its Henry Street national headquarters, and it is expected that from henceforth, the party will start speaking with one voice.

Meanwhile, the party is expected to hold a national conference in July next year for the election of officials for all positions including the leadership.

Whether Charles Francis Margai will contest for the leadership in the July 2013 national conference remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the party still needs him for the 2012 general elections.

 

   

 

When Professionals go Unprofessional...???

It is often said that when leadership fails, the people suffer. It is often also said that the more you think you know the more you know you know nothing.

Just few days after heaping much praises on the management of Politico Newspaper for their unprecedented professional standard and the fact that the newspaper stands out as being one of the most ideal mediums ever in the country’s media landscape, I got the shock of my life to suddenly realize that professionalism of whatever sort could be compromised at the twinkle of an eye.

The Wednesday July 20-24 2012 edition of the much cherished Politico Newspaper speaks volume. For the very first time in its history, the newspaper ran into what I’ve always referred to as a corporate ploy to weaken the local media.

Rather unprofessionally and deceitfully, Politico published on its front page the banner headline ‘Diamond export to double’, with the photograph of the CEO of Koidu Holdings Limited (KHL) now OCTEA Diamond Group, Jan Joubert.

The story in question fell short of the accepted standard as rather than standing alone, it continued in pages 8-9 and marked as supplementary, with headline ‘OCTEA Diamond Group takes over Koidu Holdings Limited’.

This is outrightly unprofessional, and the worst side of it is that such unprofessionalism was exhibited by a newspaper that is managed by a group of highly trained and qualified journalists who clearly ought to know better.

While pondering over the need to do a piece so as to send out a clear message to the said journalists that their actions are being closely monitored, I came across Tanu Jalloh along the centre of town and took up the matter with him.

His response was “That was our decision”. Of course it goes without saying that a decision could either be right or wrong. So I put it to him that their decision to pass on an advertorial for a front page banner headline was totally wrong and unacceptable. His response was “Look Theo, all of us at Politico are professionals”.

We couldn’t continue the discussion because we were both caught up in traffic, he was in his small nice jeep and I was on my ever-ready operational XL motorbike.

My assessment of Tanu Jalloh’s responses was that he was taken by surprise because he didn’t expect anyone to pick up their professional anomaly. His responses were therefore a blend of sheer arrogance and defenceless defence.

What in my estimation was a deliberate professional oversight geared towards giving undue prominence to the OCTEA Diamond Group center spread advertorial costing merely Le 1,200,000), I feel very saddened that Tanu Jalloh, an experienced editor and mass media communication graduate, could go down that low as to allowing financial consideration to influence his editorial decision (to the extent of undervaluing the essence and worth of the front page).

If it was indeed an issue of ‘decision’ as claimed by Tanu Jalloh, who also happens to be the communications officer of African Minerals Limited (AML) and lecturer at Fourah Bay College (FBC), then that unfortunate decision must have come from him alone.

I say so because at the time when the edition under contention was being produced, the Acting Editor of Politico, Umaru Fofana, the distinguished President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), was busy at a workshop with staff of Mercury International.

I am attempting to get Umaru out of this mess because I know his stance regarding mining companies and commercial advertisements emanating from them; but Tanu Jalloh can prove me wrong.

It goes without saying that Tanu Jalloh, being pro-corporate, took advantage of the situation by filling up the pages of the newspaper edition in question with strings of commercial advertisements, including one centre spread from OCTEA Diamond Group and one full page from AML. Seven pages out of twelve were occupied by commercial advertisements.

In just one edition, the paper made Le 4,200,000, the biggest ‘commercials catch’ ever in its history. Take a look at the previous editions of Politico and you’ll see for yourself the abrupt shift from exemplary journalism to bread and butter journalism.

Of course I am not suggesting that Politico should not go in for commercial advertisements as all other local newspapers in circulation do, but for them to pass on a commercial headline as front page banner headline is not only a breach of confidence but a blatant undermining of professional standards.

The million dollar question now is ‘where does the problem lie?’ If I am to proffer an answer, I’ll say without blinking an eye that the problem lies with having onboard a professional oriented team somebody with a corporate inclination. How this problem could best be solved remains to be seen, but what I think will save the situation is for the management of Politico to take responsibility for the professional blunder and say never again.    

No malice meant, just thinking aloud and expressing my deepest disappointment. Many others, including foreign nationals, feel let down.

I rest my case!!!  

Senior Military Officer Messes Up

Senior military officers in open sex drama

By Theophilus Sahr Gbenda

A startling video clip currently in circulation shows a male lieutenant colonel and a female lieutenant, both serving in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), having sex in an administrative block.

Although the said video clip showing the former 5 Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Osman Jonah Sesay and one Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses having sex on the floor has been seen by top ranking officials of the RSLAF, no disciplinary action has been instituted against them.

In what many observers have referred to as a reward for dragging the name of the RSLAF into disrepute, both Lieutenant Colonel Osman Jonah Sesay and Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses have been selected to proceed on an AMISOM assignment in Somalia and are currently receiving the requisite training at the Horton Academy operated by IMATT.

The said video clip leaked out when Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses took her laptop computer for repairs. Accordingly, it was during the process of repairing the said laptop that the technician came across a file containing the incredible pornographic clip.

How Mrs. Mabinty Sesay, the legally weeded wife of Lt. Colonel Osman Jonah Sesay laid hands on the clip in question remains a mystery, but what came out clearly was that she challenged her husband on the matter; for which she received a chain of nasty beatings, one of which is said to have left her with a swollen face.

Reportedly, Mrs. Mabinty Sesay first reported the matter to the Military Police (MP) and later to Brigadier Kestoria Kabia who is said to have retorted by asking her to choose between the clip and her husband’s future in the military.

It could be noted that Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses, sometime last year bypassed official channels and reported a matter of sexual harassment to the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) and the Office of the Ombudsman.

In her report, she claimed of being a perpetual victim of sexual harassment perpetuated against her by a colonel in the force. Though she failed to mention the name of the said colonel in the report, the 3 Infantry Brigade Commander at Murray Town, Colonel Osman Turay alias Asterix, got suspended as a result, pending further investigation into the matter. Also suspended was the complainant Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses, reportedly for bypassing official channels.

Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses was however reinstated after a week and enlisted in the batch of personnel currently undergoing rapid training for the AMISOM deployment in Somalia. Accordingly, Lt. Colonel Osman Jonah Sesay is the contingent commander designate for the said deployment.

In a heated media encounter with the Acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the RSLAF, Brigadier S. O. Williams at the senior officers’ mess, Wilberforce, the question was posed to him as to whether he has set eyes on the clip. His answer was in the negative.

Asked whether he would like to see it as it was readily available, he maintained that viewing the said clip will influence his decision in the matter involving Colonel Asterix whose investigations he said was concluded on 19^th January with a decision due anytime soon.

Though uninterested in viewing the clip based on the reason advanced above, Brigadier S. O. Williams posed the question “How did you get the clip”? The response proffered was that it was best for him to first view the clip as a matter of concern and thereafter ask any question.

Asked why Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses was reinstated long before the completion of the investigations, Brigadier S. O. Williams noted that a mistake was done on the original orders warranting the suspension of the two officers. According to him, it was later realized that suspending the complainant despite the fact that she bypassed official channels to relay her complaint, was an unreasonable decision. Further questioned as to whether the decision to order the suspension of the officers was done in a rush courtesy of the blunder, his response was “Not really”.

Reports monitored indicate that it was the Minister of Defence, Retired Major Paolo Conteh, who actually ordered her immediate reinstatement.

The question on the lips of many observers now is whether based on the outstanding sexual performance displayed by Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses in the spectacular clip, her accusation of sexual harassment was not cooked up to jeopardize the future of a whole colonel that is on record as being one of the most educated and disciplined commanders in the force.

An unchallenged newspaper report sometime last year published a damning story indicating that Lieutenant Boi Inah Moses entered into the force with a fake academic certificate. 

Meanwhile, both the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman have remained silent on the matter, a pointer that they have simply dismissed the sexual harassment claim as fictitious. 

Meanwhile further, it has come out clearly that most of the personnel serving in the hierarchy of the RSLAF have exceeded their retirement age but are refusing to go, thereby suppressing the growth of younger and far more competent officers within the force.

Meanwhile furthermore, there are reports that the selection of personnel for the current AMISOM deployment and other external operations is marred by high level corruption.

When a 'Jamba Smoker' heads an organization

Rejoinder

When a ‘Jamba Smoker’ heads an organization

By Theophilus Sahr Gbenda

It goes without saying that a good journalist focuses on issues rather than going personal.

It is said that when a journalist sways from the real issues and start delving into the personal life of another, it only shows that that journalist is arguing on weak grounds.

While I’ll never go personal in all my writings, guys like Abdul Fonti, the runner of the Ariogbo Newspaper, take great pleasure in doing just that. Of course, I’ve worked together with Abdul Fonti so I do know a couple of things about his personal life…but I’ll not dwell on those things.

In my resolve to stick to the issues, let me here respond to Fonti’s assertion that “When a Jamba Smoker heads an organization, it is almost likely that that organization will not be treated seriously”.

The writing is on the wall that Fonti is sick in the head and therefore cannot think rightly enough to distinguish between a personal fight and a media fight that has to do with real issues.

Because Fonti cannot counter my arguments without making himself look foolish, his strategy has been what we call in logic an ad homminem fallacy i.e. launching personal attacks when there is no strong counter argument to put up.

In Fonti’s piece that equals to a trash, he stated that members of the Association of Journalists on Mining and Extractives (AJME) made a mistake to have elected me chairman of the organization.

The fact remains that my colleagues are proud of my leadership role and want me to go on leading them.

Apart from the fact that I happen to be one among the three founders of the organization, I’ve always been considered an asset. I was the first Secretary General of the organization and became chairman following the death of the Late Christian Keili, a co-founder and first chairman. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Since assuming office as chairman, AJME has produced a number of newsletter publications and made representations at several quarters both locally and internationally.

AJME is as a matter of fact one of the most vibrant affiliates of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ).

SLAJ holds AJME in high esteem and always redirects issues that have to do with the mining and extractive industry to the organization which over the years I’ve transformed into a research-based professional and non-compromising entity.

Without questioning his opinion of me being a marijuana partaker and that no one takes me seriously especially when I write critical stuffs bordering on the common good, let me state emphatically that I am counted amongst the best journalists you can find in the country. My record is clean, which is why I continue to grow tougher and tougher in the profession.

Mention the name Abdul Fonti and then mention that of Theophilus S. Gbenda and you’ll see who’ll first be recognized. My name rings a bell in the ears of all unpatriotic Sierra Leoneans, as evident in the number of accolades I receive each time I put out a thought-provoking piece or appear on television or Tea Break to talk issues which the likes of Fonti will never ever even know how to tackle.

I’ve represented my country in diverse capacities in several countries across Africa and Europe. As a matter of fact, I just returned from Accra, Ghana, to deliver a paper on Sierra Leone’s oil sector and related governance issues, and hope to be in Germany sometime in March to deliver a lecture on land grabbing and its associated socio/economic and cultural impacts.

Two of my executive members at AJME, Mohamed Konneh (Secretary General) and Diana Coker (Organizing Secretary), returned from Ghana some two months ago and two other members have been listed to travel to the same country by mid this year on a special training course.

AJME, being a reputable media entity, commands high respect within the broader civil society body both locally and internationally, and works in close collaboration with major local and international organizations such as the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Campaign for Just Mining (CJM), the National Advocacy Coalition on the Extractives (NACE), GIZ and IBIS, to name a few.

There is no function bordering on social justice particularly in the mining and extractive industry to which AJME is not invited.

By and large, AJME is a success story, thanks to me leadership. We have succeeded in gaining recognition far and wild, both in the private and government circles.

Following a report published by AJME on the country’s oil sector, no less a person than the Chief of Staff, Dr. Kaifala Marah, attached at the Office of the President at State House, summoned the organization to a meeting, during which he showered praises on us for doing what he referred to as a good eye opening job. That particular AJME report is currently being used by the government as a working document.

During the investigations by the Jenkins Johnston Commissioner of Inquiry into the circumstances that led to the killing of two protesters by armed police guards at the Koidu Holdings facility in Koidu, Kono District, I was the only journalist (in my capacity as chairman of AJME), that provided pictorial evidence of the entire incidence, thereby making the work of the commission much easier.

During the said incidence, I had a direct mobile phone conversation with His Excellency the Vice President, Alhaji Samuel Sam Sumana and even had a meeting with him at State House on the same matter. As a matter of fact, I was the only journalist that was brave enough to cover the incident in question amidst sporadic gun fire, and therefore the only one capable of providing a true account of what happened. I was expressly recognized in the Jenkins Johnston Commissioner of Inquiry report presented to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.

To say therefore that nobody is taking AJME seriously because it is headed by a dreadlocked personality is not only a far fetched and erroneous piece of misinformation, but a claim aimed at attempting to undermine the respectability of the organization.

During a recent function organized by African Minerals Limited (AML), AJME was duly invited to deliver a statement. The AJME representative at the function, Diana Coker, was amongst the personalities on the high table. All this couldn’t have happened without the outstanding leadership I’m providing.

Apart from being chairman of AJME, I’m also the Station Manager Culture Radio FM 104.5. You just need to come to No. 24 Fort Street where the station is located and see the enviable progress and changes I’ve effected since assuming office less than two years ago. We now operate on a brand new transmitter covering up to %75 of the country, with my staff being fully catered for.

With my leadership, Culture Radio now ranks third in terms of our transmitting scope, and it is worthy to note that Culture Radio is the only station that has become a member of EED partners in the country and also a member of the board of the Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SiLNoRF).

Under my leadership, Culture Radio has secured funding from abroad and is now one of the very few media entities running on solar in the country. What else can I say but to state that I, Theophilus Sahr Gbenda, has never been a failure in all the positions I’ve held. Like AJME, Culture Radio is a big success story, thanks to my astute leadership.

Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the only reason why Abdul Fonti is trying to taint my character by delving into my personal life is to bring to the fore an ongoing ploy by his likes to dissuade me from my critical stance against their interests.        

To show how inconsistent Fonti has been in his malicious pieces of trash against my personality, he onetime linked me to the cocaine bust at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay and even insinuated that no cocaine consignment enters the country without my knowledge. Just the next day, Fonti came up with yet another trash indicating that I’m being afflicted by hard-up. While making it point blank that I’ve never set eyes on cocaine not to talk about being an ardent partaker of it as he libelously claimed, let me here state that a cocaine baron will never be hard-up or cash constrained. Isn’t that inconsistence…???

Anyway, I remain Theophilus Sahr Gbenda, the firebrand journalist and campaigner, whose fire cannot be quenched by twits like Fonti.

  

Unlike Fonti who corporate money has easily reduced to a praise-singer, the marijuana he claimed I’m partaking of has never made me become foolish. Rather, it has made me become wiser and more patriotic to my nation, as evident in my writings. So what’s the fuss about…???

It goes with saying that Fonti who can waste a whole newspaper page boasting about bearing a babe girl and even publishing on front page the photograph of the innocent girl and that of his and his girlfriend standing in a rather romantic posture, is only succeeding in making himself look funny in the eyes of good people rather than spoiling my hard earned reputation in defence of his selfish interest.

Let me end by stating that this same Fonti happens to be one of the many young journalists I’ve helped groom, as James Bampia Bundu, his staff at Ariogbo Newspaper, would attest. It’s therefore out of sheer ungratefulness that he is doing what he thinks is best in the eyes of his handlers. Posterity will judge him accordingly.

I remain undaunted. Jesus Christ was persecuted for being righteous and even killed. He was called names, dragged in the streets and spat upon. Isn’t that a good source of motivation to stay on…???

IMC condones unprofessional conducts

Special Commentary

IMC condones unprofessional conducts

By Theophilus Sahr Gbenda

The Independent Media Commission (IMC), charged with the responsibility of regulating the media, seems not to be doing its work effectively.

For the purpose of ensuring strict adherence to professional standards, all newspaper registrations are required to be scrutinized by the IMC before license to operate is issued.

Once owners of newspaper pass through all the registration stages, they now go on operating in total disregard for professional ethics. Simply because the IMC lacks what it takes to properly regulate or monitor the newspapers, proprietors and editors have been taking undue advantage of the situation.

A typical example is the Ariogbo Newspaper. In the application sheets of the said newspaper, no mention was made of the position of ‘Executive Editor’. What is contained therein is the position of ‘Editor’.

Take a look at the imprint of the Ariogbo Newspaper, and you’ll see for yourself the misuse of the title ‘Executive Editor’.

What is most disturbing is the fact that the holder of the said position, Abdul Karim Kabia (Fonti), has never been a full-fledged editor of any newspaper anywhere in the world and besides, that position applies only in a setting wherein there is a chain of editors performing different editorial tasks.

Unless the IMC considers such as a breach of trust and therefore an unprofessional and unacceptable conduct, more undeserving titles will continue to show up in newspaper imprints.

One area where the IMC has failed woefully is to ensure that newspapers stick to their signed editorial policies.

Again, a typical example in this regard is the Atomic Newspaper of Mohamed Bangura.

When the said newspaper was before the interviewing panel of the IMC to finalize its registration process, the proprietor made it abundantly clear that the newspaper will be non-political and professional.

Few months down the road after securing a license to operate, the said newspaper became fully political and unprofessional, with the IMC doing nothing about it.

Without the effective monitoring of the operations of newspapers, the relevance of the IMC becomes much undesired, especially given the current wave of media take-over by corporate entities.

With IMC now having a new head in the person of Rod Mac Johnson, it is only hoped that the institution will adopt a new direction if only to regain its much compromised glory.

So far, what we’ve seen the IMC embarking upon is nationwide training sessions on professional ethics. Whether the intention is skewed towards the per diems that normally go with such trips remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the issue of professional standards is not being handled or addressed holistically.

On several occasions, the IMC has been branded as a toothless bulldog that has no meaningful role to play insofar as transforming the media landscape in the country is concerned.

Let me end by stating that to whom much is given, much is expected. IMC has no option but to leave up to expectation.

Lonta!

  

SiLNoRF hosts experience sharing session for land users

SiLNoRF hosts experience sharing for affected land users

By Theophilus Sahr Gbenda

The Sierra Leone Network on the Right to Food (SiLNoRF) has held a one-day interactive and experience sharing session for affected land users from Bombali, Tonkolili, Port Loko and Kono Districts, at the Makeni City Hall.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Abdulia Yola Bangura who happens to be the Northern Region Human Rights Officer of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, said the main objective of his organization is to protect the rights of the citizenry of the country.

He referred to land as a source of pride and warned that companies investing in it for agricultural and other purposes do so without infringing on the economic and social rights of the affected owners and users.

Giving an overview of SiLNoRF, the National Coordinator, Mohamed Sorie Conteh, said the organization is part and parcel of the African Network on the Right to Food headquartered in Benin, and has as its main objective the effective realization of the right to food which he said is fundamental.

Mr. Mohamed S. Conteh said SiLNoRF came into being following widespread consultation with various civil society organizations across the country and has recently been officially launched.

The methodologies employed by SiLNoRF, Mr. Conteh said, include advocacy, monitoring and engagement with all relevant stakeholders including policy makers and corporate entities including Addax Bioenergy Limited which is currently operating in the Bombali and Tonkolili Districts.

According to him, SiLNoRF has so far established 14 affected land users associations in the Addax operational districts and expressed optimism that the experience sharing session will create a better understanding among participants of the problems affected their respective communities in terms of land right and the right to food and safe drinking water.

Mr. Conteh also stated that SiLNoRF is building the capacities of various stakeholders including policy makers and at the same time raising awareness on the need to actualize the right to food.

SiLNoRF, Mr. Conteh went on, is not against the operations of multilateral companies investing in land, noting however that the organization will not sit by and watch helplessly while its main objection which is to increase access to food is being overtly endangered.

Mr. Conteh ended by stating that SiLNoRF’s intervention in the sector is to enhance the positive effects of the Addax project for instance and to seek the mitigation of the negative effects to the bearest minimum, adding that for a long time now, preference has been given to issues relating to civil and political rights, thereby neglecting the economic, social and cultural rights of the people.

In his remarks, Derek Higgo, the HSSE Manager of Addax Bioenergy Limited, said “We share the concerns of SiLNoRF and are doing everything possible to mitigate the negative effects of our project”.

Emmanuel Conteh (Pa Massim), the Speaker of Bombali Shebora Chiefdom representing Paramount Chief Bai Shebora Kassagha 11, said “For the Addax project to be considered sustainable the people affected need to see the benefits”, adding that  “The role of the media and civil society is crucial if only to get the company to behave responsibly”.

Chief Emmanuel Conteh thanked SiLNoRF for serving as an eye opener and assured of the fullest support of the chiefdom authorities.

The session which was facilitated by Sheku James from the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) and Barrister Walter Neba from Cameroon, ended with the signing of a communiqué calling on the government to treat with caution issues relating to large scale land lease to multilateral companies and to get owners of the lands directly involved in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, SiLNoRF has held its first board meeting in Makeni, during which Raymond Senesie of Defence for Children International (DCI) was unanimously elected board chairman, while Mohamed S. Conteh of the Mankind’s Activities for Development Accreditation Movement (MADAM) was overwhelmingly endorsed as national coordinator of the network and secretary to the board.