OPINION > Something To Think About The Golden Team that was Denied the Main Bowl Posted by Joe Sawan on Mar 29, 2008, 01:04

To start with, this writer wishes to express his profound and grateful thanks to Mr. Joseph Bandabla Dauda, the veteran politician for the insightful analysis he made about what he perceived to be the challenges that are confronting the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).  According to Mr. J.B. Dauda, the current lack of party unity and organizational cohesion, the deliberate mistreatment of key party members who are now aggrieved and opportunistic divisiveness emanating from the 2005 party national convention in Makeni constitute the core of the SLPP challenges. 

The entire membership of the SLPP should pray for the Almighty to give the veteran politician and party elder long life for the very candid way in which he analyzed the issues.  While some elders have spent their whole lives destroying characters, reputations and dividing people and organizations, Mr. Dauda has used his courage and strength of character to be candid.  Mr. J.B. Dauda’s views were published in the March 19^th edition of the New Vision Newspaper.

The above captioned article was precipitated by the views contained in the J.B. Dauda interview.  Approximately, after six months in office, it is now absolutely clear that the SLPP candidate Solomon Berewa lost the 2007 Presidential elections.  Indeed, the APC leader and now President, Ernest Bai Koroma has put his team together, signed contracts with them and set a time table of 36 months during which time, he hopes to have made a significant difference in the lives of citizens relative to what prevailed before the September, 2007.  It is estimated that approximately 88 percent of President Koroma’s ministers are northerners, a decision which one of the key ministers has described as strategic since the APC got most of its support from the northern region.  It is in light of the above political statement; the rhetorical poser, what would have happened if the SLPP leader had won. This assumption needs to be addressed.

As was indicated earlier, the voter rejected the SLPP leader’s programme for “continuity” and opted, instead, the APC leader’s call for “change”.  It was an all embracing programme for “change”, the one that is now being implemented today. From the numerous conversations/interviews which this writer has had with some core members of the SLPP leader’s inner circle, the individuals whose names are indicated below would have been appointed to very prominent executive (cabinet) and administrative (lodge, commissions, boards and parastatals).  In the words of one key inner circle member, the appointed individuals would have “characterized the football team equivalent to that of Manchester United in the English Premier League”.  The SLPP’s request for their leader to have access to the political main bowl (State House) was denied.  In any event, this is the “golden team that did not germinate.

S.E. BEREWA (Team owner/manager) (south)

ALHAJI KANJA SESAY (South)

DR. ALFRED BOBSON SESAY (North)

HE ALIE BANGURA (North)

ALPHA OSMAN TIMBO (North)

DR. BERNADETTE LAHAI (East)

DR. KADI SESAY (North)

ALHAJI MOHAMED SWARRAY DEEN (South)

DR. A.F. JOE JACKSON (South)

SIDIQUE BRIMA (South)

DR. FRANCIS KAIKAI (South)

DR. M.A. SANDY (East)

HE JOE BLELL (West)

DR. MOHAMED LAMIN KAMARA (North)

JUSTIN BANGURA (North)

DR. J.D. ROGERS (South)

J.J. SAFFA (South)

JOHN BENJAMIN (East)

DR. JOHN KARIMU (East)

DR. JAMES C. BOIMA (South)

LlOYD DURING (West)

ALHAJI MORLAI (MORLAI SIDOM) KAMARA (North)

BRIG (RTD) MAADA BIO (South)

HAJA MARIATU MAHDI (West)

VICTOR REIDER (West)

HE PATRICK FOYAH (East)

ALHAJI Y.D. KAMARA (North)

ALHAJI COLE (West)

ALHAJI DARAMY ROGERS (South)

ALHAJI MOMODU KOROMA (North & South)

EMMANUEL GAIMA (East)

PIOS FORAY (South)

IBRAHIM SESAY (North)

DR. ALFRED FAWUNDU (South)

MADAM ISATA JABBIE (East)

ALHAJI DR. ABDULAI KAKAY (East)

HE IBRAHIM MBABA KAMARA (North)

HE S. TEJAN JALLOH (West)

ALHAJI I.M. KEBBAY (South)

JOE KALLON (South)

TOM NYUMA (East)

PASCAL EGBENDA (South)

DR SHEKU SESAY (North)

FRED CAREW (North)

The observation by opportunistic gossip is the cancer that is gradually destroying the organizational fabric of the SLPP can be related to the makeup of the above team.  Prince Harding, Theresa Koroma, Sama Mondeh, J.B. Dauda, Septimus Kaikai, George Banda Thomas, Sana Marah, Morikeh Fofanah, Dr. Albert Joe Demby, Sidi Alghali and Alpha Wurie were all, allegedly destined for maximum sentencing. These were among the suspects who had already been declared “Guilty as alleged” to the political wilderness like Dr. Harry Will.

What is also clearly noticeable from the line up is the regional balance that appears to have been pursued by the former SLPP leader. Incidentally, the writer has also been informed that most of the highly visible positions were slated to be given to northerners.

It was also, alleged that Alhaji Sesay was not only going to be the premier confident and adviser to the leader but that he would have had more formal and informal power than any other minister or Vice President on the golden team.  It was obvious to the closest members of the inner core that Alhaji Sesay was the lead golden player.

It was further alleged by the inner core of the leader’s team that Alhaji Momodu Koroma would have been an inconsequential vice president whose assignments would have included the opening of rural schools and clinics, water wells, VIP latrines, representing the President at launching ceremonies and participating in the crowning ceremonies of tribal Heads and Paramount Chiefs.  The argument probably for these assignments was that Momodu was literally forced upon the leader who would have preferred a real northerner.

Most of the members of the golden team are alleged to have made significant financial contributions to the leader’s campaign chest.  It was, therefore, the best way to reward them.

Finally, that the SLPP’s golden team was denied access to the political main bowl, (State House), was a re-affirmation of the statement, “Man proposes, God disposes”.  The SLPP should listen to Mr. J.B. Dauda and try a different strategy next time round.