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The former Mayor of Freetown, Winstanley Bankole-Johnson has accused the Editorial Board of For Di People newspaper of a ‘deliberate attempt’ to defame his reputation, character and personality and asked the Independent Media Commission to adjudicate on an October 26 FDP article against him.
I was not a failure, Stanley says
In an extensive dossier sent to this newspaper Mr. Bankole Johnson also denies that his administration of Freetown City Council (2004-2005) was a ‘woeful failure’ and says, almost two years after leaving office, that not a single indictment has been brought against him.
Indeed, he points out, he is the petitioner in both cases currently in court against the City Council in which
(1) CC252/08 he is seeking damages for libel against 25 former councillors (who include current Mayor Herbert George-Williams) and
(2) CC 301/09 He is sueing for his legitmate salary and allowances from January-August 2008 totalling almost Le40 million.
When we spoke to Mr. Bankole-Johnson yesterday, he said he believes For Di People editor, Paul Kamara, has a well known grudge against him - mainly relating to the frosty relationship between himself and former deputy Mayor late Foday Kalokoh, the journalists brother-in-law.
He also said that he believes that there is a calculated attempt to smear himself even though, as he notes For Di People itself accepts in its Oct 8, 2009 edition that he left over 2 million pounds in the FCC Pensioners fund in Britain.
tiffs in career
Winstanley Bankole-Johnson, whom this paper strongly supported for the mayoralty of Freetown, had a very chequered career with political tiffs involving at various times (1) the SLPP Central Administration (which allegedly authorized the raid on U.K pension Funds to buy a non-functional electronic street sweeper and other equipment costing close to 100,000 pounds, (2) his own councillors over what he attributes to their refusal to accept basic financial probity (3) his deputy Mayor, late Foday Kalokoh whom, he says, believed he should have been Mayor since he scored highest plurality in 2004 municipal elections in Freetown.
dismissed
A previous case against For Di People by Mr. Bankole-Thompson at the IMC was dismissed since the Newspaper Code of Conduct had not become law at that point in time.
Mr. Bankole-Thompson, who says he was intermittenly constrained to use his own funds to meet several of FCC’s needs including (a) revalidating the Council’s membership of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and (b) buying laptops, printers for the Mayor’s office, is bitter and aggrieved. The sub-text to this entire hullaballo appears to be why Creoles should occupy Mayoralty of Freetown when they no longer constitute a substantial minority of the 225 year old city’s population.
Former Mayor Fires Back At For Di People!
Formal complaint to Independent Media Commission in full
I refer to the captioned and wish to respectfully draw your attention to an article on pages 6 & 7 in the Monday 26th October 2009 edition of the "For Di People" Newspaper , following from a screaming front page headline: "FORMER MAYOR UNDER ATTACK! KNOW THE ARISSHA FROM THE EGEBERRI".
The said articles is lacking in merit, void of all moral worth, totally out of context and a deliberate and sustained attempt by the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to paint me in bad light, by seeking to continually expose my hard earned reputation, character and personality to public ridicule, odium and contempt. In short, the article is criminally, libelous and defamatory in its entirety.
A copy of this article is attached hereto for your urgent perusal.
Permit me still to excerpt a few venomously, specious, vicious, unsubstantiated, criminally, libelous and defamatory portions which in my view should justify your immediate intervention and action to help sanitize journalism as a profession and at the same time repair the damage done to my reputation and character as follows:
1. "……… Former APC Mayor Winstanley Bankole-Johnson, who was thrown out of the Freetown City Council, ….. with his tail wagging in between his legs as a result of his incapacity to perform and his inhuman relationship with his counterparts at the Freetown City Council".
2. "….. This very man was a City Mayor, who failed woefully and shamelessly removed from office due to maladministration, corruption, illegalities, and incompetence, leaving a legacy that is not appreciated by all Sierra Leoneans and the world at large".
3. "……… Let this man be reminded that when he was a Mayor of Freetown, he disrespected the President on many occasions".
4. "…….. You betrayed the confidence of your counterpart in the Freetown City Council. You are supposed to be answering to the Anti-Corruption Commission for maladministration and corruption in public life according to facts gathered from your then Councillors".
Madam Chairperson it is now history that between July 2004 and August 2008, the Mayor of this ancient municipality was vested in only one person only viz: Winstanley R Bankole-Johnson.
All other persons occupying that office in my stead in between those dates did son in "acting capacities", within the context of Sec.13:3 of the Local Government Act 2004.
A substantive successor was only elected upon the effluxion of my incumbency, after a duly conducted election for the purpose.
So the assertion that I was "…. thrown out of the Freetown City Council …. or shamelessly removed from office ….. as a result …. of incapacity to perform and ….. in human relationship with … counterparts at the Freetown City Council" is contrary to the facts available and an utterly preposterous and calculated attempt to portray my personality and character in bad light and negate my legacy, for which as in all the following instances, I take a serious exception.
It is also on record that per copies of self-explanatory letters dated 14th and 16th January 2008 (attached), I recussed myself from all council activities on a "voluntary precautionary basis".
My exit from the leadership of the Council effective 16th January 2008 on a protracted leave was both exemplary and strategic, the best option under the circumstances, so as to allow for unfettered investigations into my administration, I do not suppose the Editorial Board/ Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper would want to suggest I should have supervised documentation of my own indictment. I have since that date not set foot on Council premises, but it is sad to now recall that two years hence, not a shred of evidence - documentary or otherwise - have been adduced against me.
So for the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to falsely assert that I was " …… woefully and shamelessly removed from office due to maladministration, corruption, illegalities and incompetence, leaving a legacy that worth not appreciated by all Sierra Leoneans and thee world at large ………" is contrary to the facts available, and an utterly preposterous and calculated attempt to portray my personality and character in bad light and also, negate my legacy.
As matter of fact, contrary to being an epitome of the imaginary failure that the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper would rather have me become in public perception, mine was a very challenging but equally very successful tenure of office, and proof of which legacy was reflected in a public endorsement by no less an institution that Institutional Reform and Capacity Building Project (IRCBP), who in an "Advertiser's Supplement" in the Premier News Issue No. 56 of Friday 21sat December, 2007 under the caption "KNOW THE IRCBP", categorically confirmed inter-alia that "… of the nineteen local Councils, Sir, the largest and most prosperous is the Freetown City Council which is an APC Council".
In fact, per their own report on Page 5 of the Wednesday 8th October 2009 edition, captioned "Pensioners Appeal to the British High Commissioner" the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper did assert in Para. 2 that "…… The letter also stated that there was GBP2.4mn (Two million, four hundred thousand pounds sterling) up to the departure of the last Mayor Bankole Johnson ……..".
Accordingly having inherited the FCC in a state of virtual inertia and without layers of authority or administrative controls, permit me Madam Chairperson to randomly detail just a few of the key success indicators of the Bankole Johnson administration as follows:
* Reversing FCC in 4 months from Le1.7bn (One billion, seven hundred million Leones) net borrower status inclusive of three months salary backlogs to a net lender.
* Restructuring FCC staff strength and payroll bill 358 in number and Le127mn (One hundred and twenty-seven million Leones) monthly to under 200 in number and Le56mn monthly respectively, in addition to regularizing the NASSIT status of each retained or exited staff.
* Rehabilitation of damaged roofing 4 classroom blocks at the Fattah Rahman Municipal.
* Rehabilitation and expansion of Kissy Village Market from 80 10 120 market stalls with refurbished toilet facilities.
* Rehabilitation and expansion of Lumley, Black Tank Market from 70 to 129 market stalls, plus water supply and toilet facilities.
* Under the Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) of the Decentralisation Secretariat, rehabilitation /reconstruction of Chapels/Offices at Kissy Road, Race Course Road, Kingtom, Ascension Town, Congo Town and Murray Town Cemeteries.
* Construction of public flush toilet at Kroo Bay.
* Rehabilitation of Hagan Street Market Abattoir and installation of new water supply facilities and water tank.
* Construction of toilet facilities at Congo Market, Bombay Street and Congo Town markets.
* Rehabilitation of the entire Victoria Park., with technical and financial support from Celtel/Premier Media.
* Installation of new doors and windows at the Kroo Town Road Market.
* Construction of Ambrose Street Community Center, with technical support from IRCBP.
* Providing Le77mn (seventy-seven million Leones) funding for the construction of City Stores at Peters Brook, King Jimmy Market - with technical support from Dec-Sec.
* With support from Deputy Minister of Local Government (1) Mr. Raymond Kabia and the Direct of Dec-Sec., Mr Alhassan Kanu, was pivotal both in the creation of the Freetown Waste Management Company Ltd. as a nucleus nominal Board Director and the recruitment of key resources to positions of General Manager, Operations Manager and Finance Manager.
* With support from Statistics, Sierra Leone, created a template for the first City Properties for Census.
* With support from British Council and IPAM, developed and agreed new curse curriculum for Property Valuation Officers.
* Execution of final project documents with the SABABU Project for comprehensive
rehabilitation of the Regent Square/Constance Cummings John Municipal Schools
buildings - contract further successfully negotiated to include fencing-off of Wellington
Street axis.
* Successfully completing very transparent bidding processes leading to the present Council awarding Le9000m + contracts for the demolition of the City Hall.
* With funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation through the Freetown Cold Storage Company, construction of new classroom blocks of the E.J. Robinson Municipal Primary at the Jomo Kenyatta Road.
* Construction of all-weather track roads with the Granville Brook (Kissy Branch) Dump site and fencing-off of same with USD220,000 grant and technical support from UNAMSIL.
* Construction of all-weather track roads within Kingtom (Bomeh) Dump site and comprehensive rehabilitation of the Sewerage pond with USD200,000 grant from DFID and technical support from CEMMATS, UNDP and GTZ.
* Construction of a world-class FIFA mini-stadium for youth at Aberdeen recreation through funding accessed from Global Forum under the World Bank/Bank of Netherlands Partnership Programme (BNPP) of which I was local counterpart Chairman.
* With funding from Global Forum, initiated training programmes in theater arts, creative practical arts, agriculture and health and nutrition for up to 90 stipendiary youths. This training positioned one of the trainees, Ms Jane Peters to emerge as one of the "World's Best Youths" in the 2008 Annual Global Conference in Ankara.
* Validating FCC membership to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum,. Thus making it eligible for access to the following through partnership with Hull City Council:
- Four (4) Sanitation Garbage Compactors.
- Twenty-eight (28) Green Goddesses Fire Fighting Engines - shipped with assistance from DFID.
- GBP140,000 Law Books - shipped with assistance from DFID - which I commissioned in the UK and recently presented to the Judiciary of Sierra Leone by the Deputy Mayor of Freetown.
- Five (5) 4 x 4 Hard body Jeeps to assist four NGOs combat child trafficking and which I also commissioned in the UK.
- Re-establishment of medical internships for COMAHS students at the University of Hull.
- Securing a GBP3mn (three million Pounds) funding commitment to the FCC for the reconstruction of the William Wilberforce Memorial Hall PLUS additional commitment to establish and manage two Dialysis Clinics at the Connaught Hospital on a six-month "build, operate and transfer"(BOT) basis.
- Re-establishing sister-schools links for the J.F. Kennedy, St. Joseph's Primary, Vine Memorial, Samaria Primary, Methodist Girls High School, Lady Patricia Kabbah Scool at Hill Station, etc. etc. with various primary and secondary schools in Hull.
* Establish new sister-cities links with Philadelphia, Baltimore and Maryland (USA) and Latrobe, Australia, from which various local schools benefited immensely in the form of books, computers, writing desks, chairs, chalks and other learning aids, plus trucks for the Council.
* Restructuring the investment profile of FCC stocks, bonds and cash with the Crown Agents Assets Management Limited UK into higher yielding, low risks portfolios.
* Securing European Commission funding commitment of EUR 2mn (Two Million Euros) for the improvement of the Freetown Municipality Town Planning and Development.
So for the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to have nutrition for up to 90 stipendiary youths. This training positioned one of the trainees, Ms Jane Peters to emerge as one of the "World's Best Youths" in the 2008 Annual Global Conference in Ankara.
* Validating FCC membership to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum,. Thus making it eligible for access to the following through partnership with Hull City Council:
- Four (4) Sanitation Garbage Compactors.
- Twenty-eight (28) Green Goddesses Fire Fighting Engines - shipped with assistance from DFID.
- GBP140,000 Law Books - shipped with assistance from DFID - which I commissioned in the UK and recently presented to the Judiciary of Sierra Leone by the Deputy Mayor of Freetown.
- Five (5) 4 x 4 Hard body Jeeps to assist four NGOs combat child trafficking and which I also commissioned in the UK.
- Re-establishment of medical internships for COMAHS students at the University of Hull.
- Securing a GBP3mn (three million Pounds) funding commitment to the FCC for the reconstruction of the William Wilberforce Memorial Hall PLUS additional commitment to establish and manage two Dialysis Clinics at the Connaught Hospital on a six-month "build, operate and transfer"(BOT) basis.
- Re-establishing sister-schools links for the J.F. Kennedy, St. Joseph's Primary, Vine Memorial, Samaria Primary, Methodist Girls High School, Lady Patricia Kabbah Scool at Hill Station, etc. etc. with various primary and secondary schools in Hull.
* Establish new sister-cities links with Philadelphia, Baltimore and Maryland (USA) and Latrobe, Australia, from which various local schools benefited immensely in the form of books, computers, writing desks, chairs, chalks and other learning aids, plus trucks for the Council.
* Restructuring the investment profile of FCC stocks, bonds and cash with the Crown Agents Assets Management Limited UK into higher yielding, low risks portfolios.
* Securing European Commission funding commitment of EUR 2mn (Two Million Euros) for the improvement of the Freetown Municipality Town Planning and Development.
So for the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to have asserted matter-of factly that my administration as Mayor of Freetown was a failure, when in fact they were siesed of the facts, is criminally libelous and defamatory, contrary to the facts available, and an utterly preposterous and calculated attempt to portray my personality and character in bad light and also, negate my legacy.
Records exist both locally and internationally Madam, Chairperson, to show that purely on account of the paucity of development grants received (Le1,6bn - One billion, six hundred million Leone in four years), and in an effort to prevent the Council from degenerating into a moribund state. I was intermittently constrained to finance several of the Council's needs from my personal resources, such as for (a) re-validating its membership into the Common Local Government Forum (b) the occasional cleaning the city (c) procurement of spare parts for 4 (four) Hull City Council UK donated compactors and (d) provision of two lap top computers, one printer and an office refrigerator for my personal use. To this day, only (b) and (c) were reimbursed.
There is a clear ambiguity in the assertion by the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper on the matter of their public reminder to me that when I "…. was a Mayor
Of Freetown …….. (1) ………..disrespected the President on many occasions", because they did not identify which of the two post-war Presidents is under reference.
Suffice it to say however, that where such caustic, disparaging and aspersive comments are being attributed to holders of the highest office in the country, it is evidently in public interest and obligatory on the part of the publishers, to clarify not only the nature and content of such incidences of disrespect, but also the occasions o which they occurred.
Whilst I have not been in contact with former President Dr. Tejan Kabba since he exited office, I cannot recall him reporting me at anytime for being disrespectful or discourteous.
I can proudly confirm that my relationship with incumbent President Dr Ernest Kai Koroma through the occasional direct telephone and or personal contacts is excellent.
Neither leader has on any occasion communicated his displeasure over my level of respect and esteem for either. So for the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to publicly assert that when I "…. was a Mayor of Freetown (1) ……. Disrespected the President on many occasions" is
criminally libelous and defamatory, contrary to the facts available, and an utterly preposterous and calculated attempt to sew discord between me and the office of the presidency past or present.
My loyalty to, and absolute respect and support for the personality of President Koroma, first as leader of the political party of my choice, the All People's Congress (APC) Party, and the high offices he occupies as President of this sovereign republic, is reflected in the fact that as at 27th October 2009, my membership dues towards to sustainability and growth of our party is pre-paid up to 31st December 2009.
Finally Madam Chairperson, for the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper to have matter-of-factly asserted that I "betrayed the confidence of your counterparts in the Freetown City Council …. are supposed to be answering to the Anti-Corruption Commission for maladministration and corruption in public life according to facts gathered from your then Councillors" is contrary to the facts available, and an utterly preposterous and calculated attempt to portray my personality and character in bad light and also, negate my legacy for the following reasons:
1. The law then and now only allows for a Mayor to be assisted by a Deputy Mayor, who was in no way a counterpart Mayor.
So the question of betrayal one does not arise. Nor has any legal or scientific evidence been adduced to date to linking me with the demise or illness.
2. of any Councillor throughout my administration.
3. Even with the "…… facts gathered from ……. then Councillors…" for which I was " supposed to be answering to the Anti-Corruption Commission for maladministration and corruption in public life..", not a single indictment has been filed against me to date - two years hence.
It is patently criminal in purpose and intent within the ACC Act as amended, to conceal corrupt acts. So all those who have facts about corruption and maladministration under Bankole-Johnson are being remiss in their civic duties for failing to bring such information to the attention of the appropriate authorities.
On the contrary Madam Chairperson, it is for the records that between 2008 to date, there are only two Registered litigations (still pending) in the High Court (General Civil Division) of Sierra Leone between Winstanley R Johnson and the Freetown City Council and or Councillors. And I am the PETITIONER in both cases as under:
* C.C. 252/08 - B No. 20 - Re: Winstanley R Bankole Johnson Vs Freetown City Council - seeking damages for libel... and a perpetual injunction.
* C.C. 38/09 - J No. 4 Re: Winstanley R Bankole R Johnson Vs Freetown City Council - seeking legal redress to access Le 36,900,170 (Thirty-six million, nine hundred thousand, one hundred and seventy Leones) only, being bona-fide salary and allowances now overdue for payment to me as Mayor of Freetown January and August, 2008.
I must respectfully inform you Madam Chairperson, that since leaving the office of Mayor of Freetown, my personality has continued to attract invitations for the leadership of and or memberships to various organizations and institutions for which integrity, probity, exemplary comportment and demeanour in public life, rather than presidential amnesty/pardon or a clearance certificate from a Psychiatrist are pre-requisites.
I am at the peak of my political relevance to the country at large and would not allow anyone to deprive the citizens of this country of quality leadership support when required.; I am confident of soaring yet further in my political aspirations, but persistently unsavoury and or criminally libelous and defamatory diatribes, engendered by ethnocentrisms and delusions of (megalomaniac) grandeur, such as is periodically directed by the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" Newspaper might have a tendency to erode public perception and respect for my personality, if urgent steps at a meaningful redress is not sought. Even if as is inferred in the opening paragraph o fsaid offending article, theirs was a reaction to my contribution on the National Youth Policy Bill in an earlier edition of the"PEEP" newspaper, reference to my incumbency and performance as a former Mayor had absolutely no relevance to the topic, thus exposing a complete disconnect to the spirit and content to my original story with malicious intent.
The fact that people own or have access to tabloids is not synonymous with a license damage decent peoples' hard won character and reputation.
I shall accordingly be most obliged if the IMC Complaints Committee can expeditiously consider my plea for redress as appropriate under the IMC Code of Conduct for Journalists, against the Editorial Board/Management of the "For Di People" newspaper, all of whom stand jointly and severally accused of intentionally and willfully causing damage to my character and reputation through continual publications deliberately seeking to expose me to public ridicule, odium and contempt.
Please accept on behalf of my dear wife Lady Clarice Bankole-Johnson and family, our sincere compliments of the season, and our best wishes for new and enlightened year 2010, with much greater hopes for evidence of professionalism among journalists.
Yours faithfully,
WINSTANLEY R. BANKOLE JOHNSON
(JP; CO) FORMER MAYOR OF FREETOWN
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