Peep Sierra Leone

Obviously Dr. Sama Banya is misled or misguided when he states (Global Times, October 2, 2002) that our newspaper has a ‘phobia’ for the SLPP and we believe our ‘ill motives’ would be translated into reality.

Perhaps he does not know or he has forgotten that our support for the restoration of the democratically elected SLPP government between 1996-1997 was unconditional. I have not been a member of any political party ever - but I have been a democrat all my life.

Analysis of real events

Our headline on the internal squabbles of the SLPP was a legitimate satirical analysis on ongoing events in real time. We did not invent Abass Bundu’s letter or make-up genuine concern expressed by some closer to the SLPP that some individuals are attempting to ignore and/or manipulate the Party Constitution to serve their own leadership ambitions.

This is not the first time that there have been internal wrangling in an opposition party. The APC seemed determined to tear itself apart right up to the eve of the 2007 elections.

Of course Sama Banya has no right to stop us commenting on internal events in the SLPP - nor shall we.

Its about time the SLPP recognize the their performance in Opposition reflects badly on the functioning of our democratic system. For a party which spent almost a whole year denying the reasons why they lost the 2007 polls and instead adopted a conspiratorial head in the sand’ ‘explanation’ of events, we are well aware that some Old Hands in the SLPP (Sama Banya’s possibly amongst them) inhabit a world of their own where ‘Alice In Wonderland’ rules seem to apply. But if Banya objects to independent (even mocking) analysis of the current disputes in the SLPP - then to be quite honest, he can go hang...

Alice in wonderland

Sorry, but I find it ridiculous to reduce the role of an Opposition to simply claiming that they started (but did not finish) any project the current government completes. And of course, we have raised questions about the allegations of rape so widely trumpeted by the SLPP since last March.  The Bankole Thompson Commission has rejected these - so our headline: ‘No Leader, No Constitution, No Rape, No Chance’ cannot be said to be too far from the Truth.

Apparently Banya thinks that no independent papers should make comments on the internal SLPP wrangling.  We would suggest the intervention of the PPRC if the Party cannot resolve the question of adopting a new constitution.  That was how the APC eventually resolved their own bitter contradiction.