Wilfred Kabs Kanu: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 4 March 2021:
Never in the history of our nation have we had a government as corrupt, tribalistic, inefficient, uncivilized and unprogressive as the present SLPP government led by President Maada Bio.
Everyday that dawns, Sierra Leoneans are frustrated and disappointed for voting for this Mafia and terrorist group called the SLPP. The level of corruption within the government, the horrendous human rights abuses , the disgusting tribalism and nepotism , the alarming lack of direction and wasteful spending of our meagre resources have turned the people against the SLPP government.
In just three years in office, this SLPP government is the most hated and unpopular government we have ever had in the chequered annals of our country.
When you see market women and street traders boldly abandoning business and jubilating behind opposition officials when they hit the city as they do when Ernest Koroma, or Samura Kamara or Palo Conteh comes to town, you know how unpopular this government had become. (Photo: Author – Kabs Kanu)
The people are sending a very strong message that Sierra Leoneans made a mistake in 2018, though it was actually the British that imposed President Bio on the people of Sierra Leone, in reprisals for the growing influence of China under the APC government.
Cost of living has escalated under the rampant corruption and ineffective governance of this government. Life is so difficult for struggling Sierra Leoneans who can no longer afford even one square meal a day.
It is very obvious that 2023 will sound the death knell of the Maada Bio misadventure in Sierra Leone. The people are ready to send the SLPP government packing in 2023.
Maada Bio will face the angry wrath of the people if he refuses to leave office after his defeat in 2023 or if he tries to rig the elections. If he has never seen people’s power before, he will experience it in 2023 as Yaya Jammeh did in The Gambia.
Let all suffering Sierra Leoneans be comforted that their pain will end in 2023. The SLPP are not fit for purpose and will be voted out by the people of Sierra Leone. A clean breath of fresh air will blow throughout the land in 2023.
Sierra Leone is not all about makeni, abacha street, and kamalo. I don’t believe APC can win the 2023 election despite their consistent use of social media to portray a bad image of the present government. Despite the so called “d gron dry” in Freetown people still parade themselves behind the President with joy.
Freetown is diverse and no single party can claim 90% of votes. Port Loko is gradually moving from the red zone movement, Bo is always green. Kambia which is part of the North is taken by KKY. Thinking about the major districts or provinces where APC can have at least 70% of votes is already divided. 2023 election will be interesting.
Farudugu in Port Loko district just got electricity after 60 years. Think about it brother, after 60 years. This is the district of S I Koroma former Vice president of Sierra Leone from the APC. They just got electricity. Who is looking out for their interest? Election time guess who they gonna vote for. After 60 years of being in darkness. Their story is happening all over the country; probably we should be high lighting progress, instead of the same tired old negativity.
Give me a break, Ms Sento Conteh. We are not interested in Mr Kabs Kanu’s autobiography on this glorious platform. That is his business. Who cares about how he arrived in the USA. What we care about is to shut the Bio SLPP kakistocracy and kleptocracy down in 2023. Period. It’s going to happen. Again, stand ready and stand by, folks. I hope you agree with me, Ms Sento Conteh. If not, bring any suggestions or discussions on. I’m ready and fired up. Botton line, Mr Wlfred Kabs Kanu is one of Sierra Leone’s best journalists. Take it or leave it.
He is right in informing me about what many Sierra Leoneans, including myself, deeply care about. So, leave the fine and decent Mr Wilfred Kabs Kanu alone. God bless The Sierra Leone Telegraph, Mr Wilfred Kabs Kanu, the APC party, their leaders, and Sierra Leone’s people. “Waitin den tell dem”.
APC and SLPP are tried and tested male-dominated political party leaderships that are proven bad and worse for Sierra Leone’s national interests. Neither merits being recalled to lead AGAIN. NGC though untried and untested do not currently have an exemplary reputation for internal political party management and administration, so are likely to find governing a country very challenging! They are worth considering – without a large majority – in the hope that they will develop on the job – A WORTHY GAMBLE?
If there is ever a doubt how DELUSIONAL and PATHETIC some of our so called educated Sierra Leoneans have become, just read through the various commentary emanating from this opinion piece by Kabbs Kanu. By all indications, the regional, tribalistic, and political indoctrination has engulf some of us so much that, we have been left brainless, unable to even advocate or advances our very own interest. Goodness gracious, when is it ever a crime to call things as they are? In our own very homes, families, etc, don’t we always teaches our kids and expect our family members to speak the truth and nothing but the truth?
It’s an open secret that leaders from our top political parties are corrupt to the bone. Yes, top hierarchical leaders from both the APC and SLPP are CORRUPT, can anyone with a functioning frontal lobe refute this fact? If the answer is NO, why are we then shamelessly defending these maniacs, criminal cabals? Besides enriching themselves, closed-associates, and other political bootlickers, what exactly have so many of us benefits in terms of good roads, electricity and water supply from decades of corrupt, dysfunctional governments from these political parties?
Now if you one of those who hope and wishes for a brighter Sierra Leonean, blindly worshiping the very criminals who are responsible for the continuous stagnation and retrogressing of our nation, is definitely counterproductive. As good citizens, one of our civic responsibility is lending a voice to matters affecting our communities. In extension, many chooses to join a political party, using it as a platform to advocate for developmental aspirations of their streets, areas, villages, chiefdoms, districts, regions, and country as a whole. For these developmental aspiration to come to fruitions, we must all persistently demand that those who holds the levers of power, controlling our nation’s resources, accountable. The party in power should make no difference if citizens needs are being met.
A fantastic response. I’m APC but both the sun and palm tree parties have failed us all. Leh Rev Kanu talk straight. He’s my buddy but he like many others, allow cheap political sentiments to take hold of their thinking caps.
Mr Kanu, is just echoing what has dominated our country’s politics for the past sixty years. Like most democratic countries around the world, in which the two party system has dominated the political landscape, it has produced divisions, and two distinct polarised societies. And they are divided on religious, tribal, regional or political and economic spheres. There are still some people in America that believe Trump won the November presidential elections. So if America an advanced society can have people like that, what hope do the rest of us have. It might not be seen as tribal in their context. But still it creates a toxic atmosphere that produces the recent storming of the capitol. So no country is spared of division. What matters is their leadership.
Just spare a thought for TRUMP/BIDEN. what a difference in style of leadership. And this polarisation of societies is more pronounced in countries like the United States and Europe. What Mr. Kabs Kanu is doing, is nothing sort of defending his party and his believers. One thing that is clear, whether you are APC or SLPP supporter, or any other party for that matter, at the end of the day we can’t deny our country is divided on tribal and regional lines. Until we start seeing each other as Sierra Leoneans, there is not a chance in heaven our country will progress. This North/South divide has dominated our political history. Nigeria has a similar problem. So for us to progress, we need to find a third way, by coming together as one people called Sierra Leoneans and walking in lockstep towards our development goals.
It’s amazing how much people in this forum know about certain individuals; they keep quiet until they are pushed. So if anyone knows they have skeletons in the cupboard they must ensure that they remain there – firmly locked up. Some of us are now being educated about Mr Kabs-Kanu. Assume a pseudonym next time Mr Kabs-Kanu because this forum is full of ruthless demons whose daily diet are public figures, they will hit you on the way down and on the way up – they are merciless.
Kabs Kanu was college mate of former President Koroma. Mr. Kanu left Sierra Leone for Liberia in the 80s where he naturalized as a citizen. He briefly transmitted through Freetown in the early 90s to go to the USA where he sought asylum as a Liberian. He became a naturalized citizen of the USA in early 2000s and he maintained his Liberian citizenship as well as his American one thus becoming a dual citizen. In 2007 when his college mate and Loko Limba brother became president, Kabs Kanu was appointed in 2009 as minister plenipotentiary and Sierra Leone’s representative at a committee at the UN. Kabs Kanu himself wrote that but for health reasons that prevents him from coming to Sierra Leone, he could have been appointed to a more senior position in the Koroma government. Nevertheless he was still making over nine thousand United States Dollars as monthly salary and entitlement from the country”s consolidated funds.
The only thing Kabs Kanu did for such a mouth watering fee was to loom Ernest Koroma’s image. Even APC people who were the true foot soldiers got the ire of Kabs Kanu if they crossed Enerst Koroma’s path. In a year, Kabs Kanu while sitting in the comfort of his home in New Jersey made over a hundred thousand United States Dollars from the Sierra Leone consolidated funds. This is more than all the per diem and travel Expenses that he and his cohort recently accused the Chief Minister’s office of using to do government functions.
Kabs Kanu thinks Sierra Leoneans are only those found in Bombali and Karina districts and Abacha street area. That is why he thinks another of his Limba Loko brothers are so famous that they will win the elections in 2023.
Hydraulic hypothesis or hypocrisy is what is exactly now manifesting in Sierra Leone today. For every rightful sane Sierra Leonean knows that the current redundant SLPP party and government is not fit for purpose. The said government, is dysfunctional, defunct, criminals, thugs, hooligans, sycophant, and invariably trabalist. It’s only in Sierra Leone that a butt naked man was imposed as a speaker of the sacred House of Parliament. Can you imagine that; a man with blood in his hands and past financial economic plunderer was also imposed on the country as president, can you also imagine that. So where is our moral standards and standing as a country and people? Can this type of precedent or behaviour be accepted in England, USA, or western country?A butt naked as speaker and a criminal president.
Ever since their infamous controversial rise to power, these hoodlums have not known peace at all, they have killed, burnt, illegally imprison innocent citizens, the latest of this killing is in kailahun district, and yet you see counter-productive slaves, Sierra Leoneans with little human decency continue to support this stupidity. What a shame.
This is an insult and a scar in the deepest mind of every beautiful and and truth loving Sierra Leonean. Is the SLPP party and government really good for the country?
Mr Thomas – You have proven yourself times without number to be a great friend and moderator that enforces the rules of this glorious forum without fear or favor so your final decisions are always regarded by many of us here with the greatest of reverence.Its truly a good thing you deleted my last comment Sir,because sincerely it was not my intention at all to insult anyone – I just sometimes get carried away by strong,compulsive,uncompromising emotions that resent fabricated lies,hypocrisy and deceits.
Again, with a busy business schedule chewing up most of my time and energy my lovely girlfriend has suggested that it will be in our best interests for me to take a much needed break from the Sierra Leone Telegraph and come back later after some time fully rejuvenated,energized,fired up and ready to go like the Energizer Bunny.
Let not my silence and temporary withdrawal from this formidable arena of warriors be deliberately misconstrued by SLPP loyalist as a sign of resentment because every day I read the Sierra Leone Telegraph will remind me that i belong not in the shadows but in the midst of the wranglings of fearless gladiators….And lastly,Thanks a million for your candid prudent advice BABY GIRL…What would i ever do without you?You’ve always insisted and maintained that you are much more smarter than me.Agree.(lol)
Stargazer – I have deleted your last comment on this subject for failing to observe our mutual respect rule. Please note you are on warning. You can agree to disagree with fellow forumites – but you must do so respectfully without insults. Thank you.
Very well said Levi – we must remember that Kabs Kanu is a disgruntled former public official who saw nothing wrong in what his APC paymasters were doing to the country: Erosion of law and order, Orders from above – undermining good governance, rampant corruption and the use of thugs such as Leatherboot to intimidate and brutalise the opposition.
I find it incredible that he could have the gumption to write such a piece. The man is very dangerous to the peace and stability of Sierra Leone. With APC’s woeful track record, it is difficult to see how and why the electorate will bring them back in power.
APC needs to reform and restructure but credibility is going to be their biggest problem, as they will be looking to bring back their thieving former ministers into governance. Nothing has changed and nothing will change. Same old – same old!
Indeed the days of listening to the ramblings of SLPP Riff Raffs will soon come to an end; Such are the subtle ways of Existence – all things good, bad and ugly must eventually crumble,expire and diminish in their intrinsic value after a certain period of Time. Nothing is permanent except the Earth and Sky that are witnesses to the atrocities of the children of men. This majestic earth of ours keeps on weeping for Sierra Leone a nation closest to her heart on whom she has happily bestowed the best of her natural gifts.
But all is not well in what should have been a little paradise on earth because there is now a war Criminal in State House who has facilitated and ushered nothing but abject poverty, misery, hatred, sufferings,rampant thefts and tribalism upon the fragile shoulders of this poor,struggling nation of ours.
SLPP freeloaders,imposters everywhere that call their degenerate selves Professors,running helter skelter dressed in green with their good for nothing tribesmen doing nothing productive, contributing nothing and achieving absolutely nothing at all. But patience is a virtue that extends herself like a long road for countless thousands of miles, that keeps on reassuring travellers through distinctive markers and signposts that it will eventually smoothly come to it’s end; Hey,The badge of patience has always been worn by the legendary APC with great humility and firm resolve. People… 2023 is Judgment Day; Vote them out. Vote for a tolerant and all inclusive Sierra Leone ; Vote Red….Vote APC.
Stand ready and stand by, oh people, for that great day in 2023 to go politically nuclear at the ballot box. We are ready and fired up to send the SLPP to the political wilderness forever. Have they started packing their suitcases? I hope they do. Many thanks, Mr Wilfred Kabs Kanu, for your brilliant article. I can’t wait without making a brief comment on your excellent writing, even though I have limited time right now. God bless you, sir. Great stuff. TBC.
Well, well ,well, Wilfred Leroy Kabs-Kanu has surfaced like a ghost in The Telegraph to implicitly place APC in a heavenly wave of sainthood while damning SLPP. The gentleman is on the throes of losing his short-term memory. Has he already forgotten the findings of the Commissions of Inquiry (COI). How many former APC ministers were vindicated by the jurists? Ernest Koroma, their leader, futilely tried to exculpate himself by refusing to appear before any of the jurists. Wilfred Kabs-Kanu should understand that as head of government Ernest bore/bears ultimate responsibility for all the findings of COI.
The current refrain of APC supporters is that although APC were criminals while they held power, the current government headed by Bio are worse. Sierra Leone is in hell on Earth, sandwiched between two criminals who are pouring fuel on the fire. As we perish propagandists fire up their booster rockets to go around telling us stories which the naked seeing eye defies. These propagandists solely rely on the collective amnesia of Sierra Leoneans, which is aided by crude tribalism and regionalism.
As a people, we prefer to go on crying that things are extremely difficult. We have been crying for sixty years. The solution? Dump APC and SLPP. Bring in NGC for a breather. Mr Kabs-Kanu, please allow me to give your memory a jump-start: In 2007, Ernest assumed the Presidency with the help of donors who unequivocally and unambiguously stated that they would only continue to aid Sierra Leone, if there was a new government in power because the Kabba government was corrupt, if not President Kabba himself. What’s the difference between that and your allegation that the British imposed Bio on us. How I wish the international community would impose Dr Yomkella on us.
Santhkie Sorie, you have said many of the things that I had in mind. But let me add that Wilfred Kabs-Kanu who has not been to Sierra Leone in over forty years cannot incite violence in our country while living in comfort in America. There has never been an analysis pushed by this guy that does not have a veiled threat of civil or tribal uprising in Sierra Leone if things do not go his way. Our people are too smart for folks of Kabs-Kanu’s ilk.
Kabs-Kanu is still angry at being dismissed at the Sierra Leone Mission in New York, a job that he landed out of sheer nepotism. This guy must learn that power comes from God and that he (Kabs-Kanu) cannot determine who gets power in Sierra Leone.
A Sierra Leonean who renounced his Sierra Leonean citizenship a long time ago, Kabs Kanu is an opportunist that Sierra Leoneans must first reject before thinking about any change in government.
Perhaps, the former plenipotentiary can tell us what ties and connections he made while serving as ambassador. Or did he get the job because of tribalism?
Please, the pot calling the kettle black.
It is not like the people of Sierra Leone have very limited choices when it comes to voting in elections. But they always vote for either green or red, out of a total of more than fifteen political parties. Why oh why?
Is this not the root cause of all the problems in Sierra Leone? Always inciting hopeless people to vote for one wretched political party or the other? I blame it all on the people themselves.