JOURNALISTS WELCOME KARIM-SEI

EPISODE XI PART 1

Gbondima Gbondo and Hon. Frank Kposowa were discussing former Presidents Ernest Bai Koroma and Pa Tejan Kabba respectively, when suddenly Phillip Neville called, informing them about the widespread news relating to the arrival over the weekend of Karim-Sei ‘upabove’.

Both Hon. Kposowa and Gbondima Gbondo were chilling at the popular Stop Press Restaurant in down town Freetown, together with Jon Z. Foray, Pious Foray and Olu Gordon. All of them had newspapers and cell phones in their possessions and discussing current affairs, both local and international, especially the US/Israel-Iran war and the Club World Cup in the US.

Unknown to them, Amadu C. Koroma and Ibrahim El Tayib Bah suddenly materialized, as they both asked in unison, “Hon. Kposowa and Gbondima Gbondo, did you hear the news on radio and TV last night about the arrival of Karim- Sei.?”

Jon Z. Foray smiled to Amadu C. Koroma and said, “ACK, your main man has joined us and he must have brought a lot of tidings from above. Some of us want to know how Maada Bio and Fatima Bio are doing with the SLPP.  Lots of news about Fatima Bio ‘upabove’, especially now that she has made Sylvia Blyden her bosom friend. Fatima Bio is accused of favouring unpopular candidates against the people’s choice in the lower level elections, in addition to meddling in other party and state affairs, with her husband President doing nothing to checkmate her. This has angered a lot of party supporters, some of whom are threatening to join other political parties.”

Olu Gordon suddenly turned to Jon Z. Foray, when he heard the name Sylvia Blyden, and asked, “Jon, do you mean Sylvia Blyden is now SLPP?

Again, Olu Gordon rotated towards Hon. Kposowa, smiled and said, “wallahi, do you mean Sylvia Blyden has abandoned her APC party for the SLPP?  Well, Karim-Sei will update us when we see him.”

Suddenly, Phillip Neville again called Hon. Kposowa as Gbondima Gbondo went closer to listen to Phillip Neville, who said, “Oba, guess what? Karim is on the line.”

Jon Z. Foray, Olu Gordon and Amadu C. Koroma all moved towards Hon. Frank Kposowa to listen attentively to Karim-Sei.

Jon Z. Foray yelled at Hon. Kposowa and said, “Orba, can you please put your phone on loud speaker so that we can all hear what Karim-Sie is saying?”

“Gentlemen of the Fourth Estate, this is Karim-Sie. I left ‘upabove’ a few days ago, but I am disappointed with Maada Bio’s government and his wife Fatima Bio.”

He went on, “however, the good news is that SLAJ now has a new President and Executive. The new President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, who served in the outgoing executive, was overwhelmingly voted into office by the youths. Also, his victory can be attributed to the new SLAJ members. The election was sharply divided between the newly-registered young SLAJ members and the veterans. Worthy to note and emulate is that the elections were peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible for other professional bodies to emulate.”

“However, some SLAJ members accused the outgoing executive of manipulating the entire elections in favour of the new President and Executive,” Karim-Sei charged.

Karim-Sei went on, “what is certain is that the 2028 General Elections in Sierra Leone will be tough and keenly contested between the two main political parties. The people of Kono and Kenema Districts are dissatisfied with the SLPP, especially the conduct of the recent lower-level elections in Constituency 015, Kenema District, and other parts of the country.”

“Yesterday, Philip Neville made efforts to locate me, but to no avail. I have directed him to use the Old Bye-Pass Road from 44 AB ‘downbelow’ Avenue intersection from the High Point Drive. Furthermore, when coming, Philip should stop at the stop sign intersection from the right and then turn towards Downtown Road from the left and then bend towards Upper Side Street on the right. Indeed, he informed me yesterday that he lost his way while coming to visit me and was stopped and interrogated by the police for using the wrong way. He was disappointed and surprised that the police gave him tickets. But all the same, he gave me the number of Hon. Frank Kposowa, whom I have finally contacted,” Karim-Sei informed his colleagues.

He continued, “but earlier, I told Philip to use the road leading to four intersections towards the right side and then turn to the left street on the right side called ‘Bendward Street ‘downbelow’.  My house is located at the next intersection from his left. The number is 5050 ‘Downbelow Downbelow’ Avenue.”