AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT ERNEST BAI KOROMA AND THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE ON THE KRIO DANGER. HE PRESIDENT ERNEST BAI KOROMA STATE HOUSE , FREETOWN. Your Excellency, HAS TEAM ATHENS OF FOURAH BAY COLLEGE BEEN SUPPLANTED BY TEAM KRIO? WHO ARE THE BRAINS BEHIND THIS TREACHEROUS BEHAVIOUR? Anthony Kamara Sr from Canada asks the Question and two retired professors at State House Strasser-King and Jonas Redwood Sawyerr must give us answers. TIMEO DANAOS ET DONA FERENTES Though specially addressed to you President Koroma, this letter is really meant for all Sierra Leonean reading public around the globe and I am appealing to all media practitioners to help have this posting circulated in their local circulations for the benefit of persons not internet savvy. Let me start by translating the above Latin proverb, into its english equivalent and it means “I fear the Greeks even while bringing gifts” (the Trojan war). The Greeks in this situation are the Krio even while they pretend to work genuinely for you President Koroma, they cannot be trusted. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article captioned ” Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing”, but that was in reference to a different context. This time it is about the Krio , a group in whom you placed so much confidence and trust. This group of Sierra Leoneans, in my opinion, is the most treacherous, the most unreliable , the most unpredictable and unpatriotic, the most subversive and clandestinely vicious of Sierra Leoneans. They can be likened to green snakes in green grass, and are worse that a black cobra snake or even terrible as malignant leprosy. They are like leeches who just enjoy sucking the blood of humans. They accept offers to work with you at State House not because they like working with you you but because the positions afford them an opportunity to undermine or subvert your efforts to make progress in your agenda. Their motives are subterranean and sinister, and this time the secret at FBC and State House must be divulged for all to know what’s going on. These activities must be exposed for the benefit of all concerned. But President Koroma, to be honest with you, your decision to create the SEA office with Dr Sylvia Blyden as its occupant was a big mistake . Dr Blyden’s presence at State House is in no way helpful to you; on the contrary it is more of harm to the seat of power. As Executive President, you have the constitutional power to make changes in all those who serve you in that Exalted House of power, a House that should be devoid of saboteurs, clandestine advicers with hidden and sinister agenda of their own to the Presidency. You can get even your drivers, cooks or cleaners changed. These people mean no good for your agenda. They will cripple you and make you a laughing stock and leave office with no resounding legacy if you do not take immediate steps to throw them out of State House. I can unhesitatingly tell you that it was a big mistake for you to have brought into State House two none achieving former Principals like Professor Strasser King and Jonas Redwood Sawyerr and above all Dr Sylvia Blyden and any other Krio close to you in State House. Now this is the situation. In April 2013, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Prof. Gbamanja sent me a letter on the formation of Team Athens aimed at restoration of the lost glory of Fourah Bay College our University. This Team Athens was working on a programme of making a documentary which you are well aware of to showcase the past glory of the College. As the first and only known author on the History of the College, Prof Gbamanja genuinely solicited my participation in a proposed documentary on FBC. Some slides of the proposed documentary was sent to me along with that letter for my personal perusal and viewing. Among dignitaries in those slides were you yourself President Ernest Koroma, Professor JAD Alie , Dr Modupe Pearce, Dr Kadie Sesay, Ambassador Bockarie Stevens, the Nigeria High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Dr Ebou Jusu, Anthony Koroma, Dr Forde, the oldest lecturer at FBC today and Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. I gave my consent as it had to do with Fourah Bay College. This documentary was to have been completed and ready by September 2013, and efforts to obtain visitor Canadian visa were made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Freetown (Dr Ebou Jusu is Deputy Foreign Minister), according to Lekan Olamilekan Ogundapo, the IT manager at Fourah Bay College and also the man charged with the responsibility of successful implementation of this project, a three man Team Athens representation was to have travelled to Winnipeg for an interview on the College’s history. By February, I called the Team’s leader Mr Lekan for the latest developments on the project. At that time he told me the visa issue was no longer a problem but the Canadian High Commisioner in Accra advised against travelling at a time winter was bruising North America. I agreed with the idea. Only last week , not getting any further news of further developments, I called back to get the latest, only to tell me a secret ( a top secret too) that the Krio group including former Principals were no longer enthusiastic about the Team Athens production. I asked the reason. Because, according to them, the Krio are no longer interested in the Team Athens documentary because it would only serve to showcase and publicise mostly up country people and not of Krio and has little to do with Krio history and achievements in West Africa. The Krio employees at State House came up with this nebulous plan to secretly change from Team Athens to TEAM KRIO which would focus on Krio culture and achievements in West Africa. TEAM KRIO now requested Mr. Lekan to send me another invitation to be part of Team Krio as my participation in their documentary would be of great value. I told Lekan that I’m not Krio and have nothing to do with their history or culture (if they have any) and warned that if any portion of my book is used in that documentary without my written permission, they should expect a very robust legal challenge anytime I’m in Freetown. How can a man born as ABDUL KARIM KAMARA be part of a Krio group? I asked Lekan. The decision to make me part of the new TEAM KRIO when they know fully well that I’m Temne sent the secret plan out of the window. They thought they were dealing with a fool without recognozing that I am smarter than all of them in the conspiracy. The brains behind it all are said to be Professors Strasser King, Jonas Redwood Sawyerr and Dr Sylvia Blyden, your trusted SEA. All three traitors, you gave employment in your office. I know that you President Koroma have been looking forward to TEAM ATHENS’ documentary completion which was expected to be ready by September 2013, but secretly decided on a plan change which would be distasteful to you. I also learnt when not too long ago you asked for progress on the Team Athens documentary, you were given a bogus answer as reason for the delay. They are not enthusiastic about a Documentary in which up country people are the focus of attention. Team Athens documentary would only serve to advertise mostly provincial people like you the President, Dr. Kadie Sesay and above all the Author himself, a man from the North . These three figures work at State House with you President Koroma and placed your absolute trust in them. As in most cases in life, persons in whom one places complete trust, always disappoint those who put them in those positions of trust. Trust me, every single Krio you’ve worked with in that country is aware of what is going on , and are eagerly looking forward to its success. They are right now on a fund-raising campaign for their subterranean plan. Are these a morally conscientious group of people? They went behind the back of Prof. Gbamanja to change the proposed Team Athens to Team Krio without the knowledge of the Deputy Vice Chancellor. Do you now see how they embarrass and undermine people in authority? Prof. Gbamanja is Kono and has nothing to do with a Team Krio documentary like me; two different letters from Fourah Bay College, one from the Deputy Vice Chancellor asking for my participation in TEAM ATHENS and another secret one on behalf of the Krio group: is this not an instance of undermining authority? this is exactly what the Temne people refer to as “MORRKA”. Not only do they “morrka” Prof. Gbamanja, but “morrka” you as well”. They want to be the only “Mama-dees like Dr Sylvia Blyden, Baba-dees like Profs Strasser King and Jonas Redwood Sawyerr, those none achieving former principals, Paddy-dees those Krio friends with outdated ideas” who want to survive under every government in power. Yes, they have no political party of their own, but can chop from everyone in power and can successfully undermine political leadership. Now here is their plan according to the IT Manager; Everyone of them would feign ignorance of this change. Their plan now is to convene a news conference soon and Prof Magbailey Fyle, a Krio with a Temne Mother from Yonibana will address the conference: and Samuel Valcarcel the SLBC TV Director of broadcasting is set to advertise on the SLBC TV and Radio their activities all over the place. Communication has been sent to Krio Descendants’ Union globally about this secret Krio programme. The Director General of the SLBC TV Gbanabom Elvis Hallowell is kept in the dark and completely unaware of all this sinister plot. Can we all see how vicious this group of people is? It is always a risk to work with Krios under any situation. This was the reason for forming a Production Crew Team of 18 members for Team Athens led by Bernadette Cole of FBC ; 12 of the team are Krio, and the rest includes a Gambian, Fulla, and four others whose ethnic roots I cannot identify. But my question is, what have they done with the funds raised in two FBC alumni dinners, one in Washington DC and the other at FBC in about March / April 2013 for the Team Athens project to which I was also invited while in Freetown last year? Are proceeds from those dinners still lying in the bank or secretly converted for Team Krio project? we need an immediate investigation and the three ring leaders at State House must help with any investigation on the reasons for the change of plan and the funds already raised. The background to all this nebulous activity goes back to two years back when I had the privilege of launching my “Concise History of Fourah Bay College 1827-2003″ at the British Council Hall. This publication so confused and angered the Krio community that they organized a mass boycott of my launching. Prior to the launching, I personally delivered 55 invitations to the Principal’s office at FBC; 30 were for the Students’ Union government and 25 the staff. The invitations were suppressed and not a single member of the Krio community either at FBC or the city at large attended that ceremony. Even the Students’ Union did not hear anything about a book launching. I knew they were unimpressed by the book of a Northern author on FBC which they believed should have been authored by them, but unfortunately none of them had the research material to do it. Because of this boycott, even Samuel Valcarcel of the SLBC TV who normally interviews on such matters deliberately boycotted my interview with him in conformity with the agreed national Krio boycott and instead had Abu Bakarr Bangura deputize him. He was sitting in his office while my interview was going on with Abu Bakarr Bangura. He preferred to watch the TV from his office. The entire ceremony that day was very impressively covered by Alimamy Lahai Kamara from start to finish. No regret about their boycott. They preferred to stay glued to their TV sets to see how the launching went and see if there was any Krio traitor. One fact I wish to make to this irate and disappointed group is that my book on FBC has been published and one may either choose to get a copy, read it and acquire knowledge or the only alternative is perpetual ignorance. It’s a choice between knowledge or ignorance. There is no way it can be undone. Anthony Kamara has authored the book on FBC History: and for the information of every Krio, a revised New Edition is on the way. Look at the irony, the same Krio group went to show their idleness when the 89 year old Prof Eldred Jones went to launch his Autobiography at the Mary Kingsley Theatre. What is an autobiography? a book of lies, self-praise and his Nova Scotian family slave descent? Who cares about his life history? how many bought it that day. Now Eldred Jones is on hustle trip to the USA to try to sell not only his self praise book but also to promote the Team Krio project. This is the main purpose of his trip to appeal from the Krio group for financial support. Who does not know that in 1977 at FBC during the students’ disturbances, Prof Eldred Jones was mercilessly beaten up with Dan Decker, the Warden of Students and subsequently arrested. I hope his so called autobiography includes this aspect of his life. If these group of people can lie to HE the President of the nation who has helped them put food on the dining table on a college documentary, who will they exempt from lies? The craziest thing about this group of people is that while they boast of intellectualism, they are found wanting in terms of productivity. In all FBC’s history, only Dr Davidson Nicol the prolific writer, Prof. Harry Sawyerr, Eustace Palmer and Eldred Jones and Prof Clifford Nelson Fyle, all from the Department of English, and Magbailey Fyle, and Prof Joe AD Alie the only two from the Department of History to manage to author a book each. It was embarrassing to them to listen, when in a phone- in Radio interview on Universal Radio in Regent two years ago, a caller phoned in to congratulate me and asked why it was only History graduates of FBC that always write books in Sierra leone and not from the other fields. I did not respond to this question. Sierra Leone professors especially those at home are mere ‘Salary waiting Professors who gain professorship appointments by political or Krio connections on Mount Aureol ‘ and not for writing even a pamphlet in their fields for primary school students. Our professors have never even contributed a single article in a Journal of education, not to talk of anyone producing a small book for the National Primary School Examinations (NPSE), not to mention the BECE or even WASSCE or GCE ‘A’ Level and yet they keep boasting of being the book men of Sierra Leone. Book men with no record of Book production! Book men without authoring even a pamphlet is all nonsense. It’s all ‘Borku talk’ and nothing done. Sierra Leone must be ashamed of her so called Professors who are best described as professors with no legacy left behind including the two serving as dangerous advicers at State House. Given all that has happened I will now urge for the immediate sending of Prof. Strasser King, Jonas Redwood Sawyerr and the SEA on terminal leave, while Fourah Bay College authorities initiate urgent investigation on these developments. It was a serious mistake in the first place to have brought in that woman so close to the seat of power. Now that you know what has been happening without your knowledge there is no need to delay their departure or exit from State House. Delay would mean giving them more time to subvert and sabotage your efforts, with hypocratical Born again church praise songs like “way god done put u up nobody nor go put u don”; nar lie President Koroma, the enemy from within go put you don because they know all your secrets. Now the ball is your court. I further call for an investigation on what led to the secret deviation from Team Athens to Team Krio and who are the brains behind it. Why must this group fool the President? A copy of this posting has been forwarded to Awareness Times (though it won’t appear in her on line paper. But I want her editor to get it direct and show her Proprietress. I am very much concerned about your welfare especially when Dr Sylvia Blyden was recently pictured in Facebook consulting a Female witch Doctor in Waterloo a town notorious today for all evils. These are the unchristian christians seen every Sunday in their churches and on weekends, go to the sorcerer for investigation. This group of trio traitors must leave State House ‘SINE MORA’. They will bring you down if you don’t act fast. In my next publication I will attach their planned secret programme and the Team Krio membership. Unless you take immediate action, given what you now know against this gang of three sabouteurs, I may be forced to write you another letter to tell you H E, “I told you so but did not pay heed and take action”. Once more, I ask “Who are the brains behind the Team Krio project? we need answers from State House right up to Mount Aureol and the gang of three must assist and cooperate with any investigation on this matter. Thanks for your time.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:38:31 +0000