Sheikh Bakarr makes a compelling case on why Kandeh for president in 2018. Global Times Newspaper Online KANDEH YUMKELLA AND THE FLAGBEARERSHIP OF THE SLPP-A REJOINDER BY SHEIK BAKARR I write to put straight a host of reasons put forward by an anonymous author on why Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is unfit to lead the SLPP to the next polls entitled Kandeh Yumkella and the Flagbearership of the SLPP in the Global Times newspaper dated 11th December,2014. After reading the article, I was at a loss as to what could possibly be wrong for KKY to chose as his motto ‘Putting the Country First.’’ As opined by that writer. All over the world, a true and patriotic person is a citizen first before he or she becomes a member of a political party or any organization or institution. Dr. Yumkella has chosen to be a citizen of Sierra Leone first-and an illustrious one at that. This in no way pygmifies his loyalty and commitment to the SLPP. As a true citizen of Sierra Leone and properly steeped in the enviable values of the SLPP, KKY has a formidable record of achievements to prove that he is worthy of that motto. He has over the years, particularly during his tenure as Director General of UNIDO for eight years, contributed to touching and improving the lives of poor people particularly in rural communities by working tirelessly, to set up no less than eleven growth centres all over the country. These centres have helped poor people like cassava growers, manufacturers of gari, masons. Carpenters small farmers, black smiths etc. and many others earn a decent livelihood courtesy of these growth centres which have provided a platform for them to showcase their produce and skills. These centres have also created business opportunities for many ordinary people. KKY achieved this by providing them through those Growth Centres, with solar powered refrigerators and sustainable and affordable energy. These poor people can not only now preserve their food and goods so as to keep them fresh for the next market day, now, as a result of KKY’s intervention, they can also make some money selling cold drinks, yoghurt, cool aid, home made ginger beer etc.. This is touching lives and a formidable track record of love for country and empathy with the poor. He has used his standing and contact in the UN to advocate for and worked closely with President Koroma’s government to establish two hydro electric power stations which constructions are now in progress in Moyamba and Bankasoka to name but just a few. During his tenure, he almost single handedly help rebuild the Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (destroyed during the war) and today, that multi-million dollar edifice stands as a testament to KKYs love for country. That institute is now a centre of excellence and research not only for the University of Sierra Leone, but the entire West African sub region. Energy is the engine of growth in a particularly fragile post war country like Sierra Leone, to that end, KKY helped set up the Barefoot Womens College that is today empowering women and providing sustainable energy for rural communities throughout the country.KKY is a man who throughout his sojourn in the diaspora and with the UN has not failed to visit his country at least once a year. Most of those are largely working visits. If he is not working with his Alumni Associations of CKC and Njala on building, books and energy projects, he is in Kambia or Moyamba or Konta Line and other hard-to-reach areas working for the empowerment of poor people through sustainable energy. When the Ebola epidemic broke out, he used his diplomatic skills to negotiate with OFID for a cheque donation of five hundred thousand dollars to fight the epidemic. This was the largest single donation by any international organization to the fight against Ebola by August, two months into the epidemic. That the cheque was personally handed over to him and his wife by the Director General of OFID himself speaks volumes to how critical he was to the process. He further went on to work with the EU and other development partners to set up laboratories and clinics in various parts of the 1 1 Global Times Newspaper Online KANDEH YUMKELLA AND THE FLAGBEARERSHIP OF THE SLPP-A REJOINDER BY SHEIK BAKARR I write to put straight a host of reasons put forward by an anonymous author on why Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is unfit to lead the SLPP to the next polls entitled Kandeh Yumkella and the Flagbearership of the SLPP in the Global Times newspaper dated 11th December,2014. After reading the article, I was at a loss as to what could possibly be wrong for KKY to chose as his motto ‘Putting the Country First.’’ As opined by that writer. All over the world, a true and patriotic person is a citizen first before he or she becomes a member of a political party or any organization or institution. Dr. Yumkella has chosen to be a citizen of Sierra Leone first-and an illustrious one at that. This in no way pygmifies his loyalty and commitment to the SLPP. As a true citizen of Sierra Leone and properly steeped in the enviable values of the SLPP, KKY has a formidable record of achievements to prove that he is worthy of that motto. He has over the years, particularly during his tenure as Director General of UNIDO for eight years, contributed to touching and improving the lives of poor people particularly in rural communities by working tirelessly, to set up no less than eleven growth centres all over the country. These centres have helped poor people like cassava growers, manufacturers of gari, masons. Carpenters small farmers, black smiths etc. and many others earn a decent livelihood courtesy of these growth centres which have provided a platform for them to showcase their produce and skills. These centres have also created business opportunities for many ordinary people. KKY achieved this by providing them through those Growth Centres, with solar powered refrigerators and sustainable and affordable energy. These poor people can not only now preserve their food and goods so as to keep them fresh for the next market day, now, as a result of KKY’s intervention, they can also make some money selling cold drinks, yoghurt, cool aid, home made ginger beer etc.. This is touching lives and a formidable track record of love for country and empathy with the poor. He has used his standing and contact in the UN to advocate for and worked closely with President Koroma’s government to establish two hydro electric power stations which constructions are now in progress in Moyamba and Bankasoka to name but just a few. During his tenure, he almost single handedly help rebuild the Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (destroyed during the war) and today, that multi-million dollar edifice stands as a testament to KKYs love for country. That institute is now a centre of excellence and research not only for the University of Sierra Leone, but the entire West African sub region. Energy is the engine of growth in a particularly fragile post war country like Sierra Leone, to that end, KKY helped set up the Barefoot Womens College that is today empowering women and providing sustainable energy for rural communities throughout the country.KKY is a man who throughout his sojourn in the diaspora and with the UN has not failed to visit his country at least once a year. Most of those are largely working visits. If he is not working with his Alumni Associations of CKC and Njala on building, books and energy projects, he is in Kambia or Moyamba or Konta Line and other hard-to-reach areas working for the empowerment of poor people through sustainable energy. When the Ebola epidemic broke out, he used his diplomatic skills to negotiate with OFID for a cheque donation of five hundred thousand dollars to fight the epidemic. This was the largest single donation by any international organization to the fight against Ebola by August, two months into the epidemic. That the cheque was personally handed over to him and his wife by the Director General of OFID himself speaks volumes to how critical he was to the process. He further went on to work with the EU and other development partners to set up laboratories and clinics in various parts of the See below the full article 1 1 Global Times Newspaper Online KANDEH YUMKELLA AND THE FLAGBEARERSHIP OF THE SLPP-A REJOINDER BY SHEIK BAKARR I write to put straight a host of reasons put forward by an anonymous author on why Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is unfit to lead the SLPP to the next polls entitled Kandeh Yumkella and the Flagbearership of the SLPP in the Global Times newspaper dated 11th December,2014. After reading the article, I was at a loss as to what could possibly be wrong for KKY to chose as his motto ‘Putting the Country First.’’ As opined by that writer. All over the world, a true and patriotic person is a citizen first before he or she becomes a member of a political party or any organization or institution. Dr. Yumkella has chosen to be a citizen of Sierra Leone first-and an illustrious one at that. This in no way pygmifies his loyalty and commitment to the SLPP. As a true citizen of Sierra Leone and properly steeped in the enviable values of the SLPP, KKY has a formidable record of achievements to prove that he is worthy of that motto. He has over the years, particularly during his tenure as Director General of UNIDO for eight years, contributed to touching and improving the lives of poor people particularly in rural communities by working tirelessly, to set up no less than eleven growth centres all over the country. These centres have helped poor people like cassava growers, manufacturers of gari, masons. Carpenters small farmers, black smiths etc. and many others earn a decent livelihood courtesy of these growth centres which have provided a platform for them to showcase their produce and skills. These centres have also created business opportunities for many ordinary people. KKY achieved this by providing them through those Growth Centres, with solar powered refrigerators and sustainable and affordable energy. These poor people can not only now preserve their food and goods so as to keep them fresh for the next market day, now, as a result of KKY’s intervention, they can also make some money selling cold drinks, yoghurt, cool aid, home made ginger beer etc.. This is touching lives and a formidable track record of love for country and empathy with the poor. He has used his standing and contact in the UN to advocate for and worked closely with President Koroma’s government to establish two hydro electric power stations which constructions are now in progress in Moyamba and Bankasoka to name but just a few. During his tenure, he almost single handedly help rebuild the Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (destroyed during the war) and today, that multi-million dollar edifice stands as a testament to KKYs love for country. That institute is now a centre of excellence and research not only for the University of Sierra Leone, but the entire West African sub region. Energy is the engine of growth in a particularly fragile post war country like Sierra Leone, to that end, KKY helped set up the Barefoot Womens College that is today empowering women and providing sustainable energy for rural communities throughout the country.KKY is a man who throughout his sojourn in the diaspora and with the UN has not failed to visit his country at least once a year. Most of those are largely working visits. If he is not working with his Alumni Associations of CKC and Njala on building, books and energy projects, he is in Kambia or Moyamba or Konta Line and other hard-to-reach areas working for the empowerment of poor people through sustainable energy. When the Ebola epidemic broke out, he used his diplomatic skills to negotiate with OFID for a cheque donation of five hundred thousand dollars to fight the epidemic. This was the largest single donation by any international organization to the fight against Ebola by August, two months into the epidemic. That the cheque was personally handed over to him and his wife by the Director General of OFID himself speaks volumes to how critical he was to the process. He further went on to work with the EU and other development partners to set up laboratories and clinics in various parts of the country in furtherance of the battle against the Ebola scourge. This is patriotism brother! And that is why KKY wants to lead this country to take us after President Koroma towards a middle income country. The writer also drew comparisons between our late President Kabbah of blessed memory and KKY. That because both worked for the UN and both did not or will not put the party first. It is important that we put into perspective President Kabbahs ten years of stewardship. The old man came to power at a time when the country was mired in one of the bloodiest wars in human history. As a result, the country was heavily polarised. There was a whole panoply of disaffected groups, some taking advantage of the trauma the country had been subjected to make money, some after losing the elections, sought to overthrow President Kabbah’s government by force of arms. Some connived with the rebels in the name of tribalism to destabilize our nascent democracy. Some in whom the president had laid his trust betrayed him. Some tribal opportunists even though president Kabbah had put together the most regionally and ethnically inclusive government in the political history of Sierra Leone, sought to play the tribal card in a bid to destabilize the old man’s government. Fortunately, we had in President Kabbah, a visionary leader who believed like the true and seasoned diplomat that he was, that there was no military solution to the brutal internecine conflict we were contending with, and so, he choose the diplomatic option. The rest they say is history. The circumstances today are different.KKY when he is elected president, courtesy of Presidents Kabbah and Koroma, will inherit a largely peaceful nation. This will accord him the time and resources to further strengthen and unify the party as he will not be as distracted as President Kabbah was as a result of the war. President Kabbah not only brought lasting peace to Sierra Leone, but also laid the foundation of our country’s development in the institutions that he built and his illustrious contribution to peace, education and democratic governance. Most of these skills were honed during President Kabbah’s sojourn at the UN. President Kabbah no matter how much he tried could not placate the SLPP as he would have wanted. But the old man had no choice, he had too many pressing national problems to contend with and too many disparate anti SLPP forces to placate in the interest of peace to have over prioritised his party. In spite of all the afore mentioned problems he had to contend with, he left behind a legacy of tolerance, peace and unity in the SLPP. He bequeathed to President Koroma a stable, united, peaceful and relatively prosperous nation, even though he inherited a fragmented and bleeding banana republic. This is President Kabbahs legacy to Sierra Leone and this is what KKY wants to use his invaluable diplomatic and governance skills to not only consolidate, but build upon an edifice for future generations for country and party. The author of that anonymous article suggested that KKY has done nothing for the SLPP, that he is a stranger to the party. This cannot be more ridiculous. How can KKY be a stranger in the SLPP when he was born and grew up in an SLPP household. His Father P.C. Yumkella of blessed memory was a key founding member of the party. Pa Yumkella was an illustrious son of the SLPP. At the acme of APC thuggery in the 60s and 70s, the old man stood by the party even at the cost of his staff of office as Paramount Chief. Chief Yumkella stood by the SLPP and gave his life for it. It is those values of peace and tolerance in the SLPP that he bequeathed to his children; that is why you will never hear the name:’ Yumkella’, in no other political party circles but the SLPP. And that is why, his sons and daughters identify with and continue to work for the party wherever they find themselves. On the question of KKYs membership of the SLPP, any sane person should be able to rationalise that a person of the standing and intellect of KKY can definitely not aspire to the leadership of the party if he were not a registered and fully paid up member of the party. So much for party membership. At a time of internecine cracks within the party in the run up to the elections, KKY stood by Brigadier Bio by offering his mother’s house, to house his campaign infrastructure before and during the 2012 elections. Such was the level of damage caused to that structure during Brigadier Bio’s stay that post election reconstruction of the house cost KKY no less sixty thousand dollars US Dollars! During the preparatory stages of the party’s manifesto, KKY contributed significant amounts of resources to that cause. He has also contributed funds towards the party’s reconciliation efforts and several other activities. He has been a fully registered Grand Chief Patron of the party for at least a decade. By the nature of his job, he cannot actively engage in party politics .Furthermore, KKY is a man of great humility who is averse to making public his contributions(which are multi fold) to the party and the myriad Sierra Leoneans whose lives he has touched over the years. But rest assured that not too long from now, you will get to know the real KKY and come to the realization that none of those who now aspire to the partys leadership are more committed to the party than him. Maada Bio joined the party in 2005 and contested as one of the partys standard bearer in that same year. Why didnt you ask him at the time about his committment? Shifting the goal post when it suits you. What has Maada ever done for the SLPP apart from running away to some country and returning every five years to seek the partys leadership. Where was he between 1996 to 2005 when KKY was making use of his standing in the world to help President Kabbah return Sierra Leone to the peaceful serene nation that we are all enjoying today. Where is he as President Koroma and other political leaders grapple with the Ebola scourge. The author opines that to vie for the presidency of Sierra Leone, one must first become a member of a political party. My brother KKY knows better, that is why for at least a decade, he has been a registered fully paid up Grand Chief Patron of the party. The author further insinuates that KKY has waited for the eleventh hour to join the SLPP to contest its leadership. This is an attempt at gross dishonesty and hyprocrisy. If the author cares so much for an extended period of membership of the party by any member before one seeks its leadership, why did he not ask Maada who joined the party in 2005 not to contest the partys 2005 polls because he had not had a prolonged membership of the party at the time. Furthermore, the author insinuates that that there is a strong possibility for a neophyte who seeks a partys leadership to resort to personal aggrandisement once in power. He could be as well referring to Maada. Have you heard of that dubious Channel Island offshore account and those passport deals during Bios stewardship. Read President Kabbahs and Berewas autobiographies. The author refers to KKY as an upstart in politics. How can a man like KKY who was in the forefront of the struggle against one party dictatorship in the 70s at the tender age of 16 be an upstart in politics? How can a man who was a students Union president of Njala in the 70s when in those days, university students unions during the one party era were virtually the unofficial opposition in what was then a ruthless dictatorship in Sierra Leone? How can a man who served as Trade Minister in the early saner days of the NPRC under Captain Strasser be a political upstart? How can a man who has always been a committed SLPP man since birth and an official one in 2005 be a political upstart? How can a man who positively utilised his standing as the third highest functionary in the UN to build his country for over a decade be a political upstart? How can a man who has quietly contributed to every endeavour of the SLPP in governance and opposition throughout his life be a political upstart? KKY has become the key target of Bios apostles for a very good reason: He now provides the leadership and competition that Maadas violence-prone supporters cannot handle. Hence, they have resorted to intimidation-a concept that is totally at variance with the values of the once tolerant and inclusive SLPP. The question is normally asked by KKYs detractors as to why he has in recent times failed to visit party HQ when he is town. The answer is simple and two fold, his current job does not allow him to actively engage in party politics. And even if he is not a UN functionary, any peace loving member of the SLPP today will find it very difficult to do so. Why? because, Bios intolerant supporters, have laid seige to party HQ and in a thinly veiled manner have made it a no go area for anti Bio supporters. The sordid treatment accorded his mother and JOB when they visited the partys HQ recently are just a few examples. When KKY visited Kenema on an Ebola assessment mission recently, Bios supporters, who have railroaded the legitimate executive out of the Kenema office, were at daggers drawn to intimidate the pacifist diplomat thinking KKY had gone to organise a political meeting. You cannot stop KKY. The KKY elections machinery is in full throttle and no form of intimidation can stop it. My brothers, the SLPP belongs to all who have chosen to belong to it. Your resort to violence will only further polarise the party. You cannot continue to commit apostacy against the values of that great party. When the time comes, all party members will sit and chart out a path of peaceful co-existence for the sake of the survival of the party. You cannot handle KKY! that is why the very mention of his name strikes fear in your hearts. If you knew him well, you would have no reason to fear him. He has and continue to reach out to all party members irrespective of where you have chosen to pitch tent. SLPPs only real chance of winning State House take it or leave it, is KKY.REJECT HIM AND DIE IN OPPOSITION. The author further opines that being a top functionary of the UN does not necessarily qualify one to head the SLPP. My brother, KKY knows better, that is why he is in the process of subjecting himself to the will of the party faithful at a national convention. Stewardship of the UN particularly at the echelon at which KKY served is not a criterion, but being the equivalent of a world government, serving at its top level definitely prepares one effectively for top state governance. So KKYs sojourn in the UN, and at that level, will definitely be a blessing for party and country. If you truly believe that your candidate is more popular, then subject him to the will of the people rather than resorting to the cold war, time worn munku tactics of intimidation. Maada popularity is definitely over trumpeted. He never would have won the 2011 convention had it not being for the timely intervention of JOB who cobbled together a grand alliance to stop Usu Boie. With all JOBs best efforts, this popular candidate of yours scored less than 40% of the votes. Dont tell me he was cheated at the 2012 polls. he failed to present to the party and the world his incontrovertible video evidence which he said shows he was cheated. He further undermined this claim when in a post election visit to state House, he told the world that the presidency of Sierra Leone is not in contention. So much for being cheated. The author refers to members of the KKY movement as opportunists and called on them to join forces with those who are already ahead in the race. Who is ahead in the race? Maada? why if he is so popular have his incendiary supporters made violence and intimidation their stock in trade to scare away more credible pretenders to the SLPP throne. I dont fight if I am winning. You know more than I do that members of the KKY movement are not opportunists, but a myriad collection of hard working Sierra Leoneans who have contributed in their own little way to the development of country. They range from teachers,businessmen/women,lecturers,engineers,lawyersjournalists,,unemployed youth market women, students, religious leaders, party faithful, big and small, ordinary men and women, from all walks of life and the ethnic mosaic that make up the nation state of Sierra Leone. They are united by one goal: rejection of violence, a peaceful and winnable SLPP and a happy, united, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone. Come on board brother. The KKY door is open to all. Happy New YEAR
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 15:02:35 +0000
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