November 16, 2021
By A-Z News Analyst
There have been pieces of information or stories that people have been talking about disappearances of citizens or discovering them with parts of their bodies missing. These are rumors to be confirmed as true. It has been on unsettling time especially for parents and guardians as the rumors keep increasing. But every so often the police would come out with press releases debunking the rumors. Who should we believe?
Whether the current rumors prove to be true or false, the purpose of kidnapping is either for money or power. In the past kidnapping in this country had been due to the quest for power rather than money although it would ultimately lead to the acquisition of money.
Government officials were found guilty of cannibalism and hanged after convictions in courts of laws. People were killed, their bodies dismembered and used in rituals for power.
We are all aware of what is happening in Nigeria in terms of kidnapping. They kidnap and call for ransom and we do not hear of their kidnappings for rituals or purposes of cannibalism. The good news here is that we have not heard of ransom requests probably because the allege kidnappings are mainly for ritual purposes. And the rituals are for transient power that will lead them to hell.
Whether the rumors are true or false the police should be more proactive. There is no smoke without fire. While doubting the police denials the people too should be careful of late night travelling on bikes and in Kekehs as well as walking in isolated places at night.
“They say” is half a lie but rumors are not always wrong. Government would take these rumors seriously instead of dismissing them out of hand as false rumors.
National Stadium or Siaka Steven Stadium.
As the state ages it is necessary sometimes to flash back and glean lessons from history. One such lesson is the naming of places or names in honor of patriots and historic events.
The naming of the Stadium in Freetown for an athletic activity is of special note, when the Stadium was opened in April 1979 it was known as the National Stadium. Later, because of sycophancy of the name cascaded to Siaka Stevens Stadium.
Now the people are confused about the two names. And talking about Siaka Stevens legacy in this country it is in fact negative for reasons stated below. Siaka Stevens hosting of the OAU in 1980 was the beginning of hardship in this country. He offered to host the OAU, to become Chairman only for vain glory. He forced Sierra Leone to bite more that she could chew. He brought about the dictatorship of a one-party state to this country.
If hosting the OAU depleted national Funds, a major decision two years later sank the boat. One of the most obscure but mutedly unpopular moves by Stevens was to de-link the national currency from the British pounds in 1982. It is believed to be the trigger of Sierra Leone’s current foreign trade mess as the value of the Leone nose-divided and prices skyrocketed. That was the culprit in the disappearance of coins in the One cent (Penny) Five cents, 10 cents (Bob) and 20 cents (Two Shilling denominations).
Such a man who inaugurated hardship in this country which is still having a ripple effect does not need even a street named after him Siaka Stevens Street. Fidel Castro, that great leader of Cuba said at his death that all memories of him should be obliterated.
Let us get settled on the name national Stadium. I hope the New Direction is listening.