With Amadu Daramy in Maryland
A convoy of journalists from the four corners of downtown ‘downbelow’ were going to a press conference at The Press House on 55 downtown downbelow street when they saw Josef Lewis and Bilal Turay at the intersection of Westmoreland Street, downbelow.
Mohamed Sowa and Hon. Frank Kposowa shouted in unison, “Josef Lewis, Josef Lewis, when did you arrive here? Anyway, welcome.”
Josef Lewis had a bundle of newspapers in his hands and some in his red bag.
No sooner the bus stopped, Chernor Ojuku Sesay and Saoman Conteh rushed to Josef Lewis, took some of the newspapers and carried them into the bus.
All the journalists were happy while Josef Lewis and Bilal Turay were amazed to see their colleagues after many many years.
Madam Daisy Bona, on seeing Josef Lewis, smiled and said, “welcome, welcome to ‘downbelow’. Do you have any copy of the New Citizen Publications?”
Josef Lewis responded, “yes please.”
Josef Lewis opened his bag and gave a copy of the New Citizen Newspaper captioned “COLLAPSE OF DISCIPLINE IN SIERRA LEONE” to Daisy Bona.
All the journalists scrambled to get copies of the other newspapers from both Bilal Turay and Josef Lewis while the others were distributing the other newspapers in the bus.
Gbondima Gbondo, who was driving the bus, did not say a word but only observed while Hon. Frank Kposowa was smoking cigarettes in the company of Jon Foray, Christian Kellie, Franklyn Bunting Davies and Richie Olu Gordon.
As the other journalists were reading the various newspapers, Josef Lewis, Madam Daisy Bona and Mohamed Sowa were busy discussing.
Chernor Ojuku Sesay called Bilal Turay and they started chatting.
Christian Kellie started reading Salone Times, Olu Gordon Peep; Fode B. Kande Progress newspaper, Saaba Tumoe and Saoman Conteh the Globe, Pa Herbert Johnson the New Citizen, Ibrahim El Tayib Bah the Freetown Post, Pious Foray the Democrat, Arika Awuta-Coker the Daily Mail and Sam Metzger We Yone while Franklyn Bunting-Davies read The New Shaft Newspaper.
Suddenly, Hon. Frank Kposowa, who was reading Unity Newspaper alerted Gbondima Gbondo and the other journalists to take their seats as they were heading to the 55-storey PRESS HOUSE building on downtown downbelow street constructed by Philip Neville.
As Gbondima Gbondo started the bus engine, he remarked, “gentlemen of the fourth estate, as you heard in the news yesterday, our beloved colleague journalist Phillip Neville has made headline news and we are all proud of him for what he has done for us in building such a fantastic building which will accommodate not only journalists but politicians, civil servants and other professionals. The building meets international standard as it is well equipped. Now that Josef Lewis and Bilal Turay have just arrived safely from ‘upabove’ including former politician and popular medical doctor, Dr. Mohamed Brima Dabor, who are all here with us, let us give them the floor and audience.
Gbondima smiled and turned to Josef Lewis, who was seated next to Hon. Frank Kposowa and said, “Josef, let me ask you how is ‘upabove’ and any other latest news? We are going to the Press House as Phillip Neville has invited all the politicians and civil servants. Can you please update us with the latest developments ‘upabove’?”
Hon. Kposowa interrupted Gbondima and asked, “Josef, how’s Maada Bio faring with the SLPP?”
He continued, “how true is the rumour that former President Ernest Bai Koroma was involved in a coup attempt to overthrow the legitimately-elected SLPP government of President Julius Maada Bio?”
Osman Ben Kargbo raised his voice loudly and all the journalists shouted in unison, “gentlemen let us now give audience to Josep Lewis” who turned to Hon. Frank Kposowa and said, “Orba, I thought you were going to ask about your buddy first, Kotor I.B. Kargbo. Anyway, let me first and foremost answer the second question now. Former President Ernest Koroma is in Nigeria. He was arrested, briefly tried and later released on medical grounds to seek treatment in Nigeria. Many Sierra Leoneans are dissatisfied with President Bio for releasing former President Ernest Koroma to go to Nigeria, as they wanted him tried in the country. On the question about President Bio, he is doing great. Infact at the time I left for ‘downbelow’ he was overseas. One recent important thing is that musicians in the East of the country, especially Kenema District, have changed the trajectory with their latest songs. The Kenema and Bo Boys have released songs that are making waves on social media and all over the place that has not gone down well with the ruling SLPP government. The songs are about greed, neglect of the Districts, suffering of the people, mismanagement of the economy and biting hardship. The lyrics in the songs say people did not vote for sufferings and the high cost of living and that they are disappointed with the ruling class. However, the country is peaceful at the time the former President left for Nigeria. Even the famous Adebayor, the ‘mammy cuss’ bomber, has stopped abusing the mother of people.”
Josep Lewis continued, “recently, Ernest Bai Koroma was on social media in church in Nigeria with other former Presidents of Nigeria and business tycoons and donated dollars to Nigerians. Members of the fourth estate, the rains this year in Sierra Leone caused many problems as people died while property and buildings worth millions of Leones were destroyed in addition to the fact that several parts of the country experienced flooding. Colleagues, climate change is real.”
