So much did we hear about the connections of the ex-executive with the so-called APC Asia Branch (AAB), and now so much have we understood the motives behind defrauding our noble union. These staunch APC stooges completely lack any element of proper civic behavior, transparency, accountability and social tolerance in running civilized organizations. Since taking the mantle of governance in Sierra Leone, the APC-mentor organization has deliberately embarked on populating the student composition here in China with their cronies; to the extent that over 80% of the 110 or so students are now APC-affiliated northerners. With this population dominance, these stooges are emboldened to stage-manage every bit of activity in the union; of course as advised by the APC-mentor government back home. For instance, it was the first time in the history of the student union here in China to have all the executive members elected (or more precisely, appointed) unopposed. Also because of their APC connection and numerical dominance, it was crystal clear that the ex-executive set the worst financial record in the history of the union.
To put things into proper perspective, we start by quoting the US Dollar exchange rate for the Chinese currency — the Ren-Ming-Bi (RMB) — which is 6,400 RMB to $1,000. Before the out-gone 2011-executive, the highest expenditure ever for running the union for a year was less than 13,000 RMB. Now out of a total projected revenue of 116,638 RMB, the Kargbo-led 2011-executive inherited 33,644 RMB from the predecessor Mornya-led 2010-executive and raised an additional 29,341 RMB from monthly contributions — totaling 62,985 RMB. Out of that amount, over 56% (35,042 RMB) was fraudulently embezzled by the 2011-executive in the name of running the union. Furthermore, the union stands to lose an additional 22% (15,000 RMB) as bad loans, arrears and other monies not accounted for. What the Kargbo-led 2011-executive left as revenue for the incoming Bah-led 2012-executive was actually less than 29% (18,000 RMB). More importantly, the Kargbo-led 2011-government did nothing differentl y (from the previous governments) to warrant such a record expenditure. Up to the last moment of handing over to the Bah-led 2012-executive, the Financial Minister (Anthony Foday) of the Kargbo-led 2011-executive never knew (let alone accessed) the union account. It is know all known that the president (Maurice Baimba Kargbo) put the union fund into business for personal financial gains. In fact, the Treasurer (Fatmata Kamara) was under constant intimidation to release the union fund on presidential orders. Kargbo hand-picked a core-executive members amongst whom the union fund was shared. Though heart-rending, it was not surprising that the arrogantly vocal Ex-secretary General (Mohamed Sow) single-handedly embezzled 23% (14,688 RMB) of the union fund. In fact with all the embezzlement, the Ex-secretary General still owe the union some 2,500 RMB. This is especially heart-breaking given that the student revenue is almost entirely from monthly contributions students have to sacrifice from their meager allowances.
Indeed that was a record expenditure, the worst embezzlement in the history of our noble union. Our composition (which is the handwork of the home-based APC-mentor government) has forced us to allow vultures to look over dead bodies. Because of perceived lack of funds due to the record embezzlement, attendance of this year's (2012) convention was not only extremely low (less than 30% of the 110 students here in China), but also floated with heavily manipulated agenda and terrible social services (foods, drinks, etc.). In fact, it was a blessing in disguise that the majority of the students never attended the convention as funds were never sufficient for return tickets. The Mornya-led 2010 government refunded return tickets for over 75 students, totaling 37,622 RMB. So it was going to be a disaster if that record number of students had attended this year’s convention. There was an extreme partisanship and intolerance towards any efforts or people with different views. The buying-over of the Auditors and Financial Ministers left the record low convention attendees in abysmal surprise. Such are the practices that constantly undermine and question the integrity of the student body and student unionism here in China. Have so much not been said and heard about attitudinal change in Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone communities abroad? What else can the elitist core of Sierra Leoneans do for a poor country that has been just neglected for far too long?
As the Kargbo-led administration was very aware of its financial misconduct, it meticulously mounted a high-profile intimidation and humiliation campaign (led by the Vice President and apparent spokesman, Hamza I. Bangura) against any efforts or people that questioned the “status quo”. People like Dr. Moiwo, J. P., Mr. Margai, D. M. and Ms. Dick, T. D. (the Welfare and Education Minister) were almost physically assaulted for speaking against the financial misconduct of the Kargbo-led administration. In fact, even the current president (Alphajor Bah) wanted to physically assault this decent lady (Ms. Dick, T. D.). There was simply no freedom of speech or right to information, food, etc. throughout the 4-day convention. It was probably for this perceived reason that the poor innocent lady (Fatmata Kamara, who happened to be the Treasurer) did not attend the 2012 convention called by the unpopular government. It was also because of the frustrations of the perceived mismanagement of the union funds that the over 60% of the students chose not to attend the 2012 student convention. The convention floor was so empty that even the guest-speaker of the closing ceremony (Dr. Kargbo, P.) was forced to comment that he sensed something wrong in the union and urged the incoming Bah-led 2012-executive to swiftly work to correct the situation in the best interest of student unionism.
Now are our comments on the current (2012) executive members. The piece written by Lucinda Kargbo (the current Secretary General and executive member of the so-called AAB) regarding the convention is more or less a continuation of the same old ideology. People like Lucinda Kargbo, Hamza I. Bangura, Desmond Conteh and their cronies have taken oath not to criticize any wrongdoing in the union, especially if the culprit belongs to the so-called ABB Asia. They have borrowed sacred pages from their father's book which they use to brainwash the heavily northern-biased student body with hate campaigns. They remain, by every purpose, deeply committed to seeing the demise of this union with their extremist partisanship, regionalism, tribalism, nepotism and all the vices of division.
Quoting Lucinda Kargbo again, "we noticed lots of personal grievances and misconception". Now we say for your notice in return that there were no personal grievances and misconceptions during the convention. It was only that the few committed students to transparency, accountability and true attitudinal change against corruption stood up for the decent principles of human behavior in civilized elitist organizations like ours. So never-ever you underestimate the will of these people to fight all forms of madness, embezzlement and naked thieving. If criminals like Mohamed Sow (the then Secretary General now turned Ombudsman, a position you may likely swap with him later because of your like-mindedness) and his cronies think that this issue is over, then we only say to them that it a day-dream mistake on their part. Even though in minority, we the fighters for clean governance will do everything humanly possible to expose you criminals everywhere on the globe. On this note, I urge all responsible stake holders to take this issue seriously, launch a thorough investigation and unite against any malpractices that threaten to crumble our society or betray our mother land. To all the students (new and old), we now appeal that you not to pay your dues until this current executive sets a clean stage for utmost transparency and accountability. Borrowing sacred pages from the corrupt, violent and authoritarian APC vices is not a credible recipe for sustainable developmental governance of our union here and our country at home. Let us all stand united and vigilant for a totally free and developed Sierra Leone.
