By Kef Dukulay
The National Secretary-General of ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Umaru Napoleon Koroma Esq has come down hard on those using social media platforms to defame personalities in society, especially government functionaries and party stalwarts, condemning such an ugly development of character assassination that the party totally discountenances.
He is demanding of the defamers to desist from such acts and look for something better to do as anybody who falls short with the law will have nobody to turn to. He says there will be no hiding place when aggrieved persons decide to take legal actions against such miscreants once identified.
In an earlier post the legal luminary, knowing the implications of defamation under the cyber law, had cautioned social media users who have taken to the habit of insulting people in the name of party politics to be mindful of their actions as they may have to account for them in the court of law as in his words “free speech carries its own responsibilities.”
People often take to the habit of defaming those in authority with no justification but to merely satisfy their pay masters. This he says has been the case for some time now as harmless individuals like the State House Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh and the SLPP National Secretary-General himself, have come under sustained social media attacks from people; with incessant invectives thrown at especially the Chief Minister Dr Sengeh for mere personal reasons,
Using social media handles to bring the integrity of decent people to disrepute; according to Mr. Koroma is untenable; saying such attacks made in WhatsApp forums with SLPP controlled memberships makes it appalling, a development he calls totally unrealistic and not in the best interest of the party and government.
He says it is not nationalistic for anyone to attack government officials; even as you are all in the same party. Similarly so against party officials in the name of party politics, it can be tantamount to attacking the SLPP as a party. “And such miscreants, when actions are being taken against them will have themselves to blame.”
In his latest post on the nauseating development, the party scribe has reiterated his earlier admonishment for “everyone to stay focused and look at the task ahead in actualizing the development agenda of the president” His estimation is that everybody, especially those who claim to be SLPP must be working towards the success of the government, amidst challenges, to accomplish national set goals.
To him, when the time for politicking comes, everybody will have the opportunity to be heard without taking anybody’s right for another person. “But for now the president’s set priorities to foster national development must be everybody’s focus. Accomplishing the Big Five Game Changers of the president’s agenda must be embraced and worked towards in order to achieve progress.”
He says with the ‘Feed Salone’ and energy projects among others, there is so much on the table to get involved in bickering that only brings the party to ridicule.
“What is expected of any party member and well-meaning Sierra Leonean is to put all hands on deck to make President Bio and the SLPP government succeeds. It is therefore, appalling that there are few miscreants with sinister motives, and in particular the spate at which personal attacks are directed at our government and party officials;” a development he describes as totally “unacceptable.”
He slammed it as also unacceptable for anyone to make derogatory references to people’s legally assigned functions, and to insult them and extend same abuse to their parents on similar social media platforms with no justification.
On a conciliatory but stern note, the party scribe’s post re-echoes his earlier warning to all those engaged in such acts of indecency and since defamation is not the SLPP way, he completely distances the party from such behaviour. “The saying goes that the carrot is first given out before the stick descends so when people start taking action for their rights and integrity, no one will rely on the SLPP for protection.”
Since belonging to the same political party is no justification to insult anybody for selfish reasons, he warns that “let those (party people) involved take note that there will be no consideration for party affiliation when it comes to prosecution. It equally goes for those outside the party who have joined the fray of that media mischief to be mindful of the law.”
