DOWNBELOW

By: Amadu Daramy in Maryland, USA 

EPISODE 1 Part 4

Breaking News, Breaking News!

Gbondima Gbondo and his colleague journalists were having launch at the Stop Press Restaurant when his phone suddenly rang. It was Hon. Frank Kposowa who called.

Gbondima Gbondo turned to Osman Ben Kargbo and Amadu C. Koroma and observed, “excuse me guys for a minute let me talk to Hon. Frank Kposowa. It may be something very important. I was really reflecting on Pa. Kabbah’s statement that ‘Salone man get bad heart’. Anyway, the call may be breaking news.”

“Hello, former President of SLAJ and our Honorable Member of Parliament who has brought great news and cell phones to his colleague journalists’ down below. First and foremost, Orba, my colleagues in the persons of Osman Ben Kargbo, Amadu C. Koroma, Saoman Conteh and others are here with me at Stop Press. 

Please join us. And guess what sir; Jon Zainu Foray, Siaka Massaquoi, Ibrahim El-Tayib Bah, former President of SLAJ, Abdul Turay and Ahmed Bob Kanneh are also here with us not forgetting Mohamed Sowa, Richie Olu Gordon, Conrad Roy and many others including your man, Manner from Heaven, Dominic Kabba Kargbo. It’s good to come.”

Hon. Frank Kposowa responded, “oh Gbondima Gbondo. Thanks so much. I am really happy for the information about my colleagues and as you already know that I am a very frank person, I have breaking news for all of you. I must state that I am delighted for my editor, Jon Zainu Foray. How does he look? But on a more serious note, the breaking news is that the former Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Mr. Abdulai Kakay has just joined us from upabove but please do not tell Jon Foray at all because I do not want him to go ‘coast’ to him. You know what I mean.”

Smiling, Gbondima said, “Hon. Frank Kposowa, it’s great news. I want us to allow him to rest for a while but will not tell Jon Foray. The only thing is that Jon’s brother, Pious Foray too is on his way to Stop Press including Sunny Marke to have launch with us. It’s good that you have come. Welcome.”

Hon. Frank Kposowa smiled and remarked, “Gbondima, please inform all that I will be at Stop Press in the next two hours. All my guests are entitled to eat and have six pints of any drink of their choice. I will pay the bill.”

“But wait Hon. “Gbondima went on, “are you going to see the former Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Mr. Abdulai Kakay first before joining us?”

Hon. Frank Kposowa responded, “yes of course, I will meet him first before joining you guys.”

Smiling, Gbondima Gbondo observed, “ok Hon. We are waiting for you in the next two hours and bye for now.”

“Okay” as Hon. Kposowa dropped the line.

Gbondima Gbondo turned to his colleagues and said, “guys, let me inform you that Hon. Frank Kposowa will join us in the next two hours” before he turned to Ahmed Bob Kanneh and continued, “Ahmed, you are welcome to Stop Press but can you please open my small bag by you and take one cell phone because I am certain you do not have one with you as you left it upabove.

The phones were brought here by Hon. Frank Kposowa. You can even call President Julius Maada Bio now, Hon. Okere Adams and Hon. Mohamed Basiru Daramy.” 

Osman Ben Kargbo smiled and observed, “Koo Ndakei Ahmed Bob Kanneh. Your man is now the President of Sierra Leone and I know you are a happy man but do you think he will transform the country as many are expecting him to do?”

Gbondima Gbondo replied, “in his maiden speech to the nation, Pa Kabbah said ‘Salone man get bad heart’ but if we all change our bad habits like greed and hatred and love one another we can advance rapidly as a nation.”

Gbondima Gbondo and Ahmed Bob Kanneh turned to Osman Ben Kargbo and asked, “how come Maada Bio is now the President?”

Osman Ben Kargbo replied, “Ndakei Ahmed Bob Kanneh, Dr. Ernest Surrur brought the information to us from upabove that Maada Bio whom many people thought would not win the election and go to America is now the President of Sierra Leone and has visited America.”

The arrival of Hon. Frank Kposowa at Stop Press changed the conservation between Osman Ben Kargbo and Ahmed Bob Kanneh. All cheered and welcomed Hon. Frank Kposowa as he arrived.

Hon. Frank Kposowa shook hands with all but as soon as he saw Ahmed Bob Kanneh he remarked, “Ndakei Ahmed Bob Kanneh, SLPP defeated APC hands down. Furthermore, there was no ‘bush shaking’ and up to this moment, APC is in disarray. 

You can now call guys like Hon. M.B. Daramy and others. It was not easy but we fought the fight for Maada Bio to win. However, according to Dr. Ernest Surrur, the problems Maada Bio inherited are numerous not to talk about the economy that was in tatters. The slogan now up above is ‘the gron dry.’ ”