“So far, I have not seen any abnormality,” Babadi’s honest opinion on the SLFA Electoral process

Freetown | 8th February 2021 | Vertex Media

The Chairman of Bo Rangers Football Club Babadi Kamara has said that there is no abnormality in the ongoing electoral process of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA). In his brief insights into the process, which he titles as ‘PARLIAMENT POKING INTO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS OF SLFA SHOULD BE DONE CAUTIOUSLY,’ the Bo Rangers Chairman stated that due process was followed by the FA in the nomination process, for its February 26th and 27th Elective Congress in Makeni City. He said that it was the fault of those who did not follow the due process, not the FA.

In the quest by some people to see the back of the President of SLFA Madam Isha Johansen from the leadership of the FA, Babadi asked how should it be done.

“Almost everyone is tired about the infighting in the Sierra Leone football and the general call is that the president Isha Johansen should go. Yes we all want her to go but which model do we use to get her out?”

“Do we circumvent the rules and electoral process to fit an individual or do we play by the rules of the game? The above questions necessitate from the cry that Mohamed Kallon the finest Sierra Leonean footballer our country has seen has been disadvantaged.”

Following Mohamed Kallon’s accusations on the FA, of being illegally eliminated in the nomination process, there have been series of unjustifiable allegations that the FA deliberately kicked him out of the process, Mr. Babadi asked salient questions to determine whether the allegations are in place.

“But let ask ourselves and search our consciences well by answering these further questions?

“How many people aspired for the SLFA presidency

“How many went through nominations successfully?

“Who is the biggest rival to Isha in this race?”

“As best I as I know, Isha, Rodney Micheal, Saffa, Kofi, Thomas Brima and Kallon all were intending aspirants for the FA presidency. This means there were six people who want to lead the beautiful game in our country.”

“Among the six persons that want to aspire, five went through nomination successfully which is 83.33% success rate.For every electoral process I am very sure this percentage is an excellent passing rate.”

Mr. Babadi Kamara went further relate this process to what is obtained in national politics, which is about due process. Which means, you start losing or winning the election from your first steps.

“Let us also put this into context, in 2002, Charles Margai was disqualified to contest against late President Kabbah for the SLPP flag bearer on the grounds that he was not a paid up member of the party. This means, if you want to contest an election, both the nominee and nominator should be qualified for the position contested for. In the case of SLFA, every aspirant was supposed to be nominated by one person and seconded by another person. Isha, Rodney, Kofi, Saffa all went through this process successfully. Why would the only legend in the ring failed to do his homework,” he asked.

“This question bears the answer that playing the game is not the same as governing the game.”

Again,

“A political parliamentary candidate will not be nominated by a paid up member of that party and seconded by a foreign National. This is clearly the case in the legend’s saga.”

Mr. Kamara was also honest to state that the General Secretary of SLFA Chris Kamara has done all he could to keep all members updated on the electoral process. Apart from sending out official correspondences to members, he also went ahead to create a WhatsApp group where he shared the guidelines and deadline for the nomination.

“Before God and man too, we have to be fair with the GS of SLFA, he took his time and created a WhatsApp group purposely for the management of the electoral process, he posted all the guidelines over and again and the deadline for the process was communicated many times. Why blame anyone for this?”

“If you want to lead us you have to be very serious and sincere with yourself.”

“This process so far I have not seen any abnormality.”

~ Babadi Kamara, Executive Chairman of Bo Rangers Football Club

In a nutshell, the Football enthusiast is advising the Sierra Leone Parliament to be cautious in ‘poking into the Electoral process of the SLFA’. It can be recalled that on Friday 5th February 2021, the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports engaged members of the FA, Electoral bodies, the ministry of sports, other individuals, etc to give updates on the process. After all deliberations, the Committee asked the Electoral Committee to ‘stay action’ on the process until further notice, which many believe is a political interference, and can attract ban from FIFA.