Linguistic-Gymnastics: Dr. Patrick Muana’s Attempt At Putting Lipstick On A Pig Using the Words Of Hon. I.B. Kargbo
23rd January 2012 · 0 Comments
Photo: Patrick Kagbeni Muana, PhD Linguistics
Dr. Patrick Muana’s article titled, “Kothor IB Kargbo Trusts Maada Bio” published in the opposition party mouthpiece, New People Online is an exceptional case of the proverbial drowning man clutching at a straw and a desperate fruitless endeavor putting lipstick on a pig. We all know that a pig will always remain a pig, no matter the amount of lipstick that is placed on it. Dr. Muana, a man who holds a Ph. D in linguistics attempts to perform *linguistic-gymnastics* with words allegedly spoken by Hon. I.B Kargbo regarding Julius Maada Bio in 1996. In attempts to re-invent a man with one of the worst public records in Sierra Leone, Dr. Muana misuses his tenses and intentionally misquotes Hon. I.B. Kargbo.
Dr. Muana wrote:
“During the heady unpredictability of the bloodless overthrow of Captain Valentine Strasser, there was one consistent voice of reason who stated in no uncertain terms the following indelible words:
“Julius Maada Bio goes about his business more like a cultured man than (like) a harsh soldier. I trust him.”
This was emblazoned across the front page of widely read “New Citizen Newspaper” on that cold January harmattan morning in 1996. The newspaper was edited by one of Sierra Leone’s best journalists – an award-winning newspaper editor, Ibrahim Ben Kargbo popularly known as “Kothor IB” who is the current Minister of Information in the All People’s Congress (APC) government.
Here is a man who had built his reputation on his tell-it-as-it-is editorials in the “Tolongbo” columns of which I was a dedicated reader. For every reason, Kothor IB was a consistent judge of the character of the then young military officer who had assumed the mantle of state in order to steer the country to elections and a return to democratic governance – HE TRUSTED THE YOUNG BRIGADIER JULIUS MAADA BIO and he firmly believed and trusted in his unnatural determination and drive to steer the country to democratic elections as promised.”
While it is obvious Dr. Muana is currying a favor from Hon. I.B. Kargbo, that could have major repercussions on the future of Sierra Leone, I would agree with him that Hon. I.B Kargbo is a man of impeccable character who does not mince his words or fall-short in telling the truth. In fact, his patterned behavior, both as a leading Sierra Leone journalist and now as a government minister has been consistent with honesty, integrity and unwavering patriotic spirit.
With a PhD in linguistics the learned Dr. Muana seems to have confused his tenses in his article. The word “trust” in his title and “trusted” in the body of his article simply do not match. His captivating title reads, “Kothor IB Kargbo Trusts Maada Bio” - in the present continuous tense. In the body of his article, the learned professor then used the past tense when he wrote: “HE TRUSTED THE YOUNG BRIGADIER JULIUS MAADA BIO and he firmly believed and trusted in his unnatural determination and drive to steer the country to democratic elections as promised.” Does trust last forever or can trust be breached and minds are changed?
January 1996 to January 2012 is a whopping 16 years. To say that Hon. I.B. Kargbo “trusts” Julius Maada Bio could be erroneously interpreted as if the Hon. Minister trusts him now. 16 years is a long time for anyone to know someone very well. Based on what we know now about Maada Bio, as reported by Former President Kabbah, Hon. Solomon Berewa, Valentine Strasser, the TRC Report, Amnesty International and other sources isn’t it very possible that the trust Hon. I.B. Kargbo may have had for Mr. Bio has vanished into thin air? In the body of his article, Dr. Muana complicated his title when he uses the past tense of “trust”, he said Hon. I.B. Kargbo “trusted the young brigadier and firmly believed.” Perhaps the learned professor was simply performing *linguistic gymnastics*
Hon. I.B Kargbo did not say he trusted Bio. He said he was” prepared to trust Bio because the new head of state was one man in the NPRC who had always kept his word.” What we know now is that Maada Bio is not a man who keeps his word so he should not be trusted by the people of Sierra Leone. President Kabbah said that after Bio gave his word that he was going to hold elections on the same date Strasser had set before he was overthrown, he (Bio) later changed his mind and began dragging his feet. Bio attempted to stall the process by arguing that there should be peace with RUF before the elections. His deceitful attempts to hold on to power were disrupted when the citizens of Sierra Leone and the international community refused to entertain his peace before elections gimmick. President Kabbah said Maada Bio handed power “reluctantly” not short of using soldiers to intimidate and perpetuate violence against the citizens of Sierra Leone. Notably, Paul Kamara was shot.
It would have been wise if Dr Muana had consulted with Hon. I.B. Kargbo to find out what he thinks about Maada Bio now before attempts to misuse his 16-year-old words. Why should Hon, I.B. Kargbo now think of Maada Bio as he thought of him in 1996, after 16 years of revelations and damaging criminal information about the said Mr. Bio? To answer this question, I will revisit the words of former president Tejan Kabbah and then Sierra Leone’s former Attorney General Solomon Berewa in Part 2 of this series, titled “Hon. I.B. Kargbo what do you think about Julius Maada Bio now?” Depending on his busy schedule, Part 3, will be an interview with the Minister of Information, Hon. I.B. Kargbo.
As our readers already know, the monkey is still working so the baboon must wait and stop putting lipstick on a pig that will always remain a pig.
See New People Article “Korthor I.B Kargbo Trust Maada Bio” Here:
Kothor IB Kargbo Trusts Maada Bio
See Orinignal IPS Article Here:
New Regime Sets out to Soothe Fears By Lansana Gberie
© 2012, Foday Morris Ceesay. All rights reserved. Discuss this article on the Salone Forum Salone Forum
