I will never betray my country Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the avalanche of messages you have been sending in appreciation of my work in disseminating pieces of information on the current Ebola Epidemic Disease that has taken our beautiful country hostage and that continues to kill our people who have been reduced to mere data published on daily basis. I have been making great sacrifices to keep you my countrymen and women at home and in the Diaspora informed of the unfolding tragedy in our beloved country which, I believe, is enough for people show me some love and appreciation and forgive me for any errors in my reports. I actually want to concentrate on my work like all other Sierra Leoneans working abroad. I have discussed my decision to go underground in various Sierra Leonean forums and though everybody is requesting me to stay, no one has shown any interest to sacrifice for the good of our motherland by doing what I was doing. Where is patriotism? In effect, my experience with my compatriots has been one of bad heart, tribalism, lack of appreciation and provocation. My writing skills were discovered and appreciated by other foreigners working for the United Nation in Sierra Leone. I had already narrated by sacrifices that almost claimed my life during the interregnum and the ECOMOG military intervention that reversed the nationally and internationally much hated and discredited AFRC/RUF military junta led by Maj. Johnny Paul Koroma. At the Up-Gun round about, I became a fully fledged foot soldier distributing bullet to ECOMOG soldiers amidst flying missiles. I really wonder how many of those calling for my crucifixion can put their lives in harm’s way for the love of our country. During the independence celebrations in April 1998, I was not even recognized. The SLPP Government recognized Christo Johnson as the most patriotic journalist because he participated in propaganda TV programmes in which he lavished praised on the Government. My disappointment was further strengthened when I lobbied to Dr. Julius Spencer for the post of Press Attaché in the Sierra Leone High Commission in London. Spencer told me in his Youyi Building Office that such posts were meant only for civil servants though he himself was appointed minister without having worked in the civil service before. Just after leaving Spencer’s office, the Trade Minister, Allie Bangura invited me to his George Street Office. Bangura requested all the people in his office as he said he wanted to discuss something very personal and confidential with me. He looked furious but I could not guess what his mood was all about. “Atomic, what did you go to do in Spencer’s office?”, Bangura enquired. “Don’t ask him for anything. He laughs at you”. Bangura told me that Spencer was greatly surprised at my ambition to work in such a place like the Sierra Leone High Commission in London. “Hey, Allie, you man Idrissa Conteh nor moh beh wan be diplomat”, Bangura quoted Spencer as saying. A month later, I was requested by Ms Marie Louise, Senior Protection Officer at the UNHCR to help her write some various reports. The most important among them was the stories of three Vietnamese stowaways who thought their ship was going to the US but were brought to Freetown. I opened a separate report on each person starting with their bio-data and physical descriptions before delving into the circumstances that brought them to Freetown without forgetting their expectations from the UNHCR. I worked with Ms Marie Louis for only two weeks writing numerous protection related reports. The Ghanaian born UNHCR Representative, Dr. Kingsley Amaning was then on leave in London. Ms Marie Louis had promised to recommend me for a temporary appointment upon the Dr. Amaning’s return from leave. I once more got another shock and disappointment from my own compatriots. No sooner the Representative had arrived than his mind was poisoned about my presence in the UNHCR Office. Ms Joyce Fortune, Senior Finance Assistant and Ms Patricia Harding, Programme Assistant reported Ms Marie Louis to the Rep of how she had brought someone in the office without a contract or insurance. The Representative was furious and requested Ms. Marie Louis to ask me to vacate the office immediately. I was seriously embarrassed. The Cameroon born lawyer asked me why there was so much hatred among us Sierra Leoneans. I told her we were confronted with tribalism and lack of love for one another. I was paid Le 700,000 for the two week job. I returned to the Concord Times newspaper where Kinsley Lington received me again with open hands. I am so grateful to this Nigerian-Sierra Leonean brother. A month later, the Representative went through all the reports that I had written and asked Ms. Marie Louis about who wrote the reports. “The boy you drive away”, she replied. Joy Fortune had even banned me from entering the building. The Senior Security Officer from the Mount Everest Security Company, Thomas Ngaojah informed me about the firm instructions he had been given by Ms Fortune. I never dreamed of returning to the UNHCR. The Rep’s driver Ibrahim Kamara went to look for me at the Concord Times newspaper but I was not there! He came to look for me and found me in my partially broken house in Wellington where I lived in depressed conditions with my Bonthe Lady. Pa Bra, as he was fondly called, told me in Temne that the Rep wanted to see me. I told him if the issue was in connection with the two-week job, I had already received the cheque. He insisted that he did not think it was for the money but that the Rep really wanted to see me. I did not know how I would have access to the Office since Ms Joy Fortune had barred me from entering there. Fortunately for me, no sooner we arrived than the Rep came down steers to go out for a meeting. “Are you Idrissa Conteh”, Dr. Amaning enquired. I answered in the affirmative and he asked me to wait for me in the office. Thomas gave me a seat in his security post. The meeting took longer than expected, so the Rep sent his driver to ask me to continue waiting. Behold! The Representative was back! He held me by my hand and as we walked upstairs to his office. “Where did you study?” was the only question he asked me. I told him I was a graduate from Fourah Bay College and that I had also studied at the University if Dakar in Senegal in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of BA with Hons in French Literature. “I have read all the reports you wrote and I am really impressed by your narrative skills”, he observed. “Bring your CV and all your papers. I will give you a month-long contract as my Executive Assistant”, said Dr. Amaning. My first assignment was to write an article that traces the genesis of the civil war, its causes, magnitude, obstacles to the peace process and what the SLPP-led Government needed to do with the support of the international community to end the deadlock in order to restore peace and security to the country. I wrote a three-page article which the Rep read over and made some minor changes before sending it to UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva. The following morning, the Representative came to my office abruptly. I was very scared. I stood up and he realized that I was not at ease. He requested me to sit but I declined since to me, it was not proper for my boss to be standing while I was sitting. Dr. Amaning sat dowm on the visitor’s chair in front of my table. “The Report you wrote yesterday has been very well received at the UN Hq in New York and Geneva. So, instead of starting you with a month’s contract, I am starting you with three months’ contract”, said the Representative. I have been working for the United Nations at the international level for the past ten years and with a total of 15 years experience. In 2011, I won a worldwide short story context organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The story can be found on the worldwide web by googling my name. It was published by the Sierra Leone daily Mail online then edited by my good friend Foday Morris. I am requesting everybody not to attack Foday Morris. He likes provoking people and he just wants to pull my legs over the ambassador Bockarie Stevens issue with the students in Venezuela. Despite all the spiteful attitude of my people towards me, I will never give up my country. If I am called today to return home to work for my country, I will return today. I believe that the best place to develop is my country. As for me, there is my honor a person would get than to be recognized and requested to return home to work for your country. I am a pensionable staff with a stable contract but I am still willing to forego all of that for the development of the land of my birth. Out of the respect I have for all of you and for the love of our country, I will resume reporting but at a minimal level as I have to prepare myself for upcoming tests. I love my country and will never betray it. Me, “Idrissa Conteh nor mo beh” is an international employee of the United Nations and the second in hierarchy here in my office. A senior UN Official that visited me in a remote office I was heading on the border with the CAR decided to transfer me to my present location saying my capacity and experience were more not proportionate to the small office I was managing. The bad heart Salone man go say, “hey, oh de dunia, Idrissa Conteh nor moh beh”! I have been encouraged by the love and confidence you have reposed in me. I will come out soon. Thanks once more and God bless you all. Message from the humble Idrissa Conte nor moh beh!
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:19:37 +0000