Happy birthday to the late President General JS Momoh ( SL 27), the Force Commander of the Republic of Sierra Leone Military Forces ( RSLMF) from 1971 to 1985, who made a unique history on the continent by becoming an elected President of Sierra Leone whilst still serving as Force Commander of RSLMF.
He was nominated by the then First Vice President, Hon SI Koroma, at the August 1985 Bintumani APC National Delegates Conference held in Aberdeen Freetown to become the Leader and the Secretary General of the All Peoples Congress ( APC) Party, and the nomination was seconded by the Second Vice President, Hon FM Minah.
Late President Siaka Probyn Stevens was in absolute control of the convention, which was successfully conducted notwithstanding some empty threats from some members of parliament and government ministers – the likes of Dr Abdulai Osman Conteh, Dr Abass Chenor Bundu, late Dr Sheka Kanu, among others .. Dr Conteh remarks, “ it is inimical to civil liberties” in the House of Parliament, and President Stevens sacked him. President Stevens also sacked Dr Kanu within 48 hours …so everyone kept quiet
A national referendum was conducted, and General Momoh was the only candidate… it was a matter of yes or no for General Momoh’s Presidency. The result was 95% yes, 3% no and 2% void.
So General Joseph Saidu Momoh ( SL 27) became President of Sierra Leone after being sworn in by the Nation’s Chief Justice, Hon Justice SM Kutubu, on 1 October 1985. He inherited many problems from President Stevens’ led APC Government. Bank notes were not available, and acute fuel and rice shortages in the markets
He launched an economic emergency operation to control rampant corruption and state looting. Still, it was very difficult for him because he was working with people who were insincere and even undermined him. After all, they were not happy with his selection by President Stevens.
Dr Conteh and others believed that they were too good to be ruled by a military man.. but after Momoh’s election, Dr AO Conteh and others came to his Murray Town Military Headquarters to beg him.. the kind hearted Gentleman General accepted their apologies, and even appointed some of them into his cabinet.. one of the reasons for his failure because they were not sincere team members
He was very frank and courageous to a certain extent
Uncle Joe went over to the BBC to say he had failed the People of Sierra Leone.. and they were right to express their disappointment.. knowing him, he would have probably resigned but was held hostage by the Ekutay.
Corporal Foday Sankoh’s invasion of Sierra Leone worsened the situation
President Momoh decided on constitutional reforms by drafting the 1991 Constitution, which made provision for a Multi-Party Democracy that replaced the APC One Party rule … He was, however, removed from the political office in a bloodless military coup led by an army captain- 27-year-old Captain Valentine EM Strasser on 29 April 1992. And he was flown to Conakry, Guinea, in a Nigerian Military Helicopter after turning down an invitation from his officer cadet mate and friend- General Ibrahim B Babangida, to go and stay with him in Nigeria
Uncle Joe, as I used to call him, was my personal friend and commander when I was appointed officer cadet in 1978 …
When late President Stevens recalled us from the Ghana Military Academy ( GMA) after the June 4, 1979, political upheaval which brought Flight Lieutenant JJ Rawlings as the new military head of state, the older man concluded that we might have learnt some bad things as Flight Lieutenant Rawlings was at one time one of the cadet’s instructors at GMA.
For five days, the then Sierra Leone High Commissioner in Accra, Hon Amb PH Kamara or any of his staff couldn’t bother to check for us at the academy to know whether we were alive.
The Force Commander, General Momoh, despatched one of his staff officers, the General Staff Officer Grade 3, Captain Songay Turay, to go and check on us – 6 Officer Cadets- AGY Mansaray, RH Metzger, JA Kamara- Will, JAO Jah-Tucker, MJ Samura and myself- BS Conteh
Interestingly, Captain Turay spent two days in the Sierra Leone Mission in Accra without meeting us at the academy.. may be too afraid as a result of the killings . I deliberately pretended that I was sick, and I was matched to the GMA RSM, Warrant Officer Ben Dalla, a very confident and educated Sergeant Major with BA from Lagoon University…
He was a disciplinarian but sometimes friendly.. he ordered one of his other rank instructors to take me to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, and I was able to persuade the sergeant to pass through our Sierra Leone Mission in Accra, where I met Amb Kamara and the visiting Murray Town Military Headquarters staff officer- Captain Turay. I assured them that all of us were alive and well, and I only pretended I was sick to see them…
On his return, after Rawlings killed the 8 Generals, including three former Heads of State – General AA Afrifa, General IK Achenpong and General Fred Akufo, whom President Stevens had pleaded to be spared, Stevens immediately directed our withdrawal from the training…
On our arrival, some wanted us to be sent to the Sierra Leone Police or Customs Services or the Prison Services… but all of us were determined to continue with our cherished military career.
Uncle Joe told me that I should stop talking about what happened in Chana ….to anybody
But before us, the first female combatants have been trained at GMA- Memunatu Koroma nee Kanu, Margaret Jah Tucker, Anni Itan, Matilda Carew, Yvonne King, June During, Christina Robert, Francess Sowa ( late ), Ursola Cole ( late), Evelyn Williams ( late), Yvonne Campbell, among others…had been trained and graduated as officers
All of them are no longer in services . One was Yvonne King was or is the Deputy High Commissioner in Sierra Leone Mission in London, UK….
Uncle Joe, you are still always remembered as a friend and mentor. You were very nice to me. I enjoyed a lot of opportunities from you, for which I will ever remain grateful.
May Lord God / Allah kindly forgive all your mistakes on earth and allow your soul to continue to rest in perfect peace
BS Conteh ( SL 300)
Colonel retired but was not tired
A senior citizen, a patriot and a political analyst
