Following the Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s recent expression of strong reservations about the proposed agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and Aminata and Sons Limited, citing significant financial implications for the state during an interview with Truth Media, the Leonoil Company (SL) Limited and National Petroleum (NP) have come under serious attacks with some quarters of the print media publishing vitriolic comments on the two indigenous oil marketing companies.
Amongst other issues, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, who is a stalwart in the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), did not only express strong reservations about the proposed agreement and its financial implications to the state, the patriot also questioned the rationale behind giving concessions for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of storage tanks when storage capacity is not currently a challenge to Sierra Leone.
Given the aforesaid arguments advanced by the Speaker of Parliament, one would suggest that every well-meaning Sierra Leonean would appreciate his stance on national issues, especially those that are not beneficial to the state and the people.
Despite the Deputy Speaker of Parliament being a high-profile official in government, he had the courage and the spark of patriotism in him to challenge the decision of the Cabinet to go into such agreement that has no benefits to the state.
While patriotic Sierra Leoneans are appreciative for the Deputy Speaker’s stance on the agreement between the government and the oil marketing company, a group of print media journalists has taken to publishing vitriolic comments on Leonco and NP in order to cause other people to have a bad opinion of the two reputable indigenous oil marketing companies whose reputation and integrity have been above blemishes over the decades.
They have, over the years, contributed greatly to the development of our country’s oil industry before it became attractive to foreign investment.
By and large, Leonco and NP are very reputable in carrying out their daily operations with due diligence. They have never been found wanting for any wrongdoing regarding their operations at both national and international levels.
Besides, the two oil marketing companies are not the Deputy Speaker’s keepers for anyone to make baseless assumptions with no verifiable evidence. Instead, what they believe is healthy competition in the oil sector with a level plain field for all competitors.
Consequently, no one will succeed in tarnishing the reputations of Leonco and NP by publishing about them in an abusively disparaging manner and expect the public to believe hook, line, and sinker. Both oil marketing companies have built illustrious reputations; honoured and trustworthy indigenous oil marketing companies deserving of esteem and respect.
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