Sam Pee Yalley
At the time the issue of whether or not the Flagstaff House should serve as office and residence of the President after its completion raged, one reason put out in opposition to the proposal originated from Sam Pee Yalley, a leading National Democratic Congress (NDC) member.
The nonsense gained notoriety in the public space because it was so offensive and lacked any trait or finesse, the kind politicians should use to veneer their public utterances. Â Coming from a man who sees himself as a politician worthy of respect, we found it difficult to grade him especially since he did not fit into any of the decency brackets.
A man who does not see anything wrong with attacking the sensibilities of members of one of the components of the country’s population, does not deserve to be considered for public office and we mean it.
Sam Pee Yaley hardly admires anything Islam and we find it difficult fathoming why a politician of his pedigree does not still find anything wrong with such an unwholesome attitude towards Islam in this day and age when such remarks can easily be stored for future references.
Some Nima residents do remember when he said the Flagstaff House could not serve the purpose of a presidential residence and office because it was too close to Nima for comfort. If that did not suggest a contemptuous regard for Nima and its dwellers, we do not know what else does.
It is regrettable that residents of this sprawling suburb have been used by the NDC over the years as a ready source of votes for elections. Fortunately things are changing and the people are beginning to understand the realities of politics and what sincerity and the lack of it stand for with regards to the ilk of the Sam Pee Yarleys.
In his latest smelly remark full of hatred for Muslims, Sam Pee Yarley has attacked Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for hosting Muslims at Iftar at the Flagstaff House last week.
Such communal breaking of fast is standard practice in Islam. Indeed the US Embassy in Accra has hosted Muslims at Iftar over the years as a way of bonding with members of the faith.
The Turkish Development Cooperation (TUDEC) hosts an annual Iftar to which members of both the Islamic and Christian faiths are invited.
When they have nothing to talk about let them shut up so they do not offend the sensibilities of adherents of other faiths. Sam Pee Yarley has gotten away with this nonsense for some time now and the earlier he is told to shut up, the better.
Taking cover in the confines of a notorious radio station and spewing garbage shows the stuff he is made of. Such characters define the future of the NDC. Not allowing them to talk on the public space will do the party a lot of good.
Dr. Bawumia has been engaged in a countrywide Iftars as a means of getting close to the people – a mark of a good political leader. If Same Pee Yarley thinks that the gesture is elitist that is his cup of tea. He has won many more hearts for the move.
Sam Pee Yarley should avoid the insults he indirectly heaps on Muslims because he cannot be sure that he would continue to get away with such pedestrian remarks indefinitely.
Such cheap propaganda and unrestrained verbal garbage would take he and the NDC nowhere. May the religious harmony existing between members of the two great faiths wax stronger.
Ramadan kareem!