The number one measure of a successful political leadership is the implementation of the promises that put that the leader in the position.
That is why when a political leader is accused of failure, the evidence adduced by his accusers is typically the failure to fulfill promises.
It would therefore be baffling for a political leader to stand in the way of the fulfillment of his own promises.
That is exactly what Mr. Freddie Blay is being accused of in the wake of the UMB's continued detention of what is supposed to be the first 100 of his 275 promised buses.
The situation has raised questions as to whether the National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) meant the promise of delivering 275 buses to all constituency branches at the Congress that elected him in October 2018.
Mr. Freddie Blay according to my sources is alleged to be behind UMB's unethical "detention" of the buses imported into the country in fulfillment of his promise to the NPP.
It would be recalled that the NPP Chairman rode on the back of the promise of 275 buses to win the dicey 2018 head on collision with Stephen Ntim. It is believed, Mr. Ntim will have beaten Mr. Blay to the Chairmanship had the latter not promised the buses.
It is therefore baffling that he will indirectly indulge in back room dealings that will allegedly lead to UMB's decision to hold the 100 buses imported to be distributed to the first 100 constituencies in custom bonded warehouse.
It is also raising questions about whether the whole idea of the buses came from Freddie Blay in the first place and whether he is committed to fulfilling it.
Whispers tell me the idea was the timeous proposal of a devoted party member who was so sure it will turn the tide in favour of Mr. Blay.
UMB's Power Play
UMB in an "unethical" move is holding onto the buses imported into the country by a private company.
UMB has refused to release documents covering the importation to the company, Kelliot Royal Motors.
The move by UMB is uncharacteristic and unbecoming of a financial institution and a direct breach of the agreement with Kelliot, raising serious questions about whether the bank believes in the sanctity of contracts it signs with its customers.
Yours truly has sat and witnessed two separate demands for adjournments of a court case filed by Kelliot against UMB's continuous detention of the buses.
The adjournments were at the request of the lawyers of the bank who told the court their client wanted to settle the matter.
Sources tell me the attempts to settle the disagreements have all failed with the UMB refusing to release the documents to Kelliot.
Kelliot has been left fuming by the incident because it is increasing their obligations with duties and rents piling up by the day.
UMB has in court documents, denied holding onto the papers Kelliot needs to clear the buses, but admitted to ordering that the buses be held in customs bonded warehouse.
Under import arrangements, it is only the individual or entity with the proper documentation covering the goods that can give orders as to how the goods should be treated once they arrive at the ports.
It is therefore baffling how UMB, despite claiming to have released documents necessary to clear the buses to Kelliot, still managed to decide the fate of the buses.
UMB has in the court documents also claimed it was forced to order that the buses be held in customs bonded warehouses because Kelliot has proven incapable of clearing the buses, a claim that has been sternly denied by Kelliot.
Under the original arrangement with UMB, the bank is supposed to provide Kelliot with the $3.393million credit facility needed to import the 100 buses. Kelliot's responsibility is to import the buses, clear, keep, sell the buses and use the income to repay the UMB facility.
UMB is however now going against the whole arrangement by attempting to muscle out Kelliot and hand over the buses to a third party. Even though UMB has denied the allegation of attempting to muscle out Kelliot, the bank's detention of the buses betrays their real intent.
It is unclear why UMB is sacrificing its reputation and ethics by breaching an agreement and sacrificing the trust that is the bottom line of the financial sector.
Kelliot's response
Kelliot Royal Company Limited is still trying to deal with the shock of the entire development.
The company has been dismayed by the conduct of UMB considering it satisfied all conditions necessary for the granting of the credit facility.
Kelliot guaranteed the facility with $3million and expected that UMB fulfilled its part of the agreement; which is, to provide the credit facility.
Kelliot has categorically denied the claim that it has been unable to make the duty payments necessary to clear the goods because it lacked the financial capacity.
Lawyers for Kelliot in court documents, express shock at the claim considering they were able to raise $3million for the facility.
Kelliot is also surprised at the refusal of UMB to release the documents for the clearing of the vehicles.
Lawyers for UMB in open court confirmed that the buses are in the customs bonded warehouses.
Lawyers for Kelliot say their client describe the turn of events as offensive because their client also tax liabilities in relation to the importation of the buses.
As I write, Kelliot does not know the amount of rent the buses have accumulated in the customs bonded warehouse in addition to not knowing anything about the quantum of duties.
Freddy Blay factor
The buses were being imported to fulfil Freddie Blay's 275 buses promises to the NPP.
Deep throat sources however say Mr. Blay has sworn to make it impossible for Kelliot to clear the buses.
The question remains whether Mr. Blay is interested in fulfilling the promise, as he has indicated to allow the buses to rot at the bonded warehouse
New developments
In the meantime, the third party to whom UMB is attempting to offload the buses, is currently experiencing turmoil in the boardroom.
More soon.....
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