By Saio Marrah
Member of Parliament, Sahr Charles, of Coalition for Change Party (C4C) for constituency 028, Kono District, has on Thursday 11th March, 2021 denounced their leader in parliament, Saa Emerson Lamina, noting that he is no more recognized as their leader.
He made this statement in the well of parliament when Hon. Emerson Lamina was asked to make his contribution to the debate on the bill entitled Ciber Crime Act 2020 by the Deputy speaker of parliament Sengepoh Solomon Thomas. The bill will punish cybercriminals.
But the Deputy Speaker of Parliament now acting as the speaker, Solomon Sengepoh Thomas, said that the leadership of parliament still recognized Saa Emerson Lamina as the Leader of C4C in parliament and that when a leader of any party in parliament changes, it has to be announced by the speaker.
“As far as we know… We don’t want to be drawn in whatever is happening in the C4C. This is a house of parliament and as far as we know the leadership has not changed here, because if the leadership has to change then that has to be announced by the speakership. The speaker has to officially announce the change in leadership of C4C, but that has not happened so as far as we know you should not make any comment on that,” he cautioned.
In response, Emerson Saa Lamina quoted Standing Order 26 (SO-26) of parliament, which he said talks about discipline to instill in the house of parliament. He also quoted section 97 of the 1991 constitution, which he also said talks about the dignity of parliament to be adhered to by all including members of parliament.
Speaking to Politico, Member of Parliament, Sahr Charles, said he is the Deputy leader of parliament for the C4C and that Honourable Saa Francis Bhendu of constituency 027 in Kono District is the recognized leader of parliament.
He said the change from the leadership of Saa Emerson Lamina, came few months after the same leadership of the C4C that wrote to the leadership of parliament that brought about the leadership of Emerson Saa Lamina and others wrote again communicating the change in leadership in parliament.
“For reason best known to the speaker of parliament, he is yet to do the needful, do the announcement to see that the new leadership of our party in parliament are accorded the desired respect and privilege they need as our leaders in parliament,” he said.
He accused the leadership of parliament of protecting Sahr Emerson Lamina because he said they know things are not going to work in their favour with the new leadership.
He said the removal of Emerson Lamina as the leader of C4C in parliament is the party’s internal decision because he has not been working with the ideals or what the party stands for.
“The party has its reasons... if you could remember the infamous decision that led to the appointment and approval of the Chief Electoral Commission, the party’s the decision was out, on the contrary, honorable Emerson and few others went ahead and voted against the party’s decision,” he said
He added “That couple with a lot of issues if believe prompted the party to take a decision that since you don’t want to follow the dictate of the party, you don’t want to follow the party’s ideal, we don’t see you fit at this time to continue serving in that capacity as leaders of our party because whatever you do in the well of parliament will be misrepresenting our party.”
Hon. Lamina Dismissed claims by Hon. Charles, noting that the party should have held its convention to put them on a better footing against him.
The national executive are defunct, they have no legal footing to write such a letter. I remain the leader of C4C in Parliament,” he said.
Responding to the allegation for doing contrary to the ideals of the C4C party, he said, when they wrote their stand on the appointment of the NEC boss, they rather sent it on social media unlike the main opposition, who wrote through their party leadership in parliament, and present in the well of parliament.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 12/03/21
