Moijueh Kaikai
By Crispina Taylor
Executive Director of the civil society Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) has described as positive President Koroma’s swift move to relieve two of his ministers over public misconduct caught on tape and circulated.
Valnora Edwin said he must go further to investigate former minister of social welfare and gender affairs Alhaji Moijueh Kaikai and his deputy Mustapha Bai Atila for their wrongdoing and other allegations made especially by the deputy minister.
“The behaviour of the two ministers is highly unprofessional. This should not stop only at sacking them since certain allegations heard on the clip are worth investigating,” Valnora Edwin said, adding that the matter should not be allowed to die a natural death.
Although the CGG head commended the president’s action, she also sounded concerns about the late response. She said there was a need for a clear mechanism that would prevent a repetition of the ugly incident.
There have been mixed reactions to the sacking contained in a state house communication released on Monday 7, 2016, quoting the president. The short statement only indicated that the two men had been relieved of their duties. It did not give any further details.
Other leading civil society campaigners and some ordinary citizens, while commending the President’s action, have said it’s short of proffering a lasting solution to a longstanding issue.
The disgraced ministers have become the dominant subjects of discussions since Thursday after an audio tape of their unprintable exchanges went viral on social media. In the audio, Atilla is heard raining insults at the minister, accusing him of sidelining him in the ministry.
Apparently two different versions of the audio have been released. In one of them, reportedly from the minister himself, Atilla is heard insulting his boss’ mother. But the blind former musician cum politician has denied this.
However, in the widely circulated version, Atilla, who does most of the talking, is heard describing the minister as a sexual predator who allegedly sexually harassed his female staff. Moijueh is also called a rapist and drug peddler by his former deputy.
But amidst the widespread public support for the dismissal of the men, some people think the President’s action is too little too late.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Kaikai, told Politico on the phone that he had no comments to make regarding his sudden dismissal but said: “The president is my boss and I have confidence in him. I am APC.” His deputy, Bai Atila, who was also fired, could not be reached for a comment.
This is not the first time government officials, especially cabinet ministers, have engaged in a public brawl.
The recent infamous showdown between Sports Minister, Paul Kamara, and former Defence Minister Alfred Palo Conteh who was at the time the head of the National Ebola Response Center, is still fresh in the minds of Sierra Leoneans. The two clashed over the eligibility of Conteh for the presidency of the national athletics association.
Youths Minister Alimamy Kamara has also been reported to have physically engaged the head of the National Youths Commission, Anthony Koroma, over who had control over funds meant for a youth project.
In the streets, ordinary Sierra Leoneans were also calling on the government to investigate the confrontation between Moijueh and Atilla. Most people who spoke to Politico said the President ought to have investigated the matter before taking the necessary action against the defaulters.
Joseph Koroma, a trader along Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, said it wasn’t correct for the deputy minister to “publicly abuse” the minister. He added that it was a matter that should have been resolved internally.
He said: “The law should have fallen on the one that is at fault.”
Cosmetics seller Ibironkeh Williams said it was wrong for the President to dismiss two people engaged in an argument. The President should have either forgiven both or warned the deputy minister, she said.
The office of deputy minister has become particularly controversial in Sierra Leone, as concerns have been raised about their relevance.
Some analysts have criticized the “unnecessary financial burden” keeping over 40 ministers and their deputies in office places on the tax payer.
But these appointments are seen as mere job creation for political supporters of the President.
In many ministries, ministers and their deputies are not in talking terms, mostly due to various differences and sometimes petty squabbles. This is often evident in exchanges fueled by the highly partisan local media.
The deputies often complain of neglect by their bosses. In some cases it has to do with financial issues.
According to sources, Atilla felt offended by the alleged refusal of Moijueh to approve his request to replace a worn-out tire from his official car.
Meanwhile, Ms Edwin, the rights campaigner said: “The governance architecture has to be clearly defined in terms of the role and relationship between a minister and a deputy minister within the framework of respect and teamwork.”
(C) Politico 09/03/16
