By Saio Marrah
Leader of Coalition for Change (C4C) party in parliament, Saa Emerson Lamina, has called for a sitting president to directly choose 50 percent of his appointees, while the rest should be left in the hands of the opposition parties, to ensure inclusive governance of the state.
The MP made this statement while debating the presidential address at the house of parliament.
He said Sierra Leone should introduce what the MPs learned from Rwanda during their visit to that country’s parliament. He said during their stay, they observed that “opposition leaders handled positions like Public Accounts Committee and speaker of the house. The President of that country is only entitled to appoint 50% of his cabinet, with the rest going to the opposition parties. Several good lessons were learned from Rwanda and we can replicate likewise if we want to,” he said.
He also recommended on behalf of his party for an equal share of the national cake across the country, inclusion into governance from all tribes and regions, and for an independent judiciary.
He therefore condemned what he described as an “a winner takes it all” system of governance, which he said was introduced by an American President, Andrew Jackson from 1828 to 1837. He said such a system was an impediment to democracy.
He voiced the need for the opposition parties here in Sierra Leone to collaborate with the government of the day so that they can together achieve development, and maintain peace and cohesion in the country.
Lamina later told Politico that the Rwandan system can lead to cohesive governance wherein everyone will have a” bite” and the people will protect and support the government because according to him, all the players will see themselves as part and parcel of the government.
He also noted that it has led the people to be nationalistic to the extent that they have been able to manage their country well despite Rwanda and Sierra Leone having experienced civil war.
He also observed that they do not have opposition but majority and minorities, a system he said Sierra Leone used to have as well.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (08/06/22)
