By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Reacting to President Julius Maada Bio’s Speech at the Sixth Opening of Parliament, Mathew Nyuma and Abdul Kargbo- Majority and Minority leaders, respectively have both urged citizens to refrain from issues that undermine national security.
At the weekly government press briefing Nyuma said the first two paragraphs of Bio’s speech mentioned national unity through collaboration, and the MP condemned faceless protests, saying that people use the cyber space to call for nationwide protests without following due processes.
“In Sierra Leone, people call for faceless demonstrations. Is that democracy? Demonstration is about hearing out grievances but the people should come forward to state their reasons for demonstrating,” he added.
As parliamentarians, Nyuma said their focus is how they represent the nation, calling on his fellow politicians to refrain from what he called bad politics.
He recalled how their government had repealed Part Five of the Criminal Libel Law in a bid to allow the media to operate freely; adding that the cyber law which their government also enacted is to ensure freedom of speech but that it should be used “responsibly.”
On his part, Abdul Kargbo noted that unity and peace were the focus of the President’s speech.
Kargbo however said people have the right to protest by using the right procedures, saying that peace is with the people but that the government has the responsibility to dialogue with the opposition party.
Most of the problems he said can be solved through dialogue, claiming law enforcement authorities go after opposition politicians which according to him causes discord in the political landscape.
In her reaction to Bio’s speech, Educationist, Dr. Fatu Taqi described the atmosphere as calm in Parliament, saying there was no disruption. She also highlighted that reconciliation and peace were key in the president’s address.
Taqi urged MPs to educate their people about the laws made in parliament, calling on citizens to unite for nation- building, and to work towards peace and national cohesion after elections are over.
She explained how the government had the ‘’will’’ over the past six years to legislate laws in Parliament that she believes support women and girls rights in Sierra Leone.
President Julius Maada Bio in his State Opening of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic on 6th August, 2024, urged citizens to transcend partisan politics in bid to unify their government’s efforts for what he called prosperity; equity and stability.
“It is incumbent upon us all to rise above the din of political discord and to focus on the greater good,” Bio said. Parliament is to debate Bio’s speech in the coming days ahead.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (07/08/24)
