By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Assessing President Julius Maada Bio’s administration over the past six years with regards to democracy, human rights and justice, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Abdul Kargbo has said all is not right, saying where “there is peace there is no need to talk about tripartite, dialogue” among others.
Kargbo was reacting to Bio’s speech just after the State Opening of Parliament, during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing on 6th August, 2024, at the nearby parliament Admin Building in Parliament.
“So, the mere fact that we summoned ECOWAS, Commonwealth and African Union, all of them came to preside over Sierra Leone about our problems, means that there are issues which we cannot handle and manage to the extent that we need other nations to help us,” Kargbo said.
He stated that as an opposition they believe that democracy is when elections, procedures and processes go on “well,” adding one thing that makes governance not to be “well structured” is when there are issues in elections.
For democracy to thrive, he urged politicians not to meddle in elections, saying people’s choice must be respected.
In his statement at the press conference, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mathew Nyuma said the tripartite committee was to review electoral laws, adding that they have implemented “most” of the recommendations that came up during the peace dialogue with the opposition party at Bintumani.
He urged political parties to seek redress in court whenever they question election results not through violence.
Presidential Spokesman, Alpha Khan said the State Opening of Parliament was the “very’ first time that both the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) members of parliament had a conducive atmosphere, saying the international community applauded the interaction between the two major political parties.
Khan noted that the message delivered by Bio was strong in which the president called on all Sierra Leoneans to unite no matter the challenges.
In her own reaction to Bio’s address, Educationist and Civil Society Activists, 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 speech.
Taqi urged MPs to educate their people about the laws made in parliament, and urged that citizens unite for nation- building, emphasizing the need to work towards peace and national cohesion after elections are over.
She explained how government has had the “will’’ over the past six years to legislate laws in Parliament that she believed support women and girls’ rights in Sierra Leone.
President Bio in his address in parliament urged citizens to transcend partisan politics in a bid to unify the government’s efforts toward achieving prosperity, equity and stability.
“It is incumbent upon us all to rise above the den of political discord and to focus on the greater good”, Bio said.
Parliament is to debate Bio’s speech in the coming days.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (12/08/24)
