By Mildred Christiana Saccoh in Makeni
The Resident Minister North, Abu Abu Koroma, has been reinstated by President Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 11th June, about a month after his suspension.
Koroma was suspended indefinitely on the 10th of May, 2020, after a leaked video showed him threatening to “shoot to kill” anyone who attempted to cause mayhem in the region. The video came out just two days after the President’s controversial speech on the state of the country’s security.
It all happened in the wake of sporadic incidents of violence across the country.
“We will kill you if death is what you want (and). We will disable you so you will sit at home,” the politician was heard in the video saying.
The comment provoked outrage, thereby contributing to the heightening of political tension, as it was seen by many critics of the governing-SLPP as deliberately targeted at an opposition dominated region. Some campaigners called for his immediate sacking.
Koroma later issued an apology for his comment.
The politician failed to get back to Politico after we contacted him to comment on his reinstatement.
President Bio’s decision to reinstate Koroma has provoked mixed feelings in the region.
While some residents are willing to let his comments slide away following his apology, others appear unforgiving.
Makeni resident Paul Kamara said the president’s action amounted to betrayal of the people’s trust. He said they expected the president to go beyond permanently replacing Koroma and discipline him “to send a strong signal.”
“The reinstatement of Abu Abu came as a surprise and more so I’m of the view that it’s a betrayal of the conscience of the people because as a leader, the people reposed confidence in you. So to me this is uncalled for and it’s undone,” Kamara said.
“We have seen instances where Alpha Timbo during his tenure flouted the rules and legal proceedings were instituted against him. So we were expecting the same to be reciprocated on Abu Abu. To some extent, people will believe that it’s selective justice. Those in the good books of our leaders will be protected, whiles those that are not will be prosecuted when they go wrong,” he added.
Alie Mansaray is among those who are happy about the president’s move. He said Koroma had sacrificed so much for the SLPP in the north that he deserved the reprieve.
“I am aware of his mistakes, but I believe he is human and he is liable to mistakes,” he said.
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