Since State House is the highest and most sensitive office in the land, the public is calling for a thorough probe into the fire incident which has left the sacred building partially destroyed. The call for a probe is prompted by the suspicion that some fires are man-made while other incidents or outbreaks have bearing on the negligent use of electricity.
But, the question bordering on how many people will be persons of interest for the investigation is still filtering through the public.
This question seems to have been answered by Parliament after inviting the Energy Minister and his Deputy, Dr. Rahim Jalloh and Edmond Nonie respectively.
The Energy Ministry officials are expected to take parliamentarians through on the cause of the fire incident at State House and perhaps in other buildings and what can be done to prevent another break. Also on the list of the invitees is the Chairman on Energy Climate Change, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella who has also appeared before law makers to render his own side of the story.
But, one of the officials, Keketoma Sandi, the Press Secretary to the President is missing on the invitation.
According to latest reports, the fire incident erupted at the offices of the Press Secretary and the Chairman for Climate Change. The Press Secretary himself must explain in his ordinary capacity about what he saw and did since the fire outbreak emanated from his office. However,
if the invitation by Parliament stands, it would look like the invitees possess expertise about electricity works and fire incidents.
Almost invariably, the parliamentary probe would look like one that is already conditioned by news reports and public opinion regarding the ‘bad light’ phenomenon which had been one of the popular factors, according to public opinion, that is responsible for fire incidents across the country.
Most times little or no investigation is carried out as people dabble in conspiracy theories against the electricity supplier EDSA (Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority).
It is incontrovertible that the on-and-off supply of power causes fire incidents, but that also is not solely in the hands of EDSA officials since the agency has been struggling with old and out-dated equipment to supply electricity in Freetown and the provinces.
The challenges were also the same when the power supplier was named NPA (National Power Authority) before an unbundling policy in 2012 which led to the emergence of two energy entities-EGTC (Energy Generation and Transmission Company) and EDSA.
The former generates power while the latter it distributes to various households throughout the country.
The unbundling policy brought some hope to Sierra Leoneans who thought that the energy problem would be over without any little thought that it would linger for years.
The analysis goes a long way to explain why a protracted investigation is necessary to show exactly what the causes of fire incidents in the country are as victims have suffered for quite too long. Again, it is not enough for the legislative house but a neutral body comprising officials from technical agencies should carry out the investigation so that their findings and recommendations can immensely help the country. The matter should be taken out of politics for the sake of professionalism and its findings and recommendations can be accepted by all and sundry. Also, heads must roll whoever is found wanting if any negligence is discovered at the end of the investigation. It is a way of helping victims who have got enough of the incidents.
State House fire incident is just one of the many catastrophes that befall this country quite lately. One may take a look at the fire outbreak at 34-Military hospital at Wilberforce, a motor cycle shop in Waterloo, Kroo Bay, Susan’s Bay, Cline Town in Freetown and other communities particularly Port Loko in the provinces.
These fire incidents are just the noticeable ones as no one knows about those that go unreported. This sad situation calls for a through probe so that the people can know exactly what has gone wrong and provide the solution.