Members and supporter of the opposition All Peoples Congress Party have stated that “after President Julius Maada Bio would have vacated State House, the country will absolutely observe national mourning for those that have lost their lives during the last five years”.
According to APC supporters and stalwarts the country as witnessed systemic killings of innocent Sierra Leoneans from the north-west of the country for which loved ones of those killed were not given the opportunity to not just bury their family members also to mourn them.
They opined that, when President Julius Maada Bio would have been served his indictment by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity, he will definitely seized to be President of Sierra Leone and eventually face justice.
They furthered that since the coming into power of President Bio, fundamental human rights of citizens in the north and the western areas have been trampled upon by the Bio military and police forces.
They stated that, key among the fundamental rights that the Bio administration has seized from the people of the north and western area is the freedom to assemble, freedom to protest, freedom to expressed themselves freely, right to life among many others.
According to them they believed that when ones President Julius Maada Bio is kicked out of power, their journey to freedom begins and they will be glad to serve as witness in any court of law to prosecute those who wrecked-havoc on the lives of their love ones.
The APC supporters said they are pleased with the moves made by the ICC to prosecute those who committed heinous crimes against innocent and peaceful citizens who protested for their wellbeing.
They pointed out that ICC involvement into looking at crimes committed against citizens is a step in a right direction as according to them they have lost trust in the judicial system of the country because since 2018-2023 massacres of citizens there has not been any investigations and prosecution of individuals who perpetrated those crimes.
According to them instead of President Bio instituted a tribunal for those alleged to have committed those crimes they calls citizens as tourists just after the august 10 peaceful protest.
They highlighted notable killings from Tonko Limba, Tombo, Lunsar, Mile 91, Lumley, Pademba Road Prison, Makeni, August 10 and the recent September 11 killings.
According to some APC supporters and members, President Bio apart from allegedly have hands in the killings of innocent citizens, his administration also stands accused of killing democracy by capturing state institutions that should have protect democracy in the country.
The supporters furthered that notable pointers for the killing of democracy by the Bio administration could be traced back to the violent removal of 10 Members of Parliament from the opposition APC and replaced them with their SLPP runners up without going through the proper procedure of removing MPs.
Party supporter expressed displeasure over the unlawful detention of their colleagues who have been in jails since 2018 to 2023 without trials.
They mentioned the sackings of constitutionally mandated government officials, including the Sierra Leone Auditor General, the ACC Commissioner, and the Bank Governor, among others.
Citizens said because Maada Bio kicked against the principles of democracy in the 21st century, he has faced strong resistance from Dr. Samura Kamara, political parties, majority of citizens, other nations, including both local and international institutions.
However, the entire democratic betrayal started way back in 2018 after taking the oath of Office as President of Sierra Leone. Bio used Executive Orders, Stripping of Opposition MPs, Sackings, Enacting bad laws, Grabbing of Lands, Killings, Mid-term census, and political imprisonment all form part of his calculated plans to disfigure in the other Country.
Many say after looting the state, he hunted the 2023 multi-tier elections by illegally overall the entire makeup of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, without involving the relevant electoral stakeholders.
According to the APC, President Bio and the SLPP single-handedly and wrongfully appointed Mohamed Konneh, and other Commissioners without thorough consultations as stipulated by the Elections Act.
On that note, the ECSL Commissioner unleashed the grand plan to steal the elections, right from the registration process, voter ID Cards, Polling Day, and the announcement of the 24th of June 2023 general elections.
Bio utilizes the security architecture of the state and all independent state institutions. They are the drivers and oxygen to democracy all were amputated.
The electoral procedure became faulty right from tabulation, certification, and announcement never met international best practices.
Therefore, the entire process was not credible, free, fair, and transparent. The method goes in variance with democratic tenets.
The world is now a global village; citizens have resolved to pursue Maada Bio for the degrading treatment of our national constitution and other internal laws.
The APC supporters and members say amidst all this egregious crimes Bio and his cohorts deserved to face justice so that this could serve as a deterrent to others who might nurse such vendetta to forthwith refrain to such misuse of office.