When the going becomes tough, only the tough will keep on going. So be it for President Julius Maada Bio who is losing the fight to take APC (All People’s Congress) parliamentarians to the legislative house. In spite of huge amount of money Bio was said to have spent, he has been ignored by opposition politicians.
The APC law makers know that the government of President Julius Maada Bio is illegitimate and no government outside Sierra Leone works with it. No congratulatory message has been conveyed to Bio by the world powers let alone money to run his government. But, out of lust for the largesse of power, some parliamentarians wanted to take their seats in parliament after a thorough brainwashing by SLPP propagandists.
After a long boycott, information reaching this press has shown that the APC law-makers wanted to give up saying they have been out of governance for too long.
They see it better to take part in Bio’s governance system than to continue staying at home indefinitely. They express worries about how the stand off will pass off. Some senior and influential members of the party, according to sources, will be used to achieve the mission.
Bio,over the years, is known for using the cache but now he would use the cash to ensure that APC’s elected officials take their seats in parliament. Bio is currently deeply embroiled in recognition obsession, and will do everything to ensure that his government runs smoothly.
But, many in the APC says, Bio will not succeed this time as his tactics remains well known as once beaten, twice shy. APC has suffered too much in the hands of SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) through political sacrifices that do more harm than good to them.
A senior politician who spoke on condition of anonymity explains why APC must reject Bio’s request. He says Bio’s call for the law makers to go to parliament is never in APC’s interest. The call is means for his protection and that of SLPP through which he came to power.
Without any fear of contradiction, it can be safely argued that Bio’s government will be legitimised if parliamentarians take part in his governance. Once his government is considered legal, Bio will explore new ways of forging new relationship with the international community to get global recognition.
He would stand on the platform that peace has returned home and life has gone back to normal. Opposition officials have accepted his party and that the country must move on. It could be an herculean for the President but it is achievable, and once the objective is achieved, Bio will start to lord it over the opposition again than never before.
If any amount of money is given to them, Bio and his men will machinate plans to take it back by fabricating allegations of felonious nature. Bio successfully used the case tactics against past government officials for a smooth second term which has today met the biggest obstacle.
Sierra Leoneans saw the arrest and detention of former Defence Minister, Alfred Paolo Conteh, Minister of Social Welfare, Sylvia Blyden, Minister of political Affairs, Karmoh Kabba Minister of Works, Kemo Sesay and the list goes on.
Of course, some ministers have passed away owing to the shock that comes from the litigation scheme. Former Minister of Education, Minkailu Bah and Momoh Conteh, Chairman, National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA) and others have passed away in what many called the cruel hands of President Bio.
The late men were not permitted to travel out of Sierra Leone owing to allegations of corruption. They are given no access for medical service abroad when the need arose, a situation that resulted into their deaths.
Even APC’s presidential candidate, Dr Samura Kamara is still being threatened with litigation as he still battles it out in the high court on corruption charges as well as appeals court matters that emanated from the defunct commissions of inquiry. Sierra Leoneans also witnessed how APC’s number of parliamentarians was reduced and a Speaker of parliament imposed through the use of brute force and the court system.
In an attempt to get the Speaker of parliament on their side, SLPP carried out brutal attacks on APC parliamentarians to keep them intimidated. APC law makers were beaten and thrown out of parliament as a form of parliament with no one held to account.
Operations Support Division, the armed wing of the Sierra Leone Police came under the command of Clerk of Parliament, Umar Paran Tarawallie who issued order of the assault of the APC parliamentarians. Once assaulted and humiliated, Bio had an easy ride to have a speaker of his own choice, Dr Abass Bundu.
As if that was not enough, the worst came for the APC, in May 2019, when 10 out of their 69 parliamentarians were illegally removed from the legislative house by Sierra Leone’s high court. Since they are on the seat of power, SLPP illegally and forcibly swore in their parliamentarians who came second in the 2018 election.
It was a decision that hit APC hard as the Public Elections Act, 2022 states that where a petition holds, there must be a re-run election. To keep APC in perpetual fear, a number of armed police officers armed were despatched to the APC office where they pelted bullets at armless and defenceless politicians.
No fatal injury was reported, but key executive officials were trapped in the building inhaling the smoke of the teargas canister. Most narrowly escaped injury and death and the bad memories of such horror, hold APC politicians back. If APC parliamentarians did not go to Parliament following the announcement of the elections, why now?