In a move that has been described as a first by sources at State House, our informers disclosed that president Julius Maada Bio recently had a meeting with members of his staff at State House. The meeting, which our sources say was called for by members of the president’s staff, was a heart to heart with the president and members of his staff on the way forward after the president leaves power. At the recently convened unplanned meeting our sources stated that the president said goodbye to his staff after thanking them for their faithful service to him.
“The meeting was called for by members of the president’s staff at State House. Many of them have been complaining that seven years after 2018 they are still not sure what futures they have if any in the party and government after 2028. In other words the members of the State House staff wanted to know about their statuses post president Bio’s administration. This was the basis of the meeting between the president and members of his staff at State House,” a ranking source at State House informed this medium.
According to our sources, the president intimated that he had a limited time as head of state and that he could leave power at any time, not just after the 2028 elections, giving credence to speculations that the president could take an early exit after handing power to a transition team to prepare State House for Dr Samura Kamara.
“The president told members of his staff who feel as if they have not benefitted much from their time in power to fend for themselves. And based on his response to them the president informed them that he has nothing else or more to do for them and that they have to fight for themselves. This response from the president wasn’t what the members of his staff had expected; it came as a shocking revelation to them that after State House they have no protection or guarantee of a job in the post Maada Bio regime. Of course the State House staffers are upset. Many of them are disappointed and cynical. They can’t believe that after the emotional high of working with the president at State House the way and manner in which they will be leaving State House is really disappointing. Sadly many of them say they didn’t achieve much under President Maada Bio because they were not members or a central part of the president’s cabal,” our sources at State House alleged.
President Bio, we are told, after apologising to the worried and concerned staff members at State House thanked them for their dedicated service to him and his agenda to transform the people and state. Although the president admitted that things didn’t work out as planned, he stated that he was grateful to his staff for being faithful to him and for not disclosing critical information to the media and others seeking information on his presidency with the intention of unseating him and the SLPP as head of state and government respectively.
“It was a rather surreal response from many of the president’s staff workers when they were in effect told that after president Bio they are on their own. This means that as of now they are operating at State House as if they are working on a sinking ship. This means that it is every man for him or herself. This can be interpreted in many ways. What do you expect me to do if you tell me that after you leave I am no longer protected or assured of a job? Do you see how tempting it will be for members of the president’s staff at State House to get involved in acts of corruption? What guarantees do they have of being kept on or even getting another position if the main opposition APC wins the 2028 elections?” our sources asked.
According to our sources at State House, the biggest worry members of the president’s staff has is that of possible litigation or prosecution for actions they took while working on behalf of the president.
“What we know is that the president is the only member of his regime that is immune from prosecution for decisions he made as head of state. This means that for example those who shot and killed protesting civilians and others at Pademba Road Prison, even the cocaine ambassador will all have to give an account of what they did. This thinking that after State House they should prepare for prosecution is of great concern not only to members of the staff at State House, but to everyone working for president Bio in this government,” our sources informed nightwatch.
At the end of the meeting, nightwatch was informed that the president encouraged members of his staff at State House to continue working for unity, effective teamwork, and commitment to the national agenda within the government, promising that while his time might be up, the SLPP still stands the chance of continuing for a third term, which promise our sources informed fell on deaf ears “as no one at State House is convinced that either the SLPP or President Julius Maada Bio will ever return as head of government and state.”
However, if anyone in this regime was thinking that after President Bio they still have the protection and guarantees they had while he was President should know that the he has nothing to do for them after he leaves power. This simply connotes the methodological phrase: “Every man for himself and God for us all,” which inherently signifies that as he leaves he will no longer have the power and the political fiat to provide for, cover and protect those who may have wronged or killed in his name, but that ONLY God in his mercy. Lonta!