It is obvious that the leadership of the Sierra Leone People’s Party in Parliament had smelled the rat over the issue of the Presidential proclamation on the State of Emergency on rape.
The leadership had always believed that the opposition All People’s Congress party lacks the wherewithal to dislodge the ruling party when it comes to voting on major bills and other legislations.
Even though the opposition party had won the fiercely debated Constitutional Instruments 64,65 and 67 the ruling party rejoiced largely because the opposition was not able to clock the 2/3 majority required by law to nullify the COI instruments.
The situation was also expected to be the same when the presidential proclamation on rape was brought before the House on Friday 22nd February, 2019.
After an exhaustive debate it was expected by law, pursuant to Sections 29 (3), that members should vote in order to ensure that the proclamation is either upheld or thrown out.
The leadership of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, after having faced overwhelming bashing from all the major opposition parties in Parliament, decided to take the shortcut by taking voices from the opposing sides as a way of approving the presidential proclamation.
It became clear that the ruling party MPs were going to receive a serious beating in the event that the motion was put to a vote, thereby creating an embarrassment for the presidency.
The issuance of a certificate to the President, twenty four hours after the controversial passing of the proclamation, was also a pointer to the fact that the SLPP leadership in Parliament was merely fighting to meet the expectations of the Presidency.