By Ragan M. Conteh
As the Sierra Lone People’s Party (SLPP) disgracefully sacked the ECOWAS Speaker of Parliaments as Leader of Government Business in the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, the sacked Honorable Sidi Mohamed Tunis has gracefully succumbed to his political sacking spree tsunami by a way of bowing down to the decision of his political party and called for calm.
In his Easter message, the sacked Leader of Government Business of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has, on the 12th April, 2020, written a letter registering his Easter solidarity and felicitations to all Members of Parliament (MPs) and also for the very first time spoke about his leadership status.
In a letter entitled, “Easter Message of Solidarity from the Leader of Government Business to all Members of Parliament,” Hon. Tunis disclosed that: “My dear colleague Members of Parliament, I wish to express with great pleasure my warmest greetings to you all for Easter.”
He also praised MPs for the unanimous approval given in Parliament on the Declaration of the State of Public Emergency on the 26th March, 2020 by his Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, which, he said, “has given His Excellency the required strength in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.”
The Leader of Government Business however expressed a great deal of appreciation to all MPs for taking the lead in their various constituencies under difficult circumstances to ensure that the pandemic comes to a speedy end.
“I feel deeply gratified by the actions you have taken in your various constituencies that translate the Emergency into action and to sensitize your constituents about the grave importance of adhering and respecting the dictates of the Emergency, more particularly in ensuring that COVID-19 does not devastate our country,” Hon. Tunis said.
He however urged all MPs for collective action in extinguishing the existential threats to lives, noting, “I stand in solidarity with all of you and wish to encourage you to continue in this drive, for this is a nobler path to follow and a genuine course that is worth the fight.”
Hon. Tunis acknowledged the wisdom and leadership of the House Speaker, Hon. Dr. Abass C. Bundu, stating that they are in a daily touch and should there be a need for him to share information with MPs, he will so do.
On his status as leader following his party’s announcement of his replacement to fill what they described as a vacuum left by his elevation as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Tunis said, “I wish to specifically note with gratitude to all my great SLPP colleague Members of Parliament who have expressed concerns over the letter addressed to the SLPP Leadership in Parliament about certain proposed changes to the SLPP Leadership in Parliament.”
He added that: “I have always been a great respecter of the decisions of the party hierarchy, especially when done in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Party’s Constitution. I will in this regard implore SLPP MPs, while we await the final formal announcement of any decision concerning our leadership in Parliament, to remain completely calm and focus on the overriding objectives of eliminating COVID-19 from the shores of our country. That is the task of the moment and I call on all of us to give our unreserved support and solidarity to His Excellency the President and his Government. ”
Hon. Tunis also called on the different party leaders to urge their members to put the country first and to kick out coronavirus, stressing, “This is not the time to score political points, but a time to unite behind His Excellency, the President, for the wellbeing of the people of this nation.”
He also appreciated the Leadership and Clerk of Parliament for the continued working relationship that he enjoys with them. He however called for a considerate observance of the Easter holiday.
Easter, Hon. Tunis said, has always been joyous for Christians. He nonetheless noted, “But this Easter has been encumbered by a different situation and we are required to celebrate it.”
“While we celebrate Easter in our different ways, in our different homes and constituencies, please let us encourage our constituents to remain law abiding, respectful and loving. I wish you all a blessed happy Easter and stay safe,” Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, said.