By Musa Paul Feika
Former Minister and senior Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) figure, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally, has issued a strong warning to President Julius Maada Bio, saying failure to act on concerns he has raised could trigger a political crisis.
Speaking to party supporters and delegates, Tarawally said he would not remain silent in the face of what he considers actions that could undermine his rights, the SLPP, and the interests of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
“Na God ah believe in, ah nor go hesitate for stand, an ah go stand for defend me right,” Tarawally declared.
Addressing President Bio directly, he said he had brought a number of concerns to the President’s attention and expected immediate action to be taken.
“President Bio, r wan send dis message to u. En me nor to Sahr Jusu en oda people wey yu dae use, borbor dem for intimidate people, or do something dem. R nor go sidon en look u. Everybody guilty,” he said.
Tarawally further urged President Bio to understand that he would not be easily intimidated because of his political experience and involvement in the SLPP.
“R wan make u understand say me nor to low profile person. Na me bring u na SLPP,” he stated.
According to Tarawally, he played a significant role in bringing Bio into the SLPP and supporting his political advancement.
“Na me bring na SLPP way u nor get mind 4 enter na SLPP office sef, way u nor able for see Pa Kabba, way u nor able visit ministers dem. R bring u there in 2000, an r pay for am,” he alleged.
He said he had subsequently forwarded matters concerning him to President Bio following a directive allegedly issued by SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa.
“Under u watch as a leader, r don send all wetin Batilo send to me to u. U 4 tek immediate action,” Tarawally said.
He then issued his strongest warning, linking failure to act on the concerns to a possible political confrontation.
“En if u fail for tek dat action, den me en u get political crisis,” he warned.
Hon. Tarawally also declared that he would continue pursuing the matter without fear.
“R mek u understand say r go fearlessly pursue am. Nobody nor innocent, en nothing go happen na dis kontri wey r nor go stand for,” he stated.
The former minister said his objective was not to undermine the country but to pursue what he believes would contribute to improving Sierra Leone.
Tarawally also drew attention to what he described as the suffering of ordinary Sierra Leoneans and SLPP supporters.
“Dis people dem de suffer. Party people dem de suffer. Dem nor get food for eat. Dem nor get place for sleep,” he said.
He further described the concerns he said ordinary citizens raise when they encounter people on the streets.
“When dem see anybody na street, most times, parents dem de cry. Di concern na: ‘Aw wi go move Australia from di body ya?’ Dem de suffer,” Tarawally stated.
Hon. Tarawally argued that if the purpose of political leadership is genuine change, political actors should be prepared to respond to legitimate concerns rather than simply exercise power.
“But if di purpose na for change, for mek Borbor dem, we nor sick for answer u,” he said.
He also referred to the political influence and support that he said helped President Bio attain power.
“U fit heat people dem. We made u politically, u get political support,” Tarawally declared.
The former minister further said he possessed information and networks that he could use in pursuing his concerns.
“En r want for make yu know say ah get every information. Ah nor work na script sector. Ah get networks wey na really hyper mineral country,” he said.
Nevertheless, Tarawally stressed that he intended to pursue his concerns through democratic and political means.
“An ah nor go hesitate for do wetin go free dis nation, democratically, na di political space, an wetin go save di people dem of Sierra Leone,” he stated.
In making his case, Tarawally referred to Sierra Leone’s turbulent political history, including the periods associated with the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).
“Democratically, we stood against dae late Foday Sankoh, way enabled for destroy dat nation. We stood against Johnny Paul Koroma, wey enabled for destroy dat nation,” he said.
Hon. Tarawally said Sierra Leoneans should be prepared to unite whenever they believe the national interest is at stake.
“So nobody know di way Sierra Leone go consider for being an entrance to dat nation, wey di nation go come together, together, for stop am in di interest of di nation,” he stated.
His remarks come amid renewed discussions over his position within the SLPP. Tarawally has maintained that he remains a fully paid-up member of the party and an accredited delegate, while disputes have emerged over aspects of his membership and political standing.
He also addressed party delegates directly, thanking them for their patience and reassuring them that he would continue with party activities despite the dispute.
“R want for tell all di delegates, plenty tenki una,” he said.
Hon. Tarawally further indicated that he did not consider the directive allegedly issued by Batilo Songa to be the final word on his political participation.
“En r want to reassure dem say Batilo in letter, mek dem nor consider am, mek dem forget about dat, an no relevant,” he stated.
He added that the matter could ultimately be taken before the courts.
“We go continue party activities make inh Batilo, an mek am go to court,” Tarawally said.
Tarawally concluded by thanking supporters and delegates for their patience, while reaffirming his determination to remain active in the country’s political process.
“R tenki una all for una patience,” he said.
His latest intervention adds to his increasingly public comments on the direction of the SLPP and his relationship with the party leadership.
His message to President Bio was clear: Tarawally says he intends to defend his position and pursue his concerns through democratic, political, and legal channels, while warning that failure to address the matters he has raised could escalate the political dispute.