Politico staff writer
President Julius Maada Bio has used an address to his ruling party MPs at a dinner on Saturday 20th January, 2024 to respond to criticisms of the government's handling of issues around the relocation of former President Ernest Bai Koroma to Nigeria for medical treatment. Dr. Koroma was due to go on trial for treason and other offences arising from the failed coup attempt of November 26, 2023, on 17th January but was granted bail and permitted to leave the country.
Speaking at the presidential lodge, Bio told his MPs that “with or without Maada Bio every effort should be made by every member of this party to contribute towards not only the success of every SLPP government but also for victory. It should not matter whether one is taking part as a candidate”.
The president said he had listened to some SLPP members inciting party members and described them as being “completely blind. They have never had the experience of leading their homes, yet they want to lead the country. I can assure you that the decisions I am making are based on information that is not available to the critics. We just don’t take decisions on whims and caprices. We take so many factors into consideration which we cannot explain in public.”
He said those that should keep the SLPP together were the same “using the new media to incite members…they have made the new media technology an occupational hazard for us in politics today.”
Bio said he wasn’t a candidate in 2007 “but I campaigned very seriously because I was campaigning for the SLPP. When my time is up I will leave and go to the back and will not do what some people are doing now.”
The president called on his MPs to “do your homework” before choosing a leader and told them that when the time comes the party must choose somebody “who understands leadership and loves the organization he belongs to’’. He described the task of choosing a flagbearer to succeed him as the most difficult job because the whole party must feel comfortable with that candidate.
Bio told his MPs that he wanted to “leave a better, stronger and well-organized party but that depends on the next crop of leaders we choose for the national officers”.
He defended his policy of appointing many young people into his cabinet and other offices of state arguing that because 70% of the population of Sierra Leone is made up of young people, they should be taught and encouraged to lead.
One of the MPs who attended the dinner told Politico that he trusts president Bio because he believes that his decisions are in the interest of Sierra Leone.
Hon. Kekura Vandy from Bo district said “it is the responsibility of MPs or SLPP politicians to explain to the masses the pros and cons of allowing former president Koroma to travel to Nigeria as requested by ECOWAS. He explained that ECOWAS has always been with Sierra Leone even in difficult times, highlighting that they were in the country on the 27th of November just after the coup attempt to support the government and people to ensure that those responsible are brought to book. He said the case against former President Koroma has only been adjourned.
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