By Nasratu Kargbo
Mixed feelings engulfed the jam-packed well and precincts of Parliament as fifty-two members of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) who had not subscribed to the oath of office due to their party’s decision to boycott all forms of governance, finally assumed their seats.
At the swearing-in ceremony which occurred yesterday 7th November 2023, supporters chanted the names of MPs as they were called to take the oath, but in contrast, shouted “traitors’’ at the other two MPs who had gone against their party and taken the oath.
Aside from the unfriendly chants towards the two MPs, the event looked colourful, even MPs from the other side of the aisle were beaming with smiles at the sight of their colleagues whilst they also jokingly teased them. The event attracted a lot of party leaders, supporters, and the American Ambassador Bryan David Hunt amongst others.
The Speaker of Parliament Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu in his welcome address called on all members of parliament from both sides of the aisle to ensure they work together for the country’s growth.
Bundu made several comparisons with Sierra Leone and Singapore and asked that they emulate good examples from Singapore to develop the nation, explaining that the country was far better than Singapore but that they are now way ahead of Sierra Leone in terms of growth.
“While Singapore was busy obtaining laurels and moving up the development ladder rapidly from a Third World classification to a First World, Sierra Leone has remained behind wallowing in abject poverty and deprivation and fighting with other countries and hoping for the crumbs to fall from the dinner tables of rich countries,” the Speaker said.
When asked about the situation in ECOWAS Parliament, where Mohamed Bangura has been assigned due to him being the Acting Leader at that time, the Leader of Opposition Abdul Kargbo in an interview with journalists after being sworn in explained that the life span of that parliament will end in March 2024, noting that when the new life commences, the party will send a representative.
Responding to a question on unity, Kargbo said one of his duties is to make them stay united in all they do as a party.
He expressed excitement for the new responsibility and stated that he will ensure he represents the people by putting their interests first. The Leader highlighted the issues of increment in tariff amongst many bugging issues which according to him, they intend to address.
Amongst the fifty-two MPs, sixteen are women and thirty-six are male. The house of parliament consists of one hundred and forty-nine members of parliament, with fourteen of them Paramount Chief Members of Parliament, whilst for the ordinary MPs, Eighty-one are from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and fifty-four from APC.
The MPs had taken the oath following agreements their party had with the government during three days of dialogue last month.
The party had after the announcement of the 2023 General Elections questioned the outcome of the results, stating that the process was marred with irregularities. This led to them boycotting all forms of governance.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (08/11/23)
