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Leader of the opposition in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah, fondly called Chericoco, has exposed the atrocities of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government at the just-concluded sitting of the regional Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Laying the foundation for debate at the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Bah highlighted the ruling government’s continuous shenanigans to rig the forthcoming elections slated for 24th June next year through a fictitious and failed mid-term census.
He also raised concern over the changing of the electoral laws when it is just less than a year to the national polls amid the unrepentant intimidation of members and supporters of the main opposition, including elected Members of Parliament, who continue to be subjects of police brutality on the orders of the Clerk and Speaker of the House.
The opposition leader further brought to the attention of the ECOWAS Parliament the incessant perpetration of human rights abuses in the country by the Bio-led SLPP Government, as well as the outrageous killings of civilians by security apparatuses mostly sanctioned by the state, referencing the August 10th anti-government protests where over twenty-seven (27) civilians were killed by the security forces.
The submission of the honourable leader of Sierra Leone’s main opposition later sparked serious debates at the regional Parliament, as other members from various countries raised concerns over the security and stability of Sierra Leone ahead of the upcoming elections in June next year.
Speaker after speaker condemned the SLPP’s various attempts to shift the goalpost in its favor at the nick of time to the country’s general elections, and, therefore, called for immediate intervention by the regional body.
Meanwhile, in the face of all these serious concerns by the ECOWAS Parliament, the SLPP Government has injected a new change into the electoral laws of the country.
While it is not yet clear as to what action to be taken next by the opposition and regional Parliament, the concerns of its members about Sierra Leone portend a bad omen for the SLPP, with the unforeseen expected to rear up ugly heads if the government goes ahead to implement the new electoral laws in 2023 democratic electoral process.
Already, SLPP spin doctors have gone haywire disparaging the Regional Parliament, and in their defence of the SLPP government’s action, are referring to a statement uttered by the former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, JF Kamara, under the erstwhile APC Government of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, that “the ECOWAS Parliament lacks jurisdiction in Sierra Leone.” But the government surrogates are unaware that that matter bordering on the removal of the Vice President then and the one now at their doorstep are a different kettle of fish. The matter they are referring to emanated from intraparty squabbles and was adjudicated by the highest court of the land, while the one under review is blatant gaslighting to jeopardize the virtues of democracy, stemming from an autocratic proclivity.
