By: James Kamara-Manneh
President Julius Maada Bio on the 16th of August, 2022 met with a large number of Tribal Heads in the Western Area to discuss their role in the government’s efforts at consolidating peace and democracy and seeking justice following the August 10 violence that claimed innocent lives.
Amongst his statements, he told the audience that he has informed the international community that he has the right to self-defence against those who may violently want to attack his office. He said he is not against peaceful protest as it is happening all over the world, so Sierra Leone is not an exception, and being a former soldier; he is elected into office as a civilian but that does not mean he will not protect himself and the nation.
He further adds that it is incumbent upon him to enforce the full force of the Law down to the grave, but encouraged tribal heads to go back to their communities and caution them on civil behaviors. He further called on Sierra Leoneans to stop seeing things with political colors as thus have affected the social economic developments of the Country as that was one reason that led to the 10 August 2022.
He described the insurrection as an unfortunate event, in which a group of people had organized young people to cause mayhem in some parts of the country and the Western Area. He added that notwithstanding the difficulties around the world, his government had been making great efforts to cushion the pressure on citizens, noting that he was also working on a long-lasting solution as evident in the implementation of the Human Capital Development.
“In the last four years, my government has succeeded in cleaning the image of this country. That is why we are being invited severally to chair and co-chair many meetings of development that will benefit the country,” he said.
The President also said that his government had changed and reviewed so many laws to ensure that society was safe, progressive and freer for all citizens irrespective of where they were. He, however, assured that his government would investigate all those who were involved in the August 10 insurrection.
He thanked them for coming and for educating their people while encouraging them to continue doing their good work as leaders.
Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, who called the meeting to order said their local authorities had been invited as one of the many such sector-specific meetings scheduled with different stakeholders to engage and discuss a wide range of development issues, though that was now happening just after the recent insurrection.
He said his boss was a listening President, who had always been willing to listen to and talk with his people on issues of development, noting that he had, therefore, always travelled across the country to engage his people regularly.
Speaking on behalf of the Tribal Heads, Chief S.O Gbekie thanked the President for the invite, adding that one of their roles was to help the police to maintain law and order in their various localities. He said they condemned the violent acts and urged the government to launch an investigation into the matter and bring all those involved to face the law, citing the various gains so far made by the president and his government to help bring development to the country
