By Alusine A. Sesay
Many of you will have already seen the viral footage circulating on social media — a display in Parliament, where a number of members took it upon themselves to indulge in a chorus of boos, jeers, and chants aimed squarely at none other than Fatima Bio.
Now for those of you that are “in the dark” as to why this is STILL happening, let me give you a little bit of CONTEXT.
Recently, the SLPP Party held internal elections to fill key executive positions — Chairman, Secretary General, PRO, and so forth.
As with any democratic contest, factions formed, each camp passionately rooting for its preferred candidate. This is perfectly normal in politics.
However, when the results came in, it seems the candidate supported by the First Lady for the Chairmanship was not the victor.
Hence the boos of “YOU COCO-ROSE-So , “YOU COCO-ROSE-So” in parliament.
Obviously we all know in Sierra Leone THIS IS A REFRAIN equivalent of salt being rubbed with great enthusiasm into a fresh wound. (that’s not a pretty sight, if you ask me).
Sometimes I wonder why some individuals appear so thoroughly preoccupied with Fatima Bio. Is it Political rivalry? Personal vendetta? Or simply the irresistible lure of the spotlight when a public figure is within range?
In a mature democracy, the expected etiquette following a fair and verified election is straightforward: winners celebrate, losers concede, everyone dusts themselves off and moves on. That’s it.
But, alas, such statesmanship is not the default setting in the SLPP, a party with a well-documented fondness for lingering grudges — even when those grudges are entirely INTERNAL.
Yes I know parliaments around the world including Britain usually jokingly play banter politics, with a wink, a smirk, and a shared pint afterwards. Just for fun, and nothing more.-
In Sierra Leone, however, such condescension is rarely light-hearted — it is far more personal, and far less dignified.
The spectacle was less a display of democratic vigour and more a blemish on the parliamentary record — a scar, if you will, on the conscience of Sierra Leoneans who expect better decorum from those entrusted with governance.-
And, frankly, no amount of political spin can justify such condescending and cavalier attitude.
