Popular businesswoman and niece to President Julius Maada Bio, Admire Bio—widely known as the “Mama of Freetown”—has taken to Facebook Live to express her views on the “coco roast” chant directed at First Lady Fatima Bio during the State Opening of Parliament.
Admire condemned the incident, calling it “unacceptable” and asserting that no woman should be subjected to such public humiliation. She alleged that the disrespect originated from within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) itself, despite attempts to place blame on the opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
Labeling those responsible as “witchcrafts,” Admire drew parallels between the First Lady’s experience and her own past challenges. She revealed that when she faced public attacks, no one from the SLPP came to her defense—except political commentator Sylvia Blyden. She added that Fatima Bio also never contacted her during her ordeal, noting that many of the individuals who had tarnished her image to the First Lady are now the same ones turning against Fatima.
She acknowledged that the First Lady may not be perfect and may have hurt one or two people, but argued that such actions do not justify the level of public humiliation she endured.
Admire further disclosed that even her own family members failed to reach out to her during her difficulties, treating her as though she were a bad person. While she emphasized that she takes no pleasure in the First Lady’s embarrassment, she admitted feeling some satisfaction that Fatima Bio might now recognize that many of those around her are “mere hypocrites.”
The incident in Parliament has sparked heated political and social debate, with Admire Bio’s outspoken remarks adding yet another dimension to the unfolding controversy.
