Sierra Leone : President Maada Bio Fires Minister For Hate Speech

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Sierra Leone’s Resident Minister North, Abu -Abu Koroma has been suspended from office indefinitely for un acceptable conduct and public remarks that misrepresent the position of the Government of Sierra Leone and  President  Julius Maada Bio, a statement from the Office of the President said.

Minister Abu’s indefinite suspension  came after a video of him emerged on social media in which he made unfortunate statements , including using abusive language and calling to shoot and kill any youth that is involved in any act of violence.

“The President maintain his stated unwavering commitment to addressing lawlessness and incitement to violence against the state only within the constitution and laws of the Republic of Sierra Leone,’’ a statement from the office of the president reads.

The country has recently witnessed some violent incidents across the West African nation in the Northern part called Lunsar , and in Tombo among other areas leading to loss of lives.

In a televised address to the nation, on 8^th May, the president accused the main opposition All Peoples Congress Party (APC) as behind the various violent incidents that has occurred in the country, an allegation the APC  party strongly denies.

“ Evidence emerging from investigations have named known local leaders and members of the APC as being responsible for inciting , planning , financing , mobilising and in some cases actively participating in violent terrorist attacks against the people of this country,’’ President Bio said in his nation address .

Meanwhile,  the APC party has said in a statement on Sunday , that as a party they were disappointed with the President’s  nation -wide address which borders on the security of the state in which he referred to their party and membership as terrorists.

“We are dismayed that the party has been wrongly implicated when the President asserted emphatically that evidence emerging from investigations have named known local leaders and members of the APC as being responsible for inciting , planning , financing , mobilising , and in some cases actively participating in violent terrorist attacks the people of this country,’’ the statement from APC reads.

The party however said they were committed to peace and stability in  the country adding that they believed there can never be genuine peace without justice thus calling for peace and justice in the country.

In an interview with local TV , African Young Voices Television (AYV TV) , in the country , Minister Abu -Abu Koroma expressed apologies to the President and the people of Sierra Leone, stating that he didn’t intend to make any statement that will go against any Sierra Leonean. ‘’ I am very sorry if I used the word shot and kill , it is not intentional .  I didn’t intend to make any statement that will go against any Sierra Leonean.  I did it in good faith,’’ he told AYV.