Laws in any society are true representatives of the order, rules and regulations. That is why the Holy books are regarded as guiding principles from God which are religiously followed and obeyed by all and whoever violates them, flouts the rules of God.
So, the laws of any community must be strictly adhered to with full respect by all and sundry irrespective individuals’ socio-political and economic status in society. Rules and regulations must therefore be regarded with fear of God and cautions, bearing in mind of its fullest supremacy.
In Sierra Leone, under the present political leadership of the SLPP President Julius Maada Bio led administration, laws, procedures and due processes are always skipped and in many instances flouted in almost everything the government handles.
This is being done irrespective of its negative impacts on societal conducts in terms indiscipline and lawlessness, to a peak that everybody now do things via the infamous shortcut formula with the highest level of impunity.
Often, disrespect for the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone has become a common phenomenon in public sector governance and administration, even at the highest level, as clearly evidence across the board.
Unprocedural conduct manifested since day one when the ruling class set in to work, with complete show of disrespect for the supremacy of 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone; the supreme law of the land, which is expected of whoever comes to office, to work in accordance with it. But that is a whole different thing now.
It is indeed not so in the case of existing structures, as government right from the top, in almighty the Office of the President at State House, down to the least duty bearers do things in their own ways unchecked, no matter the adverse effects.
Recent of such displays of disregard for procedures, due processes and constitutionality are; the widely discredited ‘rouge’ mid-term census’ continuing with its inaccurate cartographic process which according to legal pundits is ‘illegal’, illegal in that the national constitution does not make provision for anything like mid-term census and should therefore be discouraged in its entirety.
Add to these are state-sponsored lawlessness, by way on imposing the controversial non-partisan local council bill, and the very selective – consultations on the 2020 Cybercrime Bill, which were expected to have the full participations and imputes of the civil populace, as required by law. All of these were not done with the consultation and inclusiveness of the vast majority of the people, showing no respectability for constitutionality, law and order, procedures and due processes.
Other instances of unconstitutional conduct of the systems at work takes us back to 2018, when armed police personnel stormed the well of parliament, violently manhandled and dragged constitutionally elected main opposition majority All People’s Congress Members of Parliament out of the well, and conduct election for the position of Speaker of the House, which was won by Dr Abass Bundu of the ruling SLPP, on the orders above.
Add to the list was the unconstitutional removal of legitimately elected ten APC MPs from the House and awarded their seats to unschooled ruling SLPP supporters, all in the unprocedural name of petitions and this is our time, coupled with the large scale of unethical promotions and disparities in public sector promotions and salaries.
All of these show complete disrespect for constitutionality, measures and due processes by the incumbent government, under the watchful eyes of President Bio, who promised to address the problem of indiscipline. Sir, Mr President it is three years on discipline with impunity has given way to indiscipline across the country.
Evading the law, procedures and international best practices show utter contempt for constitutionality and continue to largely undermine the rule of law, law making bodies and to certain peak international treaties.
For far too long Sierra Leone has not been governed strictly in accordance with the law, adherence and mandatory observance of due processes, as well as following procedures by state actors. Rather, they duty bearers always do things to satisfy their selfish desires at the disadvantages of the masses. God save Sierra Leone from the claws of bad leaders.
In most instances, the country’s leaderships and governments’ avoidances to follow procedures, start right at the top and being cascaded down to the common man, making it very difficult to handle and address the problems of indiscipline, lawlessness, denial to follow procedures and due processes in the public sector, simply because brighter examples are not set by our leaders. That is why state governance actors must start to lead by sound examples, moving forward by way of demonstrating the high respectability for the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Thus, Mr President Sir, lead us with good and brighter examples of following procedures, due processes and the law as required by the national constitution, to show your fullest respect for the laws of the land like you said in your vows, whiles subscribing to your oath of office on 4th April, 2018.
We once more plead with you to kindly respect our constitution despite the multiple lacunars in it, if at all you cannot complete its review process, left behind by your predecessor, former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.
Laws in any society are true representatives of the order, rules and regulations. That is why the Holy books are regarded as guiding principles from God which are religiously followed and obeyed by all and whoever violates them, flouts the rules of God.
So, the laws of any community must be strictly adhered to with full respect by all and sundry irrespective individuals’ socio-political and economic status in society. Rules and regulations must therefore be regarded with fear of God and cautions, bearing in mind of its fullest supremacy.
In Sierra Leone, under the present political leadership of the SLPP President Julius Maada Bio led administration, laws, procedures and due processes are always skipped and in many instances flouted in almost everything the government handles.
This is being done irrespective of its negative impacts on societal conducts in terms indiscipline and lawlessness, to a peak that everybody now do things via the infamous shortcut formula with the highest level of impunity.
Often, disrespect for the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone has become a common phenomenon in public sector governance and administration, even at the highest level, as clearly evidence across the board.
Unprocedural conduct manifested since day one when the ruling class set in to work, with complete show of disrespect for the supremacy of 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone; the supreme law of the land, which is expected of whoever comes to office, to work in accordance with it. But that is a whole different thing now.
It is indeed not so in the case of existing structures, as government right from the top, in almighty the Office of the President at State House, down to the least duty bearers do things in their own ways unchecked, no matter the adverse effects.
Recent of such displays of disregard for procedures, due processes and constitutionality are; the widely discredited ‘rouge’ mid-term census’ continuing with its inaccurate cartographic process which according to legal pundits is ‘illegal’, illegal in that the national constitution does not make provision for anything like mid-term census and should therefore be discouraged in its entirety.
Add to these are state-sponsored lawlessness, by way on imposing the controversial non-partisan local council bill, and the very selective – consultations on the 2020 Cybercrime Bill, which were expected to have the full participations and imputes of the civil populace, as required by law. All of these were not done with the consultation and inclusiveness of the vast majority of the people, showing no respectability for constitutionality, law and order, procedures and due processes.
Other instances of unconstitutional conduct of the systems at work takes us back to 2018, when armed police personnel stormed the well of parliament, violently manhandled and dragged constitutionally elected main opposition majority All People’s Congress Members of Parliament out of the well, and conduct election for the position of Speaker of the House, which was won by Dr Abass Bundu of the ruling SLPP, on the orders above.
Add to the list was the unconstitutional removal of legitimately elected ten APC MPs from the House and awarded their seats to unschooled ruling SLPP supporters, all in the unprocedural name of petitions and this is our time, coupled with the large scale of unethical promotions and disparities in public sector promotions and salaries.
All of these show complete disrespect for constitutionality, measures and due processes by the incumbent government, under the watchful eyes of President Bio, who promised to address the problem of indiscipline. Sir, Mr President it is three years on discipline with impunity has given way to indiscipline across the country.
Evading the law, procedures and international best practices show utter contempt for constitutionality and continue to largely undermine the rule of law, law making bodies and to certain peak international treaties.
For far too long Sierra Leone has not been governed strictly in accordance with the law, adherence and mandatory observance of due processes, as well as following procedures by state actors. Rather, they duty bearers always do things to satisfy their selfish desires at the disadvantages of the masses. God save Sierra Leone from the claws of bad leaders.
In most instances, the country’s leaderships and governments’ avoidances to follow procedures, start right at the top and being cascaded down to the common man, making it very difficult to handle and address the problems of indiscipline, lawlessness, denial to follow procedures and due processes in the public sector, simply because brighter examples are not set by our leaders. That is why state governance actors must start to lead by sound examples, moving forward by way of demonstrating the high respectability for the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Thus, Mr President Sir, lead us with good and brighter examples of following procedures, due processes and the law as required by the national constitution, to show your fullest respect for the laws of the land like you said in your vows, whiles subscribing to your oath of office on 4th April, 2018.
We once more plead with you to kindly respect our constitution despite the multiple lacunars in it, if at all you cannot complete its review process, left behind by your predecessor, former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma.
