By Francis Moiwo Banya

The leadership of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) has seemingly adopted a pattern of dodging public scrutiny.

A reliable State House source has confirmed that President Bio will not participate in the planned Presidential debate.

Although the source did not state reason for the non-participation of the President in the planned debate, it may not be unconnected to his inability to provide answers to issues of the economy and other unfulfilled campaign promises.

The source further confirmed that the boycott of the SLPP Mayoral candidate for Freetown City Council, Mohamed Gento Kamara in the just concluded Mayoral debate organised by Sierra Eye was informed by orders from State House.

“We are disappointed that someone who wants to head the city could not face the public to articulate his plans. It is a big shame not only to his personality but to the party which he represents,” said Kai Gbanja.

Barely two weeks to elections organizers are finding it difficult to fix a specific date for the debate as they are yet to get the consent of the president, who enthusiastically participated in the debate while in opposition.

During the 2018 presidential debate, President Bio, who was then in opposition, promised a quick fix to the economy which he described as being in shambles, but going forward, his administration has proven to be incapable of handling the economy, with prices of basic commodities skyrocketing on a daily basis.

President Bio has openly confessed that he hasn’t the power to save the country from the current economic woes befalling citizens and prayed for divine intervention.

It is well known that President Bio is finding it difficult to face the public debate because he has nothing to tell the suffering masses.

Bio is also afraid to face the public because the coming debate will have no scripted paper like the 2018 debate at Bintumani where he was reading directly from the script prepared for him.

It is clear that over the years, President Bio has built a fence around him to fulfil his long term dream of becoming rich through illegal means and that was demonstrated by sacking the Auditor General for simply unearthing some colossal corruption in the Office of the President.

Based on his poor human rights records over the years characterized by extra-judicial killings, and arbitrary arrest of mostly opposition stalwarts, the high-handedness of the security forces, among several other abnormalities associated with his administration, President Bio is expecting some punchy and critical questions from both panelists and audience which may likely be embarrassing to him.

It is believed that if the President hasn’t any skeleton in his cupboard, he will certainly face the debate and defend his stewardship for the past five years in governance. 

Note: Views and opinions expressed herein do not represent the Editorial values of FORU, they are the personal.