By Donstance Koroma
The Deputy Leader of Government Business in the House of Parliament, Hon. Bassiru Silikie has on Thursday 27 July 2023 embarrassed the proposed Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi in the Well, whiles waiting for his approval as Deputy Minister.
Hon. Bassiru Silikie, when given the opportunity by the Speaker of the House of Parliament, Dr Abass Chernor Bundu to zoom in on presidential nominees, informed that during the vetting process of nominees, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi was stood down by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointment and the Public Service.
According to Hon. Silikie complaints by members and staff of Parliament and the public have it that Yusuf Keketoma Sandi was notorious of refusal to pick telephone calls when he was serving as the Press Secretary to the President, which the Committee on Appointment and Public Service viewed as blatant disrespect for other state Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The proposed Deputy Minister was finally embarrassed when supporters of the governing Sierra Leone People Party-SLPP at the public galleries shouted in the lingua franca; na true na true, applauding the Deputy Leader of Government Business for telling the former Press Secretary to President Julius Maada Bio, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi in face.
He therefore advised Sandi to be opening his doors to party members and supporters since he was opportune to serve in his former positions because of the SLPP.
The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone approved the thirty presidential nominees to serve as ministers, deputies, heads of commissions and authority.
According to MPs, they regarded the presidential nominees as highly qualified with the required job experience and therefore urged them to work in the best interest of the country and make President Bio proud of them.
The Deputy Leader of Government Business therefore encouraged the proposed Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Sandi to be picking calls from the public, especially so when he has been appointed as a Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education.
