The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone had convened on Thursday 13th July, with the oath taking of its members and the voting for the leadership of the house.
An established routine of unsettlement and apprehension exclusive to Parliament, was repeated aforehand, due to the decision of the All People’s Congress Party to abstain from partaking in government activities, on allegations of result tampering in the June 24th elections. After members of the APC had boycotted the opening of the induction of new members on the previous day, it was expected to be a repeat of the same for the swearing in.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura, a second term MP had however shown up for his swearing in. This had been speculatively anticipated after he had not signed on to a list of elected officials who had agreed to adhere to the party’s decision to abstain.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura representing Karene district is a controversial figure at best, commencing his political journey as a strong member of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) party, then switching allegiance to the United Democratic Movement Party and being a flagbearer for that party, resigning his membership in 2015, gaining a membership in the APC to becoming a Minister in the their administration.
Slightly before the 2018 elections, he had declared his intention to serve as an MP under the banner of the APC. In Parliament he had staunchly and vocally supported his party in majority of their stances.
However, his latest decision has raised questions regarding his allegiance and integrity.
Many on one side are commending him for it and are attributing his action to patriotism and a nationalistic allegiance over the antics of a party. Some who publicly support his stance have decried the APC’s decision of abstaining, saying it undermines the voters trust bestowed on those elected to represent their interest and it is this trust that Hon. Mohamed chose to uphold.
The others who oppose his decision have labeled this action as another example of his ability to switch allegiance based on tide and benefits, disregarding collective interests and collective but delayed gain.
A press release, said to have originated from the APC, now declared fake, had circulated alluding to an expulsion.
The debate continues whether he will be expelled from the party, an arduous task in itself, seeing as how this will pit a party’s constitution against one of the vaguest sections of the country’s constitution, specifically Section 77(K) of the Sierra Leone constitution of 1991, Act No. 6.
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