“Why Now, Mr. President?” — Hon. Mariama Bangura Questions Timing of Power-Sharing Agenda
By Musa Paul Feika
In a charged and thought-provoking moment on the floor of Parliament, Honourable Mariama Bangura, a Member of Parliament from the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), has boldly questioned President Julius Maada Bio’s sudden embrace of power-sharing and political inclusivity.
Her intervention came during Monday’s debate on the President’s State Opening Address to the Sixth Parliament of Sierra Leone an address that has ignited nationwide conversations about unity, governance, and the true motives behind the government’s newfound reconciliation drive.
Standing firmly before her colleagues, Hon. Bangura posed a question that has since resonated far beyond the parliamentary chamber:
Why now, Mr. President? Why introduce power-sharing only when it suits your political interest?”
The outspoken opposition MP challenged both President Bio and the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, urging them to reflect deeply on the sincerity of their calls for collaboration. According to her, the timing of this sudden power-sharing narrative raises more questions than answers.
Questioning Intent and Timing
Hon. Bangura argued that the idea of political inclusivity though welcome in principle
appears to be more of a strategic political maneuver than a genuine effort to heal national divisions. She maintained that had President Bio introduced such a framework in 2018, when the APC held the parliamentary majority, it would have carried far more credibility and moral weight.
“Had the President initiated power-sharing at that time,” she stated, “it would have been a marvelous, fantastic, and widely appreciated move by all Sierra Leoneans one that could have fostered true unity and reconciliation at a time of deep political division.”
She further reminded the House that Sierra Leone’s democracy is still fragile, and any attempt to use inclusivity as a tool for political advantage risks undermining public trust in governance.
Democracy, Representation, and the PR System
Turning her attention to electoral reforms, Hon. Bangura cautioned the government against manipulating the Proportional Representation (PR) system to entrench power. She warned that if misused, the PR model could gradually reintroduce a “de facto one-party state,” reversing the hard-earned democratic progress Sierra Leone has made since the end of the civil conflict.
The PR system must not be used to silence dissenting voices or weaken the opposition,” she warned. “Democracy thrives on competition, not control.”
Her comments drew approving nods from opposition MPs, who echoed concerns that political inclusivity must not become a smokescreen for political dominance.
Youth Unemployment and Economic Discontent
In one of the most passionate parts of her address, Hon. Bangura shifted focus to what she called the growing frustration among Sierra Leone’s youth. She criticized the government’s 5,000 Jobs Initiative, describing it as a token measure that falls far short of tackling the country’s mounting unemployment crisis.
The only job available to young people today is Clean Salone,” she said, referencing the government’s sanitation campaign. “Our youth deserve better than token opportunities. They need real jobs that restore hope, dignity, and economic independence.”
She stressed that no nation can progress without meaningfully engaging its young population, adding that continued economic stagnation and unfulfilled promises could
