MAADA! Embracing his political opponent; not his enemyπ!!
National Exclusive News: By Michael Jack Muana (Open Furom For Future Economic Development In Sierra Leone)
Julius Bio assured President Koroma to take Ebola Sensitization drive across the country .
Today's visit to ( King Jimmy) is his first step among other plan visit .
Maada Bio & President Ernest Koroma both men agreed to put politics aside and walk toward national cohesion to concentrate on the fight against Ebola .
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POSTED BY: PUBLISHER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER KABS KANU OCTOBER 13, 2015
By KABS KANU :{Courtesy: Cocorioko}
Whoever is advising former military leader , Retired Brigadier Maada Bio , is doing a great job.
Bio wants to be President of Sierra Leone.
In the past, his utterances and actions suggested that he preferred brawn, intimidation, mixed messages and veiled threats to enforce his intentions to rule Sierra Leone. Lately, though, Brig. Bio seems to have started executing a different game plan , which seems to suggest that the young brigadier who has just completed his PH.D in the United Kingdom , is striving to re-invent himself from the image of the scruffy school yard bully he once projected to the stature of a more mature politician with diplomacy and respect for the national interest, established constitutional structure and procedures as his guide
It is too early yet to dance in the open that one of Sierra Leone’s perennial presidential aspirants has grown in stature , maturity and the drive for patriotism and national peace because It is yet to be seen how far Dr. Bio’s supporters will go to allow him to continue with his new style of politics which is also now geared more towards consensus with government and putting the nation first. But if it is true that oncoming events do cast their shadows , Bio has stolen a march on the starter and maybe, Sierra Leoneans can now hope to see real democratic politics , with a bipartisan stance, as we approach the 2018 Presidential Elections.
By paying a courtesy call on President Koroma yesterday on his return home from the UK , Bio has once again actualised President Koroma’s continued appeal to the nation that the politics of hostility and non-compromise with opponents should have no place in Sierra Leone, if we must surge forward in our socio-economic and political renaissance. This followed even more impressive gestures the former military ruler demonstrated when Ebola and the catastrophic floods hit our nation , for which COCORIOKO commended him in another Editorial , titled : THAT IS MORE LIKE IT, BRIGADIER MAADA BIO ( http://cocorioko.info/that-is-more-like-it-brig-bio/).
Yesterday, Bio displayed more maturity at State House where “Brigadier Bio commended the effective leadership of President Koroma in the fight against Ebola and also government’s proactive stance in helping and catering for the welfare of those affected by the flooding on September 16th.” According to the State House Communications Unit, “The former SLPP presidential candidate also informed President Koroma of his desire to compliment government’s social mobilization and sensitization drive to end Ebola. He therefore said he will be traveling around the country to talk to people to continue to adhere to the health protocols and medical regulations in the fight against Ebola.” This is political maturity in full bloom , which must be emulated by other opposition officials , whose hostile and ungrateful rhetoric helps to further polarize the political landscape and threaten national unity, national cohesion and national integration.
This stance will definitely put Bio at odds with extremists and non-conformists within the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) . Supporters of the other SLPP presidential aspirants, many of whom loathe any cooperation with the ruling All People’s Congress ( APC ) , would also misread Bio’s signals and portray his move as a cunning ploy to propel himself into the good books of the administration and gain unfair advantage over them, but Bio should follow his heart and continue his re-invention, for there lies the future success of his endeavours.
If our country must move forward with her socio-economic and political rejuvenation and progress, the ruling party and the opposition must establish common grounds for national collaboration and synergy for the betterment of our nation. We are tired of poison, disruptive and blood-enemy -politics in Sierra Leone. This message is the sing-song of President Ernest Koroma and any politician that puts it into practice earns our respect.
Retired Brig. Maada Bio just accomplished that goal.
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KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF MAADA BIO'S INTERVIEW ON RADIO DEMOCRACY
{Courtsey: Yusuf Keketoma Sandy}
This morning, the Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio had a very successful interview as Studio Guest on the Good Morning Salone Programme on Radio Democracy, FM 98.1.
Key highlights of Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio's interview are below:
ππ» On the former Vice President Sam Sumana Supreme Court Case, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio told listeners that he DISAGREED with the judgement of the judges on the Supreme Court on the Sam Sumana Case but called on Sierra Leoneans to safeguard the peace and security of the country through respect for the rule of law. He also admonished that judges should always interpret the constitution according to the spirit and letter of the constitution.
ππ» On his relationship with President Koroma, he said they are NOT enemies but political opponents and where Government fails he will always constructively criticise but where they make efforts he will compliment however little. He also stated that the APC party knows he is the only threat in SLPP to their existence in any elections and that he is confident of winning the next elections.
ππ»On the rumoured third term bid of President Koroma, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio said if he had the opportunity to speak to the president on the issue he will respectfully advise the president to respect the two-term limit in the constitution which also shows respect for the rule of law.
ππ»On violence in the SLPP party, he categorically condemned all forms of violence in the party and disassociated himself from any violence. But he thanked the grassroots of the party for their support towards his political ambition over the years.
ππ»On Unity in the party, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio said he was open to discuss with all stakeholders and senior party members to bring unity in the party because he has always stood for peace and will continue to work in uniting the party.
ππ» On Dr Yumkella's membership, he said once there is a unanimous decision or agreement between those responsible for the registration of new members in the party and the leadership of the party he will be the first to congratulate Dr. Yumkella.
On meeting with Dr. Yumkella, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio revealed that Dr. Yumkella has proposed a meeting three times to meet with him but on those three occasions Dr. Yumkella has not shown up.
ππ»On his plans for the country, he said he wants to focus on human capital development so that Sierra Leoneans will unleash their potentials to contribute to national development because government should work for ordinary people.
ππ»Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio was also commended for his statesmanship by Mohamed Bangura of the UDM Party during an interview in the programme.
ππ» As a sign of humility and statesmanship Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio also used the interview to withdraw/retract an earlier claim he made that Radio Democracy was "Radio Dictatorship" because of the prevailing circumstances then. But stated that the Radio Democracy is now a truly Radio Democracy and thanked them for the opportunity as a Studio Guest.
After a very successful interview, a huge crowd of party members and well- wishers spontaneously gathered outside at the Radio Democracy Station to bid Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio Farewell from the Station.
We want to thank the Station Manager and the entire Management and Staff of Radio Democracy for the opportunity accorded to Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio to speak to the people of Sierra Leone.
©Julius Maada Bio Media and Communications Team
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WHY MAADA SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED!
{Courtsey: Salone Today/Salone Newsstands}
Would You Trust This Man-MAADA? Would Salone Be Safe With Him????π.
The hasty and swift plea publicly made by the 2012 Presidential contender of the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, to accept the highly contentious Supreme Court’s ruling on the erstwhile Vice President Sam Sumana saga has been greeted with mixed feelings by the general populace, as such outburst has left much to be desired in the minds of critical, level headed and every forthright thinking Sierra Leoneans.
It would definitely interest the general populace to note that, this same Maada Bio, who is now calling on aggrieved Sierra Leoneans, including, prominent lawyers of high repute, civil society organizations, opposition parties, levelheaded Sierra Leoneans and the drafters of the very constitution ,which has now been put to a test by the ruling Government, to wholeheartedly acknowledge the Supreme court’s ruling, whether right or wrong, was the same aggrieved power thirst Sierra Leonean who openly condemned this Supreme Court when the 2012 Presidential result was not announced in his favor.
Bio’s clarion call without due consultation with his party stratum who had out rightly condemned the President action to unconstitutionally removed his Vice President, and further challenged such action in the Supreme Court, as without doubt exposes his double standards in the party.
Let me reminiscence for a split second, This same Julius Maada Bio when the 2012 Presidential elections result was announced, he openly condemned the results and filed in a petition at the Supreme Court, and when the matter was not adjudicated in his favor, he lambasted this same very Supreme Court and the Judiciary as a whole, claiming that his party (SLPP) which he is now betraying for reasons best known to him has not been treated fairly by the Supreme Court.
It was no secret that, Maada Bio vehemently refused to accept the Supreme Court ruling, and continued to express his frustration and dissatisfaction over the entire electioneering process, and had it not been for the intervention of religious leaders, and the Guinean President only God knows what would have been his next line of action as he was too desperate to catapult himself into State House.
After the trip from Guinea , Bio, who was seen as a forerunner in criticizing the Ernest Bai Koroma led APC government on various national issues, suddenly, became mute even when the beleaguered APC party is seen doing things that are not in the best interest of the entire nation.
So if Maada Bio is seen praise singing the ruling of this same very Supreme Court, when his political party and other opposition parties, including legal minded continue to question such decision clearly speaks volume of his betrayal not only to the SLPP but to the nation as a whole.
Full Details next edition
MAADA BIO: A TRULY POPULAR POLITICIAN WITH THE GIFT OF RISING ABOVE PARTY POLITICS
By: Yusuf Keketoma Sand
For many years, many things have been said and written about him. For the smear campaigners Maada Bio is a poor and jobless man but in contradiction other smear campaigners would accuse Maada Bio that he runs a business empire in Ghana. For others, Maada Bio has committed crimes against humanity but he can travel everywhere just not to the United States of America. There are also those who do not like him because he is a strict and disciplined man so they have fears about him being president of our great republic. Sometimes, when there is no other reason left in the recycle bin then this comes out - Maada Bio does not smile and always looks too serious. Just maybe, the newest requirement for the presidency is smiling.
If it was a sensible strategy to attack a presidential candidate as jobless and poor, President Buhari would never have won landslide elections recently in Nigeria. In fact, during the Nigerian elections, the Director of Media and Publicity of the then Governing PDP, Femi Fani-Kayode once mocked Rtd. Maj. Gen. Buhari about being jobless to newsmen “We believe that our dear General would have done himself proud even if all he could do was to set up a pure water manufacturing business that could keep younger Nigerians around him in gainful employment. Yet even this he failed to do. This is a man that wants to be elected President of a country that has the largest economy in black Africa.” The Nigerian voters were too intelligent enough to dismiss the nonsense from Fani-Kayode and voted emphatically for President Buhari.
Similarly, if travelling to the United States of America was a requirement to be a head of state of a country, in the 2014 Indian elections Narendra Modi would never have won landslide elections to be Prime Minister and in the 2013 Kenyan Presidential elections Uhuru Kenyatta would never have become a President. Both men were demonised during their respective elections by their opponents that they could not travel to United States of America for allegations of human rights violations. However, majority of Indians and Kenyans dismissed the smear attacks as utter nonsense and voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Uhuru Kenyatta respectively because they cared about their own nation and love their people. In September 2014, President Obama welcomed Prime Minister Modi to the White House and stated it was an extraordinary pleasure whilst in August 2014 President Uhuru Kenyatta was hosted at the White House for the State Dinner on the occasion of US-Africa Leaders’ Summit. When the Indians and Kenyans emphatically voted, the United States Government listened.
However despite all the opposition towards their candidacies President Buhari, President Kenyatta and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had one common denominator with Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio – massive support from ordinary people. None of the three elected Heads of State ever worked for the United Nations or campaigned in their respective elections with pictures of United Nations Secretary General Banki Moon. It is not that to have pictures with Secretary General Banki Moon is a bad idea but surely it is not a political strategy to either lead a political party or a nation.
For Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, the Presidential elections are still many months away but his spectacular welcome on Saturday 11th October especially in Freetown has once again put beyond doubt that he is the people’s choice. The homecoming excitement was so figuratively infectious that some people started travelling to Lungi on Friday and thousands did on Saturday. Some people slept in the open at Lungi International airport on Saturday night; some did not even sleep; tens of thousands danced in the rain; those who were part of the motorcade said the number of vehicles was more than 250; there were cultural masquerades and “bubu” dancing; musical sets mounted on vehicles and there were just people, people, people. An APC friend of mine had to admit to me that the huge number of people was like a presidential election campaign rally.
So when few people, normally out of dishonesty, say that Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio cannot win elections in Western Area sometimes you think they live in a different planet. Funnily, for many months out of the same dishonesty few have painted people who support Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio as violent but spectacularly even with the tens of thousands of people the event took place largely with no violence or fighting on the streets or at the party headquarters. For such a mammoth crowd of ordinary people to come out in the rains to welcome a politician, he does not have to be a karaoke singer to sing in bars; Sierra Leoneans are far too intelligent than that.
And despite his huge popularity across the country, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio also has a special gift – the gift of rising above party politics to call for national cohesion when the country faces a great disaster or the country needs it at the international stage. When Dr Samura Kamara contested for the Presidency of the African Development Bank, Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio did not see his candidacy just as an APC foreign minister, he publicly supported his candidacy because as a statesman he genuinely believed that if Dr Samura Kamara was elected that would have accorded Sierra Leone respectability amongst the comity of nations and our international partners.
So too when there was an Ebola outbreak, he was the first politician to call for national cohesion; he travelled to Sierra Leone; he made huge donations across the country to Ebola victims; he even visited a quarantined home and he launched an educational trust fund for Ebola orphans. When severe flooding occurred in some parts of the country, he also called for national cohesion and made huge donations to flood victims not only in western area but also in Bo district.
Therefore, the fact that President Koroma welcomed Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio at State House during his courtesy call should not be a surprise. Human tragedies like the Ebola and flooding should go beyond politics. They created an opportunity for politicians to be statesmen and President Koroma and Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio seized that opportunity at the State House meeting. Now, Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has returned home to thank everyone across the country for the bravery, courage, resilience and fortitude in the collective efforts to fight Ebola. What the Ebola outbreak and flooding have shown is that devoid of politics we can be united in our compassion, love and care for one another. Yes, for few people, politics can sometimes be a very nasty game and sometimes people exploit it to demonise others but on human tragedies it must unite us.
And just for those who suffer from selective amnesia, for many years and on many issues whether it was on the initial management of the Ebola funds, the initial concerns regarding the Census and constitutional review processes, the sacking of the former Vice President and many other issues Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has always offered constructive criticisms including proffering policy suggestions for government consideration. Unfortunately, out of lack of understanding, it is not surprising that few people have deliberately misunderstood Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio’s comment on the Supreme Court judgement on the Sam Sumana Case. Even many respected lawyers who hold different opinions from the Supreme Court judges in their interpretations of the constitution, like Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio stated, we can disagree with their interpretations but we should respect the judgement of the court. And there is no better person to have said that than Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio who clearly felt he did not get justice from the Supreme Court in his election petition case and disagreed with their judgement on that case but in the interest of the peace and security of the country he respected the decision of the court.
In conclusion, the return of Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio will also give SLPP the opportunity to continue internal dialogue and peace efforts in the party. Like Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has assured in his interview to radio democracy, he is committed to a peaceful and united SLPP and will always play his part. Sadly, maybe out of naivety, others think their own idea of peace is to build a coalition against a single candidate. But what the return of Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio has demonstrably shown is that coalition against Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada is like forming a coalition against the majority of SLPP members and by extension against an SLPP victory in 2018. What our country needs beyond the Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma presidency is to have a President who is disciplined; experienced; principled; understands governance issues; a capable commander-in-chief; a servant of the people and above all a truly popular politician with the gift of rising beyond party politics – Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio.
© Julius Maada Bio Media and Communications Team
COMMENTS::
By Yankuba Kai-Samba:
Yusuf keketoma, let me point out the flaws in your argument and correct your deliberate misinformation for those who don't know or have not read the records on Julius Bio. 1,Nigerians elected Buhari on credibility and trust. Unlike the faked brigadier Bio, Buhari has established a reputation as incorruptible,principled and a disciplinarian when he once ruled Nigeria as head of the military regime. Buhari has a clear and convincing records on fiscal management and probity. Nigerians were tired of corruption. Buhari campaigned on getting rid of corruption and bringing back some of the monies stolen by state officials. He has started doing exactly what he promised the Nigerian electorate by seeking the help of Serious Crime Agency in UK to arrest the former oil minister in London. Nigerians trusted Buhari because he has no allegations of public theft and corruption against his name. Nigerians believed him when he campaign on corruption and voted for him. In contrast to Bio , the former SLPP president of the party Bio want to lead, made a public declaration in front of diplomatic corps accusing Julius Bio of public theft and emptying the country's treasury. President Kabba went further to accused Bio of unpatriotic acts in just two months as head of the NPRC junta which the people of Sierra Leone forced him to relinquish power because of his lawlessness and thieving. The current president Koroma said this about Julius Bio in the 2012 election campaign in Sierra Leone"Julius Bio is not qualified to share a political with on issues because he is lawless,disorderly and doesn't respect authority. " In another statement president Koroma said politics was not for criminals,referring to president Kabba's statement of Bio being corrupt. Bio's history of theft is in the public domain in Sierra Leone and there are verifiable documentary evidence to prove the allegations of theft. After his then junta foreign minister Abass Bundu who is supporting him to lead my party the SLPP illegally sold Sierra Leone's passport to foreigners,Bio transferred a quarter million dollars of his share from that proceeds in to his channel Islands account. There is a paper document to show the transaction. Bio only escaped criminal charges because an amnesty was granted as part of an inducement for them to return the country to constitutional rule,but his civilian foreign minister Abass Bundu is still facing criminal charges for the illegal sales of passport in the court of Sierra Leone. As for Bio, the court of public opinion firmly rejected him in the 2012 election because he couldn't campaign to eradicate corruption when he had been accused by the president of his party of corruption including awarding a sole attorney to his brother for a bogus contracts which were not delivered but president Kabba 's government was forced to pay several millions of dollars. Is this the man to compare with the much respected and man of integrity Buhari who Africa is looking up to, to cleanse the subregion of corruption. 2 It is bogus to refer to Bio as a brigadier,unlike Buhari who went through the military rank to become a general. Bio was a lieutenant when Strassar, his boss in the NPRC junta was a captain. Strassar,even though he was the head of the junta retained his captain rank. But when Bio led a palace coup he quickly styled himself as brigadier Bio in less than two months without the prerequisite trainings and discipline for the brigadier rank. 3, Yusuf want us to believe that Bio is a discipline man. But his character has demonstrated a glaring and despicable inconsistency that it is an insult to compare him the revered Buhari who practice a clean muslim life. Bio is a wife beater,a conduct that led his wife to divorce him in America. Domestic violence and wife beating is considered a very serious criminal offence in civilized countries. That is why people who beats their wives are never allowed to hold responsible public office because the rationale is that if a man cannot manage his home without violence he can transport that same indiscipline to work situation by being violent to those he work with or managed. In just over two years in UK Bio has betrayed a lady who had helped him a lot for many years. He then impregnated a vulnerable woman in Manchester. He first denied responsibility but a DNA test pointed the finger at him. Surely, I cannot call a man who has a despicable habit of mistreating women in such callous irresponsible ways as disciplined. The other issue is about America refusing visa to Bio to travel to America. Even Bio supporters are not telling us the truth as to why America should have denied entry visa to America to a presidential candidate of a major opposition party . But at some point the SLPP will demand clear answers from him if he insist on contesting again. The comparison Yusuf made with the case of the current India prime minister cannot absolve Bio for his misconduct in America which denied him the visa. Whereas Modu won a clear victory in the largest democracy,Bio was overwhelmingly defeated in Sierra Leone election because of his bad records. India has a bulging economy which America cannot ignore. It is one of the largest trading partners with America and both countries have been building a strong strategic partnership in trade,diplomacy and technological development. So when India elected Modu, it was easy to see why America rescinded the visa restriction otherwise India would have turn its back on America and do business with China and Russia much to the detriment of American economy and standing in the world. America is unlikely to give similar concession to Julius Bio if he ever become president,a prospect that he has completely nailed down when he endorsed president koroma's APC administration as very effective and good,inspite of SLPPs strong opposition of the president's mishandling of Ebola and rampant corruption in his administration. To this extent, Bio has betrayed and undermined the SLPP and the party cannot rely on him to articulate a credible effective opposition to the APC policy failures at the next general election.Julius Bio is a hypocrite and a desperately confused man right now. It will help if you don't say anything about him.
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Wait! Maada Bio get belle or weatin? Why e belle big lek frog. E belle big pas de uman den yon sef. Or na de boku sidom na ose for baby sit pekin na London cause dat? Bo, England uman den wicked. Fatima make big big man lek dis pull belle wea pekin nor dea inside. Ar dea advice una tell dis man to moray man for check e belle if e ok.
OCTOBER 12, 2015 
