*THE RESCINDED PRESIDENTIAL PARDON; A SHAMEFUL AFFAIR*
By Tony Konomanyi
So, our President has revoked a pardon he signed just under three weeks ago, and the apologists have been thanking him for his “wisdom” in making the right decision.
But who’s to blame, if I may ask?
Before the government finds an unwitting scapegoat to take the fall, are we to believe that our President signs and approves important documents without scrutiny?
Are we also to believe that the President did not vet a process that is as important as the “Presidential Pardon”, and a convicted murderer was “erroneously” released from prison?
The same convicted murderer was out and about, “living it large” for nearly three weeks, garnering intense media scrutiny, and provoking public outrage, yet our President knew nothing about this, until the convict in question had reportedly fled our shores, before our President, aloof as always, realised that there had been an error.
What exactly is President Maada Bio busy doing, seeing that he’s evidently not doing his job?
The stench of this whole affair will linger on for decades after President Bio would have been kicked out of office.
One thing is for certain though, that Our President is as incompetent as he’s corrupt, and, consequently, the Presidency has been left morally bankrupt.
For me, the most disheartening thing about this entire charade is that it’s just another example of this government treating Sierra Leoneans like fools.
We’re being governed by liars, scammers and charlatans, who are using the national frenzy of our Leone stars’ Afcon success to cover up President Bio’s latest monumental mess up.
And that vexes me no end.
©Tony Konomanyi
The case of Herbalist LA Chocolate takes another dimension! Mountain Waves BlogWhen Herbalist M’Baimba Moiforay or LA Chocolate was freed through a Bio presidential pardon on New Year’s Day, some of us questioned the act.
LA Chocolate was convicted for killing Sydney Buckle or DJ Clef in Freetown in 2015.
The body of the deceased (DJ Clef) was found mutilated probably for ritual purposes. LA Chocolate was therefore sentenced to death by hanging. But after the moratorium on the death penalty, his punishment was reduced to life imprisonment.
Now the president says he is investigating the circumstances that led to LAC been granted a presidential pardon and his clemency is revoked. But LAC is no where to be seen. Where is he now?
Today the information minister posted this on his Facebook page after the picture of him, other government officials and LAC in a private home popped up. To me this looks like they are trying to shift the blame to some low ranking officials, ie finding a scapegoat. Are they saying they don’t know LAC or his crime in small Freetown, Salone? Like they say “No single raindrop believes it is responsible for the flood” but what’s the source of flooding ?
Meanwhile, LA Chocolate was seen moving around with state security guards days after his release from jail. Where did he get them from ? Let me stop here for now. All I can say is- Mr. Minister and others “Facts do not seize to exist because they’re ignored! More on this later.
