Sierra Leone First Lady picks a fight with BBC Correspondent Umaru Fofanah for broadcasting her incendiary remark that husband has PH.D in making coups
For drama, Sierra Leone as a country never disappoints. There is always something, especially since the SLPP Government led by Maada Bio came to power in 2018.
While addressing an SLPP event in New Jersey, USA last week during the United Nations General Assembly, the Sierra Leone First Lady Fatima Bio made statements that have come to haunt her. She described her husband, President Maada Bio, as a holder of a PH.D degree in the art of coup making . The BBC had a report on her remarks. A day after that, the First Lady launched a blistering attack on BBC Correspondent Umaru Fofana.
THE BBC REPORT
Sierra Leone president has PhD in coups – first lady*
Umaru Fofana
BBC Africa, Freetown
Mrs Bio has been known to make controversial commentsImage caption: Mrs Bio has been known to make controversial comments
Fatima Bio, the wife of Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, has said her husband holds a PhD degree in staging coups therefore nobody can overthrow him.
She was referring to the violent protests of 10 August in opposition strongholds which left 31 people killed including six police officers.
The president blamed the protests – which were generally about the high cost of living – on the opposition alleging that they were part of a plot to overthrow him, leading to the dismissal of the top three in the army.
Speaking over the weekend at a fundraising event in the US, Mrs Bio accused unnamed people of wanting to overthrow her husband.
“Maada Bio has a PhD in coup d’état, can you remove him?” she asked rhetorically, before reiterating: “The man has a PhD in [staging] coups, how can you remove someone who teaches people how to stage a coup?,” the first lady said in a video shared on Facebook.
Mrs Bio was making an apparent reference to the fact that her husband first came to power in April 1992 as part of a group of young military officers who overthrew the civilian government of Joseph Saidu Momoh of the All People’s Congress, the party he defeated at the polls in 2018 and whom he accused of being behind the August protests.
The opposition party vehemently denied the allegations.
Many have condemned the statement with some of the moderate elements within her Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) condemning it.
Mrs Bio, a prolific user of Facebook and TikTok, has been known to make controversial comments.
She has not responded to the reactions following her coup comments, nor has anyone at the presidency.
THIS IS WHAT THE FIRST LADY FATIMA BIO ON FACEBOOK FELT ABOUT UMARU FOFANA SENDING THAT REPORT TO THE BBC.
Someone please tell my big brother to look for news elsewhere. His latest report against me is what we call STALE NEWS in Journalism.
Does he know that Sierra Leone sponsored a stand-alone Resolution (International Cooperation on Access to Justice and Remedies for Survivors of Sexual Violence) that was successfully ADOPTED by the UN for the first time since independence?
Does he know that this unprecedented move to enhance Justice for rape victims across the world was initiated by President Bio and championed by my humble self?
Is the major international goal not news worthy?
That aside, does he know that I am also championing the initiative for a UN RESOLUTION TO DECLARE NOVEMBER 18 AS WORLD DAY FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION AND HEALING, with support from Islamic Relief, Harvard University and the Catholic Church? Is that also not News.
My brother, all of these and more happened before your expired news, sir.
Check VOA with Peter Clottey and you will see and understand what is really news worthy about First Lady Fatima Maada Bio’s UN trip.
No hard feelings sir but I will like you to know that because Manchester and Arsenal are cladded in red jerseys doesn’t make them the same team. 😜😜😜😜
– Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone
BUT MANY SOME SIERRA LEONEANS THOUGHT THAT FATIMA BIO SHOULD BLAME ONLY HERSELF AND NOT THE POOR JOURNALIST : READ SOME SAMPLE OPINIONS .
A coup d’etat by definition is an illegal seizure of power.
For someone to say that the President of Sierra Leone, the leader of our nation has a PHD in Coup d’Etat and trains others in doing illegal seizure of power is an insult to the Presidency.
I know many people will attack me for saying this but I will say it. Everyone must respect the office of the Presidency. EVERYONE!
I have no allegiance to anyone but I will always swear my allegiance to Sierra Leone and respect the office of the presidency. It is my duty as a citizen.
Somethings should never be said because they cast a negative shadow over our country and bring the Presidency into disrepute.
I am incredibly disappointed by the silence from State House. They have not said anything about the inciting and denigrating statements made about the President of Sierra Leone.
If there ever was a time that we need unity and calm
that time is now.
I leave you with the wisdom of our ancestors as written in our national anthem. To our people and our country…blessing and peace be ever thine own…
Umaru Fofanah’s report on the BBC of Bio’s coupist credentials is a huge indictment of Bio’s lack of respect for constitutionality and,that is manifesting itself extremely clear in the way he is conducting voters registration for the next general elections.Are we going to allow the charlatan have his way this time?
Her statement was disgusting.Every patriotic citizen should feel embarassed and terrified.No one should take pride and be boasting about coup d’etat.It reduces the office of the presidency,the fountain of honor,our constitution,our legislation and judiaciary to the lowest level.
Worse of it all, she made her statement right here in AMERICA.
And she’ll still get per diem for it.Living off tax payers money and bringing into disrepute our country and her citizens.May God redeem our Homeland from this brand of politicians.
Madam First Lady if such statements were from opposition members, your government would have ordered the arrest and detention of that opposition member. Hon. Kemoh Sesay of the opposition APC was arrested and detained for similar statements.
Also know that part of your statements seem open and can be broadly interpreted differently across the continent especially in fragile zones.
You should be mindful of the statements you make for the reputation of the first family and country at large
First Lady Fatima Maada Bio you now lecturing journalists on what’s news and what’s not? Even your dance moves makes good news in case you don’t know. Prominence is a news value FYI. Hello from NYC
Yet your statement is just unacceptable and inciting to an extent….indeed you’re doing your best for the country to be globally recognised, kudose. But uttering such statement as a first lady and a global ambassador for this country is disgusting to hear and sad for your reputation. Let’s imagine an opposition party members give out such statement your husband would have sent law agencies to invite him/her for investigations over incitement. Put Salone Fos!!
In as much as Umaru Fofanah should have aired the news of the achievements made by the first lady for the Simple fact that she’s a Sierra Leonean, she (First Lady) shouldn’t have said what she said. People must start to be honest and patriotic enough to tell our role models the truth especially when they say things that are unacceptable.
Umaru Fofanah is a journalists and the media in general is not independent and that is why all over the world people especially celebrities and politicians censored their speeches before giving them out. Naturally bad news always get the best attention.
Atleast all those APC folks accusing him of being SLPP must be swimming in shame haven discovered how independent the man is.
Mama nor vex too much you are doing well for us as a nation. Some of us appreciate you efforts but those words are not appropriate.
Yesterday wassce results were out and parents and children are happy because everybody is seeing the changes in the education system. That’s capital development focus on that.
Such statements is absurd and it taints the presidency of our nation wrongly. As a country, we have gone through a lot that we should have learned from. Saying such about the president is bad coz it sent negative vibe out to the rest of the world and that has no positive impact to our nation. Let think Country imagery, country development and not politics.
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Hello from NYC 
