By Moisa Kerkula
It appears that members of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) agreed yesterday to walk out of the meeting hosted by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) for the respective political parties to give their submissions to the controversial clause ‘supreme executive authority’ which was re-phrased ‘chief executive authority.’
PMDC LEADER CHARLES MARGAI
Reports indicate that the SLPP and PMDC political parties are agitating that the word ‘supreme’ be repealed and replaced with the word ‘chief’ citing reasons bordered on ambiguity and confusion over whether it is the constitution or the president that is supreme.
According to the reports, after briefly listening to the submissions made by other political party members on the CRC committee, the SLPP and PMDC representatives decided to walk out without even attempting to express their reservations and having them recorded for posterity sake as should have been the case.
However, the All People’s Congress (APC) and Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) representatives that were present reportedly consented to making their own submissions and they were recorded for further discussion.
Social commentators and political analysts say the behavior of the SLPP and PMDC representatives was not necessary and childish because they should at least have sat down and made their own contribution even if it was against the use of the word ‘supreme’. Social commentators and political analysts are of the opinion however that in as much as they are concerned there is little difference between the two words.
They added that they (SLPP and PMDC) should be reminded that past presidents including the late Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah who handed power to President Koroma had also been referred to as ‘supreme’ executive authority and had even used the title in making extraordinary decisions including signing the death warrant of a number of alleged coup plotters and army mutineers.
