By Prince C. Kamara
The main topic of discussion in the public court and on social media these days is what transpired in the Well of Parliament on August 7, 2025.
What made history that day, was not the lengthy speech of President Bio on the state of the nation. It also was not the table-banging opposition APC MPs denouncing their distaste for the Proportional Representation (PR) system of election. It also was not about the infamous song: ‘Cocoa Roast’ that, incidentally, had different connotation for the ruling SLPP and the opposition APC.
Everyone – Members of Parliament, former Vice Presidents, Diplomatic Corps, observers and virtually everyone that was inside the Well of Parliament that fateful day, could not have missed observing the defiant nature of the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio. She either by omission of commission did not stand up as a sign of respect and as protocol deserves when the Speaker, followed a little later by the Vice President made their entrance into the Chamber.
To crown it all, when His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio made his own entrance into the Well, she reportedly also did not stand up.
However, what needs clarification is whether Fatima Bio committed any crime by defying protocol. Eyewitnesses say she could have felt belittled, embarrassed or ridiculed when she made her entrance into the Well, and was immediately greeted with the song, ‘You Cocoa Don Roast.’ Political pundits claim that it could have been this chant, which got her into a withdrawn mode. However, others are of the opinion that a good politician knows how to react in any given situation and that therefore, Fatima should have taken what happened that day in good faith and in the interest of her party’s unity.
Someone needs to educate the First Lady that she deliberately broke age-long protocols when she refused to recognize and respect the Speaker of the House by NOT STANDING UP. Someone needs to also educate her that she also broke laid-down protocol by refusing to recognize the Vice President by standing up when he too made his entrance into the well. Of course, it could be argued that it is optional for her to decide whether to rise or not in cognizance of President Julius Maada Bio for the simple fact that, the latter is her husband. But, as for the former two gentlemen, she must understand that unlike her, they were elected by the people of this country and therefore deserve respect.
The question therefore arises: Are Fatima Bio’s actions on that fateful day tantamount to committing a crime? If yes, what next?
