Sierra Leone’s Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella Explodes
The Leader of the opposition National Grand Coalition (NGC) in Parliament has publicly criticized the Leadership in the House of Parliament with accusations of flouting rules, processes, and procedures, which he said was tantamount corruption.
“Corruption is not just about money. It is also when you play with the rules for moral gains”, Hon Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella said.
He noted that in institutions like Parliament there are written rules, traditions, and values, which guide proceedings.
“We also have sacrosanct values and traditions that the institution protects”, he said.
Dr Kolleh underscored the importance of following set rules and frowned at bending the rules in the guise of collective responsibility.
“I am a senior citizen and too old now to be told by a very junior person who is bending the rules to say that it is a collective responsibility”, he lashed out, adding, “once we have set the rules we you have to go by them”.
The NGC Leader said he was encouraged by the fact that there were young men and women in Parliament who were committed to making a change and that about 80% of MPs were new, who could not be very familiar with Standing Orders and processes.
“There are young people in there who really want change and to be free from the shackles and chains of 77k in the Constitution, which sometimes makes it very difficult for them to grow in their parties”, disclosed.
He strongly condemned the attitude of those Members of Parliament who were in the habit of referring to previous wrongdoing to justify flouting the rules.
“If it is something good and it is a tradition, we would want to follow that good tradition”, he said.
The NGC leader pointed at unchecked excesses in Parliament which have resulted in silencing critical contribution but commended those who were ready to damn the consequences and speak out.
“We have also seen how others have been sanctioned and deprived of certain immunities. They have been silenced and nobody has said anything”, he said.
Speaking directly to the disagreement between him and the Speaker, KKY said the issues border on policy and long-standing personal differences. He particularly criticized the Speaker for overturning a decision to reclaim his property during his tenure without going through due process.
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