Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, received a warm reception during a recent visit to Makeni, a city widely regarded as a stronghold of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC). The lively welcome has sparked debate among political observers, with some suggesting it may have unsettled sections of the opposition.
According to one analyst, the First Lady’s activities in the north, particularly her commissioning of a hospital at the Teko Barracks, triggered criticism from former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, who accused the First Lady of usurpation of the Vice President’s constitutional role.
“It usurps the Vice President’s role and blurs the line between state duty and her political campaign,” Kamara noted. He stressed that the ceremony was treated like a “social event”.
Supporters of the First Lady, however, dismissed the claims, arguing that the commissioning is aligned with the government’s broader efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s healthcare infrastructure.
They argued that, over the years, Fatima Bio has been playing a key role in advancing the country’s health sector, including supporting the construction of a 600-bed facility at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown and championing the creation of the Dr Fatima Maada Bio College of Health Sciences and Allied Technology in Waterloo.
Her advocates also highlighted her humanitarian initiatives in Kono District, where she established a Safe Home and Vocational Centre in Koidu City to provide shelter, counselling and skills training for survivors of gender-based violence.
Supporters of the First Lady are urging the public to acknowledge her contributions and back her efforts irrespective of political affiliations.
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