Former Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs in Sierra Leone, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden has refuted claims against timing of Hon. Chief Justice, Desmond Babatunde Edwards swearing in His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.
Carefully explaining the right constitutional procedures, Dr. Blyden said she has noted few commentaries that ignorantly accuse the Sierra Leone President and the Chief Justice of engaging in a “mad rush” to swear the President in to office on the same day he was pronounced elected.
“This claim of “mad rush” is very dangerous. It needs to be quickly rebutted by all patriots who knows better. So please help me to reshare this constitutional lecture I am writing today.
“Notwithstanding those who are politically or financially sponsored to say otherwise, it is no gainsaying that I have a sterling reputation of always being truthful and patriotic so I today stand on that solid reputation to help educate against such unfortunate misinformation of “mad rush” that can fuel misunderstanding both at home and internationally.
“Sections 42(3), 46(4) and 46(5) of the Sierra Leone Constitution Act #6 of 1991 together say that the Chief Justice shall administer the Oath of Office on a newly Elected or Re-elected President on the same day the Returning Officer (Chief Electoral Commissioner) proclaims him as the Winner of the Elections.
“So, for those claiming President Julius Maada Bio and Hon. Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards both engaged in a “mad rush” to have the President sworn in, please be advised that if President Julius Maada Bio, (like President Ernest Bai Koroma in 2012) had failed to immediately get himself sworn in on the same day, he would have been in treasonous breach of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
“I repeat: – The 1991 Constitution dictates that as soon as a president is proclaimed elected, he should immediately be sworn in by the Chief Justice – on that very same day!!
“The only exception to this dictate of the Constitution is if a predecessor (outgoing president) of a newly elected President had not yet finished his 5 years term: a rare but possible occurrence if such predecessor had called for early elections. Clearly that does not apply to President Bio’s re-election.
“Other than that sole caveat, any President who fails to immediately get himself sworn in to office on the same day he is proclaimed winner, has committed a serious breach of the sacred Constitution. So, there was no “mad rush” at all. President and Chief Justice were merely obeying the Constitution.
“Constitutional references: Section 42(3): A person elected to the office of President under this section shall assume that office on the day upon which he is declared elected by the Returning Officer… Section 46(4): Upon his assumption of office, the President shall take and subscribe the oath for the due execution of his office… Section 46(5): The oath aforesaid shall be administered by the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone…”
