Musa Tarawally Warns President Bio Over First Lady’s Actions in Political Space
By Kelvin Jay
Flagbearer aspirant of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Alhaji Musa Tarawally, has publicly criticised what he describes as the growing political influence of First Lady Mrs Fatima Bio, urging President Julius Maada Bio to intervene and rein in her alleged activities within the party.
Speaking on the issue, Tarawally accused the First Lady of using her position to intimidate political opponents within the SLPP, warning that such actions could undermine peace, unity, and internal cohesion in the ruling party. He cited an incident in which the First Lady allegedly disrespected the SLPP Chairman, claiming that similar conduct had been directed at other party members without consequence.
Tarawally warned that if the First Lady’s alleged actions are not checked, they could strain the cordial relationship President Bio enjoys with party members, including himself. He therefore called on the President to “put his foot down” and assert control.
“The First Lady is using bloggers to intimidate political opponents,” Tarawally alleged, referencing claims involving a blogger identified as Samura, who he said purportedly claimed to be acting with the backing of the First Lady to attack her perceived opponents.
He further alleged that when the blogger was arrested, there were claims that the First Lady intervened and requested his release from police custody.
Emphasising his commitment to national peace and stability, Tarawally said he has long worked with President Bio to safeguard the country’s peace, but warned that the First Lady was “crossing boundaries” in the political space.
“If she is behind these bloggers, as claimed, and they are causing division within the party, then it must stop,” Tarawally said. He added: “If you don’t control her, we will control her in the political space in the interest of the nation and its stability.”
Tarawally also alleged that the First Lady moves with heavy police and military presence, which he claimed is used to intimidate citizens. He further alleged that vulnerable individuals have been encouraged to verbally attack him.
He concluded by stating that he would not accept any form of intimidation allegedly linked to the First Lady, stressing that if President Bio fails to address the matter—something he described as the President’s responsibility—he would take steps to politically challenge her influence.
In response, First Lady Fatima Bio, dismissed Tarawally’s accusations as false and misleading. She stated that she came to know the blogger Samura through Musa Tarawally himself.
“Samura was a close person to Musa Tarawally. It was Musa who was taking care of Samura and instructing him to do all the dirty things for him,” she added. “It is because he and Samura have fallen apart that he now wants to shift the blame to me.”
The First Lady further stated that Tarawally had never contacted her nor discussed his political ambitions with her.
She accused Tarawally of playing political tricks to gain sympathy and alleged that he had previously instructed party supporters not to rally behind her or wear President Bio’s T-shirts, claiming that the President’s time in office was coming to an end.
“Musa Tarawally has been calling people not to support me,” she stated. “There was a time when he told people not to wear the President’s T-shirt because his time had come to an end.”
Fatima Bio concluded by accusing Tarawally of hypocrisy, urging him to “speak the truth and let the devil be ashamed,” insisting that he was the one directing the blogger to carry out attacks on his behalf.
