By Foday Moriba Conteh
Musa Tarawallie, one of the personalities seeking to become flagbearer of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) ahead of the 2028 presidential election, has issued a strong public statement over what he described as dangerous social media allegations capable of undermining peace, provoking political tension and damaging relations between himself, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio.
In a video broadcast, Musa Tarawallie said he had been closely monitoring online discussions and had been receiving several calls from concerned individuals drawing his attention to posts and discussions he attributed to a blogger he identified as Samura. According to Musa Tarawallie, the blogger had circulated claims suggesting that Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio bought a house for him(the blogger) and was supporting him in a way that encouraged political attacks against Musa Tarawallie.
Musa Tarawallie warned that the allegations, if allowed to fester without clarification, could fuel division and create unnecessary tension in the political space, not only within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) but across the wider society. He argued that Sierra Leone’s hard-won peace must not be threatened by what he called political indiscipline, abuse of influence and the rise of unregulated online activism which, he claimed, can easily be weaponized for propaganda, blackmail and character assassination.
He further alleged that when similar actions were carried out against others in the past, the same blogger was arrested, but that Dr. Fatima Maada Bio allegedly ordered the blogger’s release from police custody, a development Musa Tarawallie claimed prevented justice from taking its course. He described the matter as troubling and insisted that the rule of law must apply equally, regardless of one’s status or proximity to power.
Addressing President Dr. Julius Maada Bio directly, Musa Tarawallie appealed for leadership intervention, arguing that the nation has struggled over the years to attain its current level of stability and cannot afford to slide backwards. In an emotional message, Musa Tarawallie urged President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to ensure proper conduct within the political environment, warning that issues of perceived intimidation and political interference could create serious problems among political actors if left unaddressed.
“Your Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, I want you to know that we have struggled, worked hard to achieve the peace we are enjoying as a nation which you are leading. Your wife is crossing barriers and if as Samura, the blogger, is claiming that the First Lady is behind him I want you to know that if you cannot control your wife we will control her in the political space in the interest of the nation and the stability of the nation,” Musa Tarawallie said.
Musa Tarawallie further accused Dr. Fatima Maada Bio of moving with what he described as an “ambience of power,” including the police and the military, which he claimed was being used to intimidate people. He also alleged that vulnerable youths were being used to insult others online and disclosed that he had been informed the blogger insulted his mother; an allegation he described as unacceptable, offensive and deeply hurtful.
Musa Tarawallie maintained that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has a responsibility to maintain discipline within the broader political environment, warning that intimidation and political interference could trigger serious consequences if left unchecked. He also alleged that he had witnessed similar actions directed at the Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), insisting that he would not tolerate what he called impunity and indiscipline within the party and stressing that such behaviour should not continue under his leadership should he become leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Beyond his personal grievances, Musa Tarawallie raised concerns over the growing influence of bloggers, calling for stricter control and monitoring of online platforms. Musa Tarawallie argued that Sierra Leone has credible print and electronic media institutions that work to disseminate verified information, warning that unregulated blogging can inflame political tensions, promote misinformation and be used as a weapon against opponents.
In response to the allegation made by Musa Tarawallie, Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio strongly denied any wrongdoing and described the allegations as dishonest, adding that the said Samura is an operative of Musa Tarawallie and that Samura is Musa Tarawallie’s “main boy” who has been with him for years. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio maintained that everything Samura has done in the country has been done under Musa Tarawallie’s instructions.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio said she came to know Samura through Musa Tarawallie and questioned why Musa Tarawallie would publicly associate her with Samura while attempting to exonerate himself from any connection to the blogger. “For you to accuse me when you are fully aware that I know Samura like any other Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) member in the country as one of the people under your watch is unfair. If you and Samura have fall out for any reason why using my name,” Dr. Fatima Maada Bio was quoted as saying, adding that she considered it as unjust for Musa Tarawallie to repeatedly “come after a woman” and assume she would remain silent.
Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio said she had respected Musa Tarawallie from the day she met him, not because she owed him anything but because he is her elder and because she came to know him through her husband, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. She also added that Musa Tarawallie accused her without calling her or ask questions regarding Samura’s attitude, despite Musa Tarawallie being the person who, in her view, brought Samura up politically.
According to the First Lady, Musa Tarawallie was now using the fact that Samura visited her in her office as the basis for the accusations against her, stressing that such a claim was unjustified.
Dr. Fatima Maada Bio also alleged that she is aware of instances in which Musa Tarawallie had been calling people not to welcome her in certain towns, claiming that the same people would later inform her that it was Musa Tarawallie who asked them not to do so.
She further alleged that on many occasions she sent T-shirts bearing the image of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for supporters to wear, but Musa Tarawallie would allegedly instruct them not to wear the T-shirts, suggesting that the tenure of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio had come to an end. “For you to come out today to pretend that you Musa Tarawallie don’t know Samura is the most dishonest thing anybody can do,” Dr. Fatima Maada Bio maintained, adding that it is shameful for Musa Tarawallie to attack her and spread lies.
She urged Musa Tarawallie to use her name in a positive way and not negatively, especially when he knows the claims are lies. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio said that in the political space, political actors should speak about what they have done for the country so that people would applaud them, rather than resorting to accusations and distractions.
The First Lady encouraged Musa Tarawallie to “keep his eyes on the ball,” stressing that she is not the ball and challenged him to tell the nation that Samura is one of the boys Musa Tarawallie raised. “If you are proud of Samura today, it is what you trained him to be. If you are not proud of the Samura today, it is what you trained him to be,” Dr. Fatima Maada Bio stated figuratively.
Concluding her response, Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio distanced herself from abusive language and political insults, stressing that she is a dignified woman who does not abuse people and would not send anyone to attack Musa Tarawallie. According to her she is sorry if Samura abused Musa Tarawallie, describing such behaviour as unfair and unacceptable but insisted that she should not be blamed for it.
