“I am proud and confident of my stewardship. Whatever the case, the entire country can rest assured that I will be personally appearing at Commissions Of Inquiry when it reaches investigations around Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs. When I return to face the Commissions, those who say I have run away from Sierra Leone will know that I have absolutely nothing to run away from,” said Dr. Blyden.
It can be further recalled that, Blyden is one of APC’s forerunners who have been vehemently condemning and kicking conditionally the existence of the COI.
Many people believe it was the position of Blyden against the COI that gingered many other APC members to threatened not to avail themselves to the Commissions’ hearings should they be invited.
As if her surprise twist to now honour the COI’s call was not enough to trouble her colleague comrades, Blyden further made an utterance that has now rendered some of her comrades restless and more troubled.
She stated: “In my own case, I will not only have lawyers represent me but when it is the turn of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs to be investigated, I will personally appear. This is because not only am I very proud and confident of my stewardship as Minister but I also have quite a lot to say to the entire people of Sierra Leone through the Commissions of Inquiry. There are plenty of things the World needs to know and understand about how corruption happens within Sierra Leone.”
Whatever is it that Blyden want the world to know is what has left many of her senior and junior comrades trembling, especially those with skeletons in their cupboards and had wanted to dodge the Commissions by hiding behind Blyden’s initial position.
Blyden said it had made sense to boycott the proceedings as she was sure the Judiciary would have swiftly interpreted the Constitution to mean the Commissions as created, cannot hold without firstly, following recognised Rules of Evidence and secondly, without the Rules of Court Committee making rules regulating the practise and procedures for the Commissions.
She ended her chat by saying: “I left the country in June last year to seek medical attention and the next month of July whilst I was still away, an illegal Travel Ban was instituted stopping all former APC Ministers from traveling out of Sierra Leone without first seeking approval from the current SLPP Regime so I just decided to stay away rather than return to what was a virtual Cage that President Maada Bio’s regime dictatorially held keys to. Because I stayed away from the Maada Bio-controlled Cage, some folks said I have run away. Well, they will soon know I have absolutely no reason to run away from a country I hope to lead as President one day”.
