By Thaimu Thullah
Controversial Minister of Lands and Country Planning Minister, Dr. Turad Senessie — a man who has embarrassed the Maada Bio Government so much, and hated by even ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) supporters for his heartless destruction of people’s homes and seizure of lands belonging to private citizens, is still in office, despite so many complaints and calls by the public for him to be shown the exit door.
Dr. Senesie’s behavior in illegally and unlawfully taking undue advantage over innocent and helpless Sierra Leoneans, by illegally dispossessing them of their lands, is a disgrace to President Bio’s government, and an affront to democratic institutions and international stakeholders, including Sierra Leoneans at home and in the diaspora, who have been trying their best to invest in their homeland.
Such a behavior is very unbecoming of a public official, and apart from embarrassing the government, he has created the impression that President Bio does not control his officials, and people like him are ‘sacred cows’ and untouchable.
Sierra Leoneans, in an opinion poll conducted recently, have called on President Julius Maada Bio to replace the current Lands Minister, Dr. Turad Sennesie, who, many believe, is causing serious problem for the SLPP Government.
In an opinion poll conducted by TSL, over thirty people interviewed expressed that the Lands Minister, Dr Turad Senessie, is worse than his predecessor and should be shown the exit door, especially as the President is considering to reshuffle his cabinet.
TSL gathered that quite a good number of the citizenry are unhappy with the Lands Minister, whose “unlawful” dispossession of private lands has caused more burden on the lives of poor Sierra Leoneans. They argued that for President Bio to continue to enjoy the confidence and trust of the masses, he should think of replacing Dr. Turad Senessie, who has been demonstrating ego, disrespect and bully against peaceful citizens. They claimed that the Minister has succeeded in taking away their lands in areas like Angola Town, Tokeh, No. 2 and many places within Freetown, under the pretext of reclaiming ‘State Lands.’ This blatant disregard for private ownership of land by the Minister has not gone down well with land owners, and the sale of the said dispossessed lands to the highest bidder has gone to confirm the view that it is simply a business venture, at the expense of the dispossessed.
There are concerns from citizens that some of the lands now deemed to be state lands, have been originally acquired legally and lawfully by citizens over the past years, who have been paying taxes and other charges for same, yet the Minister took upon himself to have those lands dispossessed.
With wild rumors doing the rounds of a possible cabinet reshuffle anytime from now, there is growing calls for the Minister of Lands to be shown the exit door. This call is the cry of many Sierra Leoneans, who believe that Dr. Senessie’s tenure has caused more harm than good to the good intentions of the Bio government.