Osman Abdal Timbo, the elected Member of Parliament for Constituency 130 in Freetown from the opposition party, All Peoples Congress (APC), has announced his support for his party's decision to refrain from participating in governance. He claims to have received endorsement from his supporters and constituents who voted for him.
Taking to social media, Timbo revealed that he had been inundated with calls, messages, voice notes, and visits from the same individuals who voted for him, urging him not to engage in parliamentary activities. He believes that the voice of the people is akin to the voice of God and that it is their interests he aims to represent. In response to a post by the US Embassy urging the opposition not to boycott Parliament in the name of democracy, Timbo stated that the people who voted for him have expressly requested him to abstain.
In his full post, Timbo emphasized his commitment to representing the people since he entered politics in 2013 and expressed his gratitude for the votes he received in the recent general election. He acknowledged that people's votes hold significant value, as they embody their efforts, aspirations, and desires. Referring to the national constitution, he highlighted that sovereignty belongs to the Sierra Leonean people, from whom the government derives its authority.
Timbo described the calls, messages, voice notes, and visits he has received from constituents who adamantly advised against his participation in Parliament since the election results were announced. In line with the overwhelming sentiment expressed by the people, he declared that he would not be attending the commencement of the 6th Parliament, as their voice is of utmost importance to him.
Endorsing the APC's decision, which was informed by its supporters and members, to refrain from participating in governance until specific demands are met, Timbo emphasized the need for transparent and credible elections. He highlighted the importance of publishing the disaggregated polling station results to ensure the accuracy of the final results. Timbo stressed that it should not take more than a day after the announcement of the final results for this information to be made public, as it is a simple addition of the votes from each polling station.
Addressing the post by the US Embassy urging the opposition not to boycott Parliament for the sake of democracy, Timbo argued that the people who voted for the opposition have expressly asked them not to participate. He believed that their silence serves as a powerful statement, contrary to their actions and accomplishments during the previous five years. In this context, their silence does not imply consent but is, instead, a valuable expression of their stance.
Regards,
Osman Timbo