By Africa 24 newsman

Some members of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP ) and All People’s s Congress (APC) in parliament have urged those parading to succeed President Julius Maada Bio to “resign their positions.”

According to MPs, the constitution is sacrosanct on who is eligible to become President of Sierra Leone and the criteria are outlined by the law books.

“You cannot hold on public office and you are bragging or using the suite of office to do your campaign. We don’t want people to use tax payers’   monies for their campaigns,” an SLPP MP told this medium.

The MP said many have opted for the Presidency and the only way for them to be freed from criticism is to avoid using their offices while showing determination to succeed President Julius Maada Bio in 2028.

According to one of the SLPP parliamentarians who prefers to stay unidentified, he said  the succession race is tough and prominent personalities within the SLPP had opted for the position of Presidency. He said they are all government workers and are holding key public offices.

“This is the main reason most governments in Africa are failing woefully in their second term in office. It is evidenced that most of their appointees are more focused in becoming successors than to work for the good of the nation and its people, ” the SLPP MP stated.                                                                  President Bio appointed people to assist him in his quest for service delivery and not to sabotage his plans and as it stands now, adding over 150 people have been appointed and their main focus should on helping with the development of the nation and not the other way round.

In one of the debates for the approval of Presidential appointees, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon Bashiru Silikie,  said   the work of the Presidential appointees could potentially bring the party down or ignite reelection for the party in the next elections.

He furthered stated that MPs are not primarily elected to take the development in communities, rather, he said, it is the work of the Presidential appointees.

“MPs are only elected to make laws, representations and oversight functions. “Everything about development now is in the hands of us the MPs, because appointees are dodging their responsibilities,” he said.

He emphasized on the need to make the President and the nation proud.

“If you are approved don’t do otherwise in your offices, ” Hon Silikie said.

The APC MPs have also reechoed what the SLPP MPs said about the need for those wishing to succeed President Julius Maada Bio.

He asked them to slow down and allow a genuine race.

The APC MPs urged President Julius Maada Bio not to entertain any bias in the race for Bio’s succession.

“Former President Koroma did that and at the end of the day his decision affected him and his party. The people and the SLPP membership should be allowed to choose their own successor, ” APC MP recalled.

Hon Abdul Karim Kamara  (AKK) has repeatedly  told Sierra Leoneans that the country is not lacking human resources, but the main issue, he said, that it lacks is to get the right people.

“Fighting to succeed President Julius Maada Bio while you are holding office is like sabotaging the work of the President,” AKK said.

Many make similar sentiments regarding the resignation of those intending to succeed Bio.