By Ragan M. Conteh
The position of Speaker in parliament has become so tense that members of parliament from both side of the aisle have disclosed to this medium that getting the speakership squarely rests on the hands of those in State House.
It is a position that could be determined in the Presidency circle.
“We are just waiting for the powers that be to give us one candidate that we are going to consider for voting as Speaker,” one of the SLPP MPs said.
What is currently happening in Parliament is nothing to write home about as MPs from the ruling bench have divided themselves into cabals.
MPs said all the two preferred candidates for the Speakership are strong, senior MPs from the ruling bench and are very qualified.
Meanwhile, information from Parliament has it that the two heavy contestants, Hon Mohamed Sidi Tunis and Hon Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, were being summoned on Friday 19th April 2024 at State House for further scrutiny.
Sources said State House will decide who will be taking the mantle of leadership in Parliament in the coming days.
Others have preempted that Hon Solomon Thomas could be the preferred candidate from State House.
Many say the ECOWAS Parliament Speaker was the problem behind the selections of the opposition Leader for representation and he has betrayed the cause of President Julius Maada Bio and so he will not be a fit choose for the speakership position.
Sources also revealed that the opposition party is very much skeptical on whether they will pull candidate for the Speaker position.
Some opposition said they are not been told who will be opposition candidate and are patiently waiting for the governing leadership to choose.
But others said among the two candidates they are also deeply divided and will vote candidates of their choice in the next few weeks.
Sources from Parliament have said also that President Julius Maada Bio is currently under immense pressure to choose the right Speaker next after Dr Abass Bundu.
Some SLPP stalwarts informed this medium that Hon Tunis is the preferred candidate at party level while at the Parliamentary level, Hon Sengehpoh Solomon Thomas take the minds of all.