by Fatima Babih, EdD
The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bio, has once again thrust herself into more controversy, releasing a rambling, inconsistent, confrontational video message, this time, aimed at APC MPs and the Speaker of Parliament. Her previous message was aimed at the SLPP members.
In her latest video message, Fatima Bio sets out to correct misinformation she claims is being spread by Members of Parliament. Speaking mostly in Krio, she targets MPs from Falaba and Kono, accusing them of lying to the nation. But as the video unfolds, it quickly becomes clear that her remarks are less about setting the record straight and more about attacking individuals who are not siding with her, rewriting events, and positioning herself as the ultimate victim.
I just want to correct you… that information is the wrong information.
She uses personal attacks disguised as questions. When addressing the Falaba MP, she uses the faux-intimate my brother before branding his remarks as dishonorable. She escalates by dragging the MP’s wife into her argument, asking how he would feel if his wife were mocked. A classic emotional manipulation tactic meant to deflect from the core issue.
Turning to Kono MP Simeon Johnny, Fatima Bio suggests his claim of avoiding social media is a lie and insinuates he is acting under instruction. Again, she presents no evidence, just an imaginary conspiracy.
Shifting Narratives
Fatima Bio’s defense is riddled with inconsistencies. She promises to show past State Opening entrances to prove she has never been disrespected, but within moments describes Parliament as a “marketplace,” an unrelated and inflammatory comparison. This leap from “here’s my evidence” to “here’s my insult” illustrates the muddled nature of her argument.
Fatima Bio elevates herself as her husband’s biggest cheerleader. Turning Color into a political shield, she claims to be a bridge between political rivals, claiming her outfits always incorporate red and green, proving her unity agenda. Yet this fashion diplomacy rings hollow, as we know, wearing a rival party’s color is no substitute for respect, especially when her past actions toward the APC party have included incitement of violence, intimidation, and property destruction.
Verbal Assault on Speaker
The real venom is reserved for Speaker Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas. Fatima Bio portrays herself as his loyal defender in both public and private, implying that loyalty should guarantee immunity from criticism. She is outraged that Hon. Thomas dared to suggest she apologize for her misbehavior in Parliament; she reframes herself as a victim of “the worst disrespect in the world,” a sweeping statement that trivializes genuine abuse.
I owe you no apology because I did not do anything to you.
Here, Fatima Bio openly challenged the authority of the Speaker, framing his request as an act of betrayal and misogyny rather than a legitimate defense of parliamentary protocol.
In perhaps the most bewildering turn, Fatima Bio drags her marriage into the Parliamentary protocol, she accuses the Parliament, under the Speaker’s leadership, of deliberately trying to separate me and my husband. She laments being made to enter State Openings separately from the President, implying this is part of a larger plot against her marriage. This claim personalizes the issue to the point of absurdity, shifting the narrative entirely away from parliamentary decorum.
Indirectly addressing her husband, Fatima Bio warned:
It is you who married me, you are my husband. But I want to make it very clear to you, sir, that I am not a slave. You don’t expect me to campaign to give women the voice they deserve in this world. Then when I’m being abused, I come and sit down and allow you to continue to abuse me and think that I will shut my mouth. No, I will not shut up, sir.
This was not a message to Parliament or the public; it was a very public warning to Julius Maada Bio, delivered under the guise of political commentary.
By folding a marital confrontation into a national political dispute, Fatima Bio blurred the line between her domestic life and her public role. She reframed her defiance in Parliament as part of a broader struggle for women’s rights, attempting to position herself as a symbol of resistance rather than someone flouting established parliamentary norms.
This maneuver is both manipulative and dangerous: it uses the language of women’s empowerment to shield personal misconduct and to exert pressure on her husband. It was a direct defiance of both her husband and the Presidency itself, a calculated reminder that Fatima Jabbie Bio answers to no one, even the Head of State.
Conspiracy Theories
Perhaps most bizarrely, Fatima Bio accused the Speaker of actively trying to separate her from her husband:
From the day my husband become president, from that day you have done everything to separate me and my husband. You do not want to see me and him do things together. You do not want to see me and him do things as one. You will not succeed. That is what I want to assure you, you will not succeed because what joins me and Maada Bio together is bigger than any politics in this world. And nothing, nothing in this world will separate me and my husband. That I want to assure you all of that one.
By shifting the conversation from parliamentary misconduct to her marriage, Fatima attempted to distract from the original issue and recast herself as a romantic heroine under siege.
Hijacking Gender Equality
In another calculated pivot, Fatima reframed the Speaker’s request for an apology as an attack on all women, accusing him of hypocrisy and misogyny, and painting herself as a champion of gender equality. As she puts it,
Sir, this is not a woman versus man thing; this is about the way men like you see women. This is how you value women. That is what’s coming to light. That’s what’s showing to this country that when we talk about gender equality on paper it does not resemble the gender equality people like you practice. I went into your institution, I was abused in your institution, and you turn around and say I owe you an apology. Excuse me sir, I owe you no apology because I did not do anything to you.
But this was not about gender rights. It was about basic decorum in the nation’s legislature, something Fatima Bio repeatedly sidestepped.
Why This Matters
Fatima Bio’s speech was erratic, inflammatory, and full of contradictions. It blurred the lines between personal grievance, political rivalry, and marital drama, all while eroding the dignity of the Presidency and Parliament. This erosion of our political institutions should not be tolerated.
Every time she doubles down, she forces Julius Bio into an impossible position: defend her and alienate his government officials or stand with government officials and invite Fatima Bio’s wrath. Either way, the real casualty is Sierra Leone’s political stability. This instability could worsen the lack of trust in the government, hinder progress, and potentially lead to further political unrest.
Her Final Words Reveal Core Problem
As Fatima Bio wrapped up her rambling and combative video, she left viewers with a closing statement that could not be more telling of her corrupt nature. In her final words to the Speaker, she says,
If under your leadership, you think that this is okay, fine by me. But if you think that this is wrong, I hope that you will do the right thing because we have a relationship beyond politics, and I hope the right thing you will do.
This is not merely a plea; it’s an open admission of how she uses personal relationships to demand political favors and protection. In one sentence, she exposes her belief that political accountability should bend to personal loyalty. It’s a bold, unfiltered demonstration of the very corruption, entitlement, and abuse of power that have defined Fatima Bio’s tenure as First Lady in Sierra Leone.
In her own words, Fatima Bio confirms the dangerous mindset that personal alliances should override institutional rules, parliamentary protocols, and the rule of law.
This latest stunt by Fatima Bio is not just disrespectful to Parliament and the Presidency; it is a direct threat to Sierra Leone’s democratic integrity.
Referenced Video:
Latest Video: I Owe You No Apology!” – First Lady Fatima Bio Fires Back at Speaker of Parliament.
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