Fact-Check Story
Dr. Fatima Bio said that her husband, the President of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio holds a PHD in staging Millitary Coups.
Her comments were a reference to violent protests held on 10th August 2022 in the Western and Northern regions over the rising cost of living
Fact-Checkers Comments
President Bio does not hold a PhD in Coup D’eat. “I am not aware of my university where they offer coup studies” the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray told the BBC. President Julius Maada Bio was engaged in a research postgraduate study at the University of Bradford University, holds a master’s degree in Peace Studies and two honorary Doctorate degrees but more in coup studies
By Titus Tengbeh
Over the past few days, legacy and new media has been abuzzed about a statement made by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio during a fund-raising event with female party supporters in the United States.
Dr. Fatima Bio said that her husband, the President of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio holds a PHD in staging Military coups.
Her comments were a reference to violent protests held on 10th August 2022 in the Western and Northern regions over the rising cost of living.
“I am not aware of any university where they offer coup studies,” the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray told the BBC.
In 1992 Bio and other junior military officers overthrew the civilian government of Joseph Saidu Momoh. In January 1996 he staged a palace coup and succeeded Captain Valentine Strasser as head of state. Two months later he held elections and handed over to a civilian rule.
Minister Swaray told the BBC that the 1992 coup “was the most popular in the history of this country, because several attempts at a democratic change of government had failed”.
He said the palace coup happened “because Bio wanted to ensure that they kept to their commitment to the people to deliver a return to multiparty democracy as laid out in their original plan”.
The Chairman of the National Council of Civic Education and Development, Kalilu Totangi in a Facebook post on the 29th September 2022 said,” Someone asked me what I think about what Fatima Bio said about her husband and a PhD in Coups and stuff like that. Then I saw her post to Umaru saying that was old news. Goes to show that she is not proud of what she said. That saves me an opinion of her statement. So we move. Hope she learns from that. When a mic is trust in front of you, be careful what you say. But that does not take away from all of the fine things she has done as First Lady.”
On the 28th September, the First Lady posted on her official Facebook page responding to BBC reporter Umaru Fofanah , “someone tell Umaru Fofanah about my UN achievement in getting a resolution passed at the UN Called access to justice for rape victims which is the first since independence that is news. What you put out today is fake news sir. “
A journalist who is now a practicing Lawyer, Abubakarr Sheriff wrote on on Leh we tok to D Minister facebook conversations, “If madam First lady, said her husband has a PHD in coup to me he took part in two coups with little or no casualty. The first one with only one casualty of a male soldier named Adama. That toppled President Momoh bringing in Captain Strasser. The second one was called a Palace coup in a meeting which also saw the exit of Strasser ushering in Bio. No one died in this coup. Unlike August 10th with lot of casualties in both civil and police. Destruction of state properties. I think it takes only a professional to do such.” He added that Coups are planned in secret with high level of intelligence.
President Bio was pursuing a PhD at the prestigious Department of Peace Studies, Bradford University in the United Kingdom before he was elected head of State. He holds several honorary degrees but none in Coup Studies.