There was heightened speculation and debate in the country last weekend when it was announced that former minister of defence Retired Major Paolo Conteh was arrested for allegedly taking a loaded pistol to State House to attend a coronavirus response meetings with President Bio.

Whilst APC supporters describe the incident as a set-up, SLPP supporters accuse Paolo Conteh of taking the pistol with him for devious reasons.

On his Facebook page, Major Conteh said that, indeed, he moved with his bag which contained his money and a registered and licensed pistol that he declared at State House.

He explained that when he reached at the security counter, he declared that his bag has a weapon and that even though the State House guys said that he should go with the bag to the meeting, he insisted leaving the bag with the security at the counter.

Paolo added that he was in discussion with the CM, and five others when the Head of Security at State House came with two CID Officers and asked about the brown bag and he explained that he declared it.

He said he was never taken to CID but a statement was obtained from him at State House. He said that as a former Minister of Defense he doesn’t have security so he normally moves with his registered and licensed pistol. He thought the matter had died down but was surprised to see it on social media.

Meanwhile, many people have said that whatever Paolo Conteh’s explanations is, it is against security protocols anywhere in the world for visitors to enter the seat of power with firearms. Paolo Conteh ought to know better and must apologize to the president and the nation many concluded.