Commentary.
By Sorie Sudan Sesay.
I am probably one of the first two journalists to
meet Ernest Bai Koroma, the Presidential
candidate for the opposition All People’s Congress
(APC) party before he entered the political arena.
It was an informal tête-à-tête
at his RITCORP company office on Siaka Stevens
Street that lasted for about an hour.
Among other things, Koroma seized the opportunity to
declare his intention to run for Sierra Leone’s
highest office - the presidency under the umbrella of
the reds(APC).
By that time, Sierra Leoneans were preparing for the
2002 Presidential and Parliamentary elections and it
also came at a time the ruling Sierra Leone People’s
Party had dominated the political landscape of the
country having succeeded in suppressing the two main
rival political parties: Kerefa-Smart’s United
National People’s Party (UNPP) and Thaimu Bangura’s
People’s Democratic Party (PDP- Sorbeh).
At that time, not many people would imagine
Sierra Leoneans were going to appreciate Ernest Koroma
the way they do now - not even me in my wildest
imagination.
How can a man so new in the political
arena of Sierra Leone vie for the leadership of a
party as big as the APC in the midst of the likes of
political heavyweights like Eddie Turay, Jengo
Stevens, Abdul Karim Koroma to mention but a few?
Ernest had never participated in politics, nor had he
ever secured any political office throughout his career. What made him think he can have his way
to the top of the APC, let alone the presidency of
Sierra Leone and why he chose no
other political party than the APC were some of the
key questions that kept crossing my mind as we
discussed.
In short, with all fairness, I concluded his dream was
a tall ambition that would take him nowhere. At one
point, I felt sorry for him because I thought he was
about to crumble like a pack of cards in
political history considering his remarkable
achievements in life.
But Koroma had his agenda; he knew his objective and
was very much confident that he was not
miscalculating. He is a very confident man, very
practical and he is mindful of his choice of words.
As I sat face to face with him together with Concord
Times’ Abdul Karim Koroma, who had accompanied me to
the appointment, I saw decency in him and I came to
realize that he is a very simple man who could hardly
hurt a fly. Naturally, he is likeable even at first
sight.
At his age, Koroma is quite a very humble person, very
courageous and highly disciplined to the extent that
he hardly compromises his principles. Since I knew
him, he has always been open even to the commonest
man.
Ernest is not the kind of person who praises
himself, he is not that type of politician who would
attack the personality of other politician, but will
spare nothing to charge against corruption
especially in high places. In short he has what it
takes to be a good leader.
"It must be a very difficult task for you Mr. Koroma
having your way to the top of the APC," I said to him,
but his response was swift, "Gentlemen, I think I have
what it takes to lead my party and the country," he
said beaming with smiles.
Koroma believe the task ahead was enormous, but he
was ready to face it at all cost as long as it is ’for
the good of this nation.’
" I know the APC has made mistakes in the past, but my
leadership is different, I epitomise a symbol of
change - a change Sierra Leoneans have all been
yearning for - a change that Sierra Leoneans will be
guaranteed decent living conditions with better
road conditions, pure drinking water, quality health
services to mention but a few."
The fact that Ernest is a born-again politician makes
his profile very impressive and his chances very
bright for the presidency.
Ernest Koroma is a politician of high repute - a man
whose reputation has ever remained untainted to the
extent that not even the local press has succeeded in
tarnishing his image.
He was the only politician who kicked against his
party members taking appointments in the ruling
government, not just because he was complacent with
his ’wealth’ but because he knew such development has
the tendency of destroying not only his political
image as a leader, but the party as a whole. This was
perhaps why he initially fell out with other members
of his party.
Ernest’s task of taking over the leadership of the APC
was very frustrating. Imagine the financial burden, the court
cases that almost tore him apart. But as one would not
imagine, those were perhaps the least of his worries
then.
He has never appeared to be a discouraged man as a
result of those developments. He once told me: "The
party is ours, I have nothing against anybody and
because I have good intentions for my party and the
country I bear no grudge for anybody."
With the brightening reality on the ground, the signs
are becoming clearer by the day that Ernest Bai Koroma
is on his way to State House and this has reflected in
the first round of voting.
Come to think of it, Ernest has what it takes for the
leadership of Sierra Leone - his personality, his
charisma and dignity, his high sense of discipline and
his sincerity to mention but a few are qualities one
can hardly find in other politicians.
And the fact
that he is a new man in the political block makes him
a unique and exemplary figure in the political race.
Considering what he went through to reach this level,
the lengthy court cases he had to overcome to
eventually become the leader of the All People’s
Congress (APC) party in a national convention that saw
him unopposed, Ernest has proved to be a very
courageous person - something needed of an African
politician.
Ernest Koroma’s rise to national stardom came as no
surprise to many especially political analysts
considering the desperation of Sierra Leoneans for a
change. Many believe Sierra Leone’s problem is that of
leadership - a leader who is very sincere to his
people, a leader who can hardly compromise his
principles and has the guts to say no to sentiment when
it comes to national issues.
The political climate of this country is infested with
recycled politicians who have wrecked the nation’s
economy and the fact that Koroma’s report card since
coming to public life is as decent as one could
imagine is enough reason for anybody to be proud.
I was once reliably informed that he had kicked
against ministerial offers from the SLPP twice. The
SLPP moves then were to damage Koroma’s presidential
ambition and destroy the APC (which was by then
starved of a decent and politically focused
leadership).
It is obvious that the APC of the 2002 election is
different from the present one in several aspects and
that’s attributed largely to the party losing that
election though on questionable grounds.
The APC of 2002 was fighting between how to improve
its battered image of 24 years of misrule (of which
Ernest was never part of),and how to mend its inner party
squabbles while planning on how to win the elections.
And the emergence of Ernest Koroma in the leadership of the
party is one major aspect that won the support for the APC
in the present political dispensation.
Infact, when he resigned his position at the Reliance
Insurance Trust Cooperation (RITCORP), it took many by
surprise including members of the fourth estate many
of whom were of the opinion that he was making a huge
life - time mistake.
But no, Koroma is without doubt a
wealthy man and could have easily continued his
business rather than opting for the dirty game of
politics, but he opted for the latter. His
contribution to national development is very
remarkable. He was the brain behind
the setting up of the National Insurance Social
Security Trust (NASSIT).
His chances of becoming Sierra Leone’s next President
are bright. Having won the first round of voting, the
coming on board of the People’s Movement for
Democratic Change (PMDC) of Charles Margai is a
blessing that could well boost his chances.
He is the popular choice of the people and you need to
see how his image at the Eastern Police Clock Tower is
causing traffic jams just to have a glimpse of his
face. This is very unprecedented in Sierra Leone’s
history.
Ernest Bai Koroma means well for the people of this
country - he is very much concerned for a dying nation
which is in dire need of a ‘Jesus Christ’ to rescue
them. And this is mainly the reason why many believe
he deserves a chance this time.
Let’s give him that support on Saturday September 8,
2007.
Sorie Sudan Sesay(photo) is one of the Vanguard correspondents in Sierra Leone and editor of Freetown’s Independent Observer Newspaper. He can be contacted by email at:sudanese52@yahoo.com.
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