By Sheka Tarawalie, Press Secretary, State House, Freetown.
His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma has ended the first leg of his Christmas holiday tour and is on the verge of going on the second tomorrow.
With his hometown of Makeni being the central focus, the President made it a point of duty to visit other towns and villages to meet the people and thank them for voting him into office.
Leaving Freetown on Sunday 23rd December 2007, the President was greeted by enthusiastic crowds along the highway, while making stops at Waterloo, Masiaka, Lunsar, and Foredugu before reaching Makeni.
In all his speeches, President Koroma(photo) thanked the people for choosing him as Head of State, while emphasizing the need for a change of attitudes.
At Masiaka, the President said democracy did not stop with elections, but would be determined as to how the people would continue to conduct their affairs. “Now that the elections are over, we should put our differences behind us, live as civilized people and move our country forward,” he maintained.
The President said the people voted for change and development, but that this would not be achieved without peace and unity. He said we as Sierra Leoneans were capable of bringing development to the country, and we should show the determination to succeed by waking up every morning and saying “we can do it”.
He called on the people to respect the law and that Sierra Leone would be a different country in five years.
Taking the same message to Lunsar, the President urged the people to settle their internal differences to enhance development. He elaborated on his call for zero tolerance on corruption so that we would leave a better Sierra Leone for our children.
In Makeni, President Koroma said his joy was complete in making the homecoming as Head of State. He brought the same message of peace, unity and development after the elections. The President said that, under his tenure, the life of the ordinary man must change. On the theme of attitudinal change, he said people should do away with laziness and gossip and join in the fight against corruption. He said all sectors in society, including the police, teachers, politicians, and civil servants must join in the bandwagon to bring the much needed change in the country.
The President said Sierra Leone had everything but was still the poorest. He reiterated the promise to turn things around in 36 months. He said he took an oath to the presidency, and with God’s help would achieve his goals.
On Monday 24th December, the President carried his goodwill message to the people of Tonkolili district. He went to Makump, Mayoloh, Magburaka, Matotoka, and Yele. He said he was now appealing to the people for a change, but that it would need to be enforced if necessary. “Government has the authority to enforce the peace and the change. When the time for appealing is over, the law will be allowed to take its course to the fullest,” he said.
The President said Sierra Leone had gradually started gaining international commendation for the way the elections were conducted and the smooth transition process that the government initiated. It was in Magburaka that the President hinted that there would be no compromise in allowing the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to pursue those who had cases to answer. He also urged politicians to work in the interest of the common man so that the country would be freed from the trap of poverty, backwardness, and corruption.
On Christmas Day, the President attended a church service at Rogbaneh Wesleyan Church in Makeni, where he said he was brought up and imbibed most of the characteristics that shaped his life.
On 26th December, the President went to his Makari Gbanti chiefdom and gave the same message of peace, unity and development at Panlap. He said there was no time for petty jealousies and internal fights. “We must fight against poverty, and try to improve education, health, agriculture, and roads. That’s our new enemy,” he declared. The President called on his compatriots to help him in changing the country, and that his own people should be at the forefront in respecting the law. The President also met with members of the Rogbaneh Descendants Union before returning to Freetown.
At Wilberforce barracks today, the President made a speech to the officers and men of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). He thanked them for their exemplary conduct during the elections that brought him to power. “It’s a pride for all of us, especially for me,” he said. The President also said the new challenge was to develop a new army that we would all be proud of. He recalled the days when Sierra Leone was termed the ‘Athens of West Africa’ and the outstanding performance of Sierra Leonean soldiers at the Mayong battle during the Second World War.
President Korma said he was aware of the deplorable conditions of service of the military and that they were now being reviewed. He said his government would work with international partners to upgrade the conditions of poor sanitation, accommodation etc. He urged soldiers to be ready to go on international peacekeeping missions and that he was looking forward to sending battalions out to serve in other countries.
The President said the bottom-line of providing adequate logistics was being addressed. Notwithstanding, he said there was the need for these logistics to be efficiently managed so that the rank and file would benefit.
The President said he was looking forward to having an efficient professional army with emphasis on continuous training not only for senior officers. He revealed that President Museveni of Uganda had offered 10 scholarships for training of soldiers at all levels.
President Koroma said he had been going round the country talking about change and that the military would not be left out in that direction. He called on them to continue to maintain and even improve on discipline. “Discipline is required in the army more than in any other institution,” the President maintained. He called on the soldiers to refrain from rumour-mongering, but rather to go through the exiting channels for clarification. He said his dream was to have the best professional army in the sub-region before wishing them a belated merry Christmas and prosperous 2008.
The President subsequently made on-the-spot visits to residential quarters where he discovered horrible sanitary conditions. He promised to hold a meeting with senior officers immediately after the holidays.
Meanwhile, the President will be continuing his meet-the-people tour tomorrow as he heads for Yonibana through Mile 91.
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