ERNEST: THE COLOSSUS:
2007 and 2018 is definitely a period of Ernest Koroma hegemony owing to glorious achievements in state governance but has faded fast from 2018 to date.
His one-time beautiful legacy has been trampled in the dust of history after allegations recently popped up that he undermined his handpicked presidential candidate, Samura Kamara, the purported winner of June 24, 2023 Presidential election.
It is a popular argument that thwarting Samura’s winning means an affront on democracy and the grassroots majority who have voted for a change.
Ernest Koroma, a humble man from Makeni, the Northern capital rose to fame when he won the 2007 presidential polls defeating an octogenarian incumbent, Solomon Ekuma Berewa of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
His fabulous inauguration at the National Stadium in Freetown placed him in a class of his own as compared to his predecessors.
That moment marked great things for the ex-Prexy who turned overnight the country’s social and economic threats into bright opportunities for every Sierra Leonean.
He had his grand plan known as the Agenda for Change (AFC) defined by five parameters: Energy, infrastructure, health, agriculture and education.
In Ernest’s first 100 days, Freetown, a city tagged the darkest in the world saw bright light thrilling city residents as many
jumped to the streets in celebration for ending the Kabba-Tiger era.
The tiny Tiger electricity generator was named after Tejan Kabba who was President between 1996 and 2007 with many saying his failed policies was responsible for the perennial blackout.
It was a makeshift electricity system since the defunct NPA (National Power Authority) now EDSA (Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority) could not provide the much-desired electricity. It was however an easy pushover for Ernest Koroma who appeared to have put a plan before coming to governance. As the light flashed,
freezers and fans which had lain fallow for years were put on with renewed hope for better days.
On the infrastructure side, it was also a remarkable credit to the ex-Prexy. It was the first time in post-war era, which the country took pride in a network of good roads, bridges and tarred streets, thanks to the EU for providing much of the funds.
In his infrastructural pursuit, President Koroma fixed the Freetown-Kambia, Masiaka-Bo, Bo-Liberia, Bo-Kenema highways and several feeder roads across the country.
Several bridges were also included particularly the Mabang bridge in Moyamba district, the Moa bridge in Pujehun district and the Magbele-Ferry bridge in PortLoko district.
These development aided trade and commerce as local goods were hauled fast to the city and business centers than ever before.
On the health sector, Ernest Koroma also made headway when he announced the Free Healthcare policy in April, 2010 covering under-fives, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
These vulnerable groups receive treatment free-of-cost from public hospitals anywhere in the country for any ailment, and it is still in force to date. The pronouncement of the health policy was to halt the terribly rolling statistics of infant and maternal deaths in Sierra Leone, a situation that was seen as a threat to the country’s well-being.
Prior to the Free Healthcare, Sierra Leone was declared the most dangerous place for women to give birth second only to the East African country of Angola.
But the tide was stemmed when healthcare was extended to women and children with no cost.
In agriculture and education, the country saw moderate achievements as the price for a 50kg (a bag) of rice stood at NLe200 (Two Hundred New Leones) and students were also doing well in class and public exams-National Primary school examination, Basic Education Certificate Examination and West African Senior Certificate Examination. Once the living standards are improved, the tendency for crime and chaos was reduced and investment boomed. It was the first time after decades of joblessness, poverty and under-development that Sierra Leone welcomed two strong global Iron Ore Miners-London Mining Company (LMC) and African Minerals Limited (AML).
The two companies created thousands of jobs for jobless Sierra Leoneans and greatly honoured their tax obligations thus contributing to the rapid development of Sierra Leone.
By observing corporate social responsibility and philanthropy, LMC and AML built schools and health centers, sponsored students and take care of the old in their areas of operation. It was merry all over the country as the Oil Palm investor, SUCFIM in Pujehun also rolled out some good works in that part of the country.
With all these development strides in place, Sierra Leone was rated the fastest growing economy in the country in 2013 by an IMF (International Monetary Fund) projection.
But, gains made were significantly reversed in May, 2014 when a deadly virus, Ebola struck the country at a time the Agenda for Prosperity (AFP) was about to be bankrolled.
But, that notwithstanding, the country was put back on track after Ebola was rolled back in November, 2016. Investors and companies came back and the youth were put back to work.
On peace, democracy and good governance, former President Koroma also stood out as he built a culture of tolerance in Sierra Leone’s body politic rarely seen anywhere in the world.
He started off by having a civilized transition system by working with Tejan Kabba’s past ministers for three months with full pay before replaced with APC appointees.
It is a complete contrast with the PAOPA regime which sacked ministers and heads of agencies, ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls on the day they were declared winners of 2018 elections.
Koroma also presented semblance of a government of national unity and coalition by appointing top officials of SLPP and PMDC (People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) which are South-Eastern-based parties to participate in his government.
On several occasions when APC offices came under attack by irate youth and political fanatics, the former President would ensure that all SLPP offices were protected.
When SLPP headquarters was allegedly vandalized by SLPP youth themselves, ex-President Koroma provided funds for its renovation.
Almost three years in Koroma’s first term, APC office in Bo city was set ablaze by some youth believed to be SLPP supporters, the former President fortified security at SLPP offices across the country to prevent reprisals and revenge, and the perpetrators were arrested but later released.
These were key factors that earned Ernest Koroma the title of ‘Democrat of Africa.’ When he was riding into the sunset in April, 2018, he peacefully transferred power to his successor, President Julius Maada Bio and took the back seat. The transfer of power from Koroma to Bio marked the second successful political transition in post-war Sierra Leone.
Amid the hullabaloo that eclipsed his transfer of power, Koroma retired to his hometown of Makeni where he lived the life of an upcountry gentleman, but got no rest after he was made head of AU/ECOWAS Election monitoring Group, the first Sierra Leonean President to be so honoured.
In such capacity, Koroma traversed the continent successfully observing elections. The Kenya and Zambia elections were somehow tedious and controversial as incumbents did not want to go away.
But, he used his political and democratic experience and skills to cool troubled waters and he emerged victorious.
The people of Sierra Leone especially APC members reposed trust in the former President that he would apply the same electoral tactics to help Samura Kamara take over state governance as he was the people’s choice.
ERNEST THE TRAITOR
In spite of his attractive footprints in the sands of time, Koroma, the widely Moses of the time soon relegated to a traitor of democracy for only God knows why.
Most
Disappointingly, it became clear that he considerably undermined APC’s flag-bearer, Samura Kamara’s victory in the 2023 elections.
A recent audio which went viral on social media platforms showed that Ernest Koroma wanted the current regime to end its second term and even go beyond. In the face of a struggle to bring back APC’s stolen victory, the former President was blunt to say that “election is over,” and that the party should now prepare for 2028 polls with high hopes that power would be transferred to the APC.
But such is vain hope as it has been made clear that SLPP will not hand over power to APC.
In one of SLPP’s conferences, the SLPP Chairman, Dr Prince confirmed that SLPP would not relinquish power to APC making reference to the PRI party which, he said, had ruled Mexico for over 76 years adding that it was possible here in Sierra Leone.
As if paving the way for an SLPP permanent stay in power, Ernest Koroma also blamed Samura Kamara for holding private meeting with President Bio few days after the controversial June elections without consultation with senior party members.
For the former President, game is over as long as Samura has sat at the negotiation table with President Bio.
He emphasized Samura’s blunder for meeting Maada Bio when he said that was the main tactic employed by international election observers which borders on bringing the opposition candidate to the negotiation table amid a post-election stalemate.
If calculated well, it is clear that Samura Kamara should give up the presidential race and take the back seat, a move that is against the wish of the majority.
Ernest’s recent utterances on the 56-minute audio, analysts say, is a product of a long-term ploy which started towards the end of his second term.
The former President had, for a long time chosen Maada Bio to succeed him by financing his campaigns to the disadvantage of other flag-bearer aspirants in the SLPP. Ernest Koroma provided heavy-handed security forces for Bio which made him overnight a giant in his party, SLPP. Even when it was apparent that Samura Kamara won the election, the former President reportedly prevailed on Samura Kamara to succumb to a regime change model initiated by the international community.
This move was also laid bare by Honourable Kemoh Sesay in an audio that also went viral in which he confirmed that Ernest Koroma appealed to Samura to give up the presidency to Maada Bio.
Samura Kamara reluctantly conceded to defeat owing to Ernest’s appeals but with hope that he would make it to the polls come 2023. Ernest Koroma also appealed to APC grassroots members to blame it on him and promised them that APC would return to power in 2023.
Nerves were calmed as the people looked up to the former President especially following his appointment of head of AU/ECOWAS Election Monitoring Group.
Bio’s rule, according to many Sierra Leoneans, was iron-handed and hallmarked by various forms of human rights abuses particularly extra-judicial killings which were never investigated.
Unlawful
Killings allegedly took place in Tonkolili, Port Loko, Kambia, Makeni, Freetown and Pademba Road main correctional facility, and the former President was tight-lipped about it, a clear sign that he was no longer fighting for his party.
Ernest Koroma was also accused of conniving with the government to illegally remove 10 APC Parliamentarians from the legislative house in a day.
The move was to ensure that SLPP had a majority in Parliament so that it could pass most of the bad laws with strong opposition, and it came to pass.
It was after the removal of the 10 parliamentarians that the Proportional Representation, Political Parties Regulation, and the Public Election laws were enacted in favour of the ruling class with Ernest Koroma being mute about it.
The former President was also said to have borne a hand in the controversial and seemingly illegal appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh who announced President Bio winner of the June polls.
The law requires wide consultation of leaders of political parties for the appointment of election chief who should also not hold a public office.
At the time of Konneh’s appointment, he was the Director-General of the Financial Intelligence Unit under the supervision of the Finance Ministry.
When the matter was up for controversy, it came out that Ernest Koroma was surreptitiously consulted on the appointment and directed State House officials to submit Konneh’s credentials to the APC secretariat.
These diabolic actions on the part of the former President show that he never wanted to see Samura Kamara on the seat of the presidency. His recent audio, according to political analysts, while in self-imposed exile in Nigeria is a clear case in point.
Many say Ernest Koroma’s exile to Nigeria is a political gimmick to undermine Samura’s victory contrary to the expectations of grassroots APC members who have stood up for Samura’s electoral justice campaign.