In the pictures circulating on social and other media on the visit to former President Ernest Bai Koroma by members of the current APC executive, it is evident that the former president is not happy as he would rather be at home than in what is looking like a forced or state sanctioned exile.
President Ernest Bai Koroma misses home:
The president loves Sierra Leone, and especially his hometown of Makeni. Here is a president that did and accomplished everything without having to leave the country after his tenure, which is a testament to his legacy as a president and head of state.
As president, EBK showed himself to be a grassroots leader that believes in the potential of grassroots Sierra Leoneans. He loves Sierra Leone, often saying that there is no place like home. Yes, he is loved right across the political, tribal and regional divides.
This was the reason the former president did all he could to ensure progress and development during his time as president, for the expressed purpose of not only finally delivery on his campaign promises but to also ensure that he would spend the remaining years of his life after the presidency in Makeni hence Sierra Leone.
As president, EBK’s tenure was pivoted on development and national cohesion, two crucial elements that are sorely missing from our national or public space under the Maada Bio led government. President Ernest Bai Koroma worked hard for this country and people for him to spend the rest of his days here at home so he would enjoy the fruits of his hard work and labour on behalf of the people and state.
The president deserves to be home:
The pictures from the APC executives’ visit to EBK in Abuja showed a man that was smiling but not with all his heart; he smiled because it was a photo opportunity, but the sadness was still evident on his face and in his eyes. This must be a very difficult time for him as he must be asking what did he do to Julius Maada Bio for him to be repaid with what is looking like a vendetta, even an exile sanctioned from above, which actually didn’t come about from the Maada Bios led government’s volition but was instead imposed on them by ECOWAS’ most powerful country, Nigeria. The Nigerian president’s plane transported EBK to Abuja.
As one of the only two living former presidents of Sierra Leone (the only democratically elected president that is alive today) EBK should have been celebrated not vilified as he presently is by the current regime. He deserves much better than his current treatment.
EBK misses Sierra Leone, especially Makeni, where his development footprints only rival developments in Freetown. The former president is a homebody that does not like to stay away from home for too long. While he was in power EBK visited Makeni, Magburaka, Kabala and the south regularly, unless he was out of the country. During that time the president empowered and assisted in more ways than one the ordinary people and businessmen and women, many of whom won government contracts after successfully bidding. Many local businesses won contracts to develop and beautify Makeni, Magburaka, and the south.
The people of Kenema, it must be recalled, refused Ernest Bai Koroma’s development overtures, stating that they would wait for an SLPP led regime to develop this party’s stronghold, developments they are still waiting for since 2018.
Infrastructure wise, Ernest Bai Koroma is the development king. His development footprint is everywhere to be seen. Meanwhile, up to present Tihun is still as backward as it has always been, although the present government of Sierra Leone is reportedly swimming in cocaine fuelled wealth.
In Kailahun EBK built roads, even a court barray. After handing power over to the SLPP, EBK returned to Makeni to settle. Today Makeni can boast of two universities, one aptly named Ernest Bai Koroma University.
Bai Koroma remains the first and last of someone we can call “The People’s President.” He was so at home with the people that his security details were always worried that he was too approachable as a president. EBK used to love jogging in Makeni with crowds of people following wherever he went. As president he would walk the streets of Freetown showing up unexpectedly among the people.
We don’t see such a thing in our present set up where everyone is scared of approaching or saying anything against the president and or government for fear of reprisals. Under EBK people were free to voice their opinions; the current president even blocked EBK’s motorcade, an act that would have been tantamount to an attempted political assassination if it were someone different from EBK as head of state.
After doing so much for his hometown and the rest of the country, EBK should be enjoying the fruits of his labour.
Here is a president that is heavily invested in this country, that believes in the potential of the people and government, while his detractors in the current regime are reportedly empowering foreign real estate developers and banks where they allegedly invested their alleged illegally acquired wealth, not only from their handling of the people’s purse but by their reported relationship with a convicted Dutch cocaine smuggler and money launderer.
Ernest Bai Koroma should be in Makeni, celebrated and honoured for his service to the people and state, not stashed away in Abuja while the APC has been very quiet. EBK wouldn’t have been as quiet as the APC. He would have been outspoken on the excesses of the current government, which is why the average Sierra Leonean thinks he was named as a coup collaborator and is presently in exile in Abuja, Nigeria.
It should be unheard of for a former president to have worked so hard for his people, country and his peaceful retirement for him to be stuck in a faraway land as if he was Bai Bureh.
Yes, there are many people that would want to blame EBK for how Maada Bio has repaid him for his magnanimity, financial and other assistance he gave him and for allowing for the will of the people to prevail in 2018 instead of manipulating the vote or vote counting. EBK’s encouragement of Maada Bio is the hallmark of executive maturity as the APC and SLPP depending on the vote have taken turns ruling this country since Independence.
President Ernest Bai Koroma misses home, especially Makeni. He should be here in Sierra Leone, not stuck in Abuja, possibly until after Paopa exits our national space.