Prior to the advent of democracy, leaders were made for life. Their popular nomenclatures were kings, emperors, dukes, earls among others. These leaders had unlimited powers. Legislative, executive and judicial functions were vested into their hands.
A king at that time could condemn a subject to death for mere disobedience. The practice of democracy and contemporary governance models trimmed their powers. The elective principle, one of the democratic principles no longer allow leaders to rule permanently.
Ultimate political sovereignty belongs to the people from whom government, through constitutions, derive their powers, legitimacy and authority.
Nomenclatures of kings were reduced to Presidents. Almost all sovereign states in the community nations have adopted titles of presidents. They rule for fixed terms, and go away when their time is up.
Although they go away as laws lawfully provided, their constituents and loyalists do not go. Any attempts by a sitting president to arrest a former president may lead to terrible consequences. This is the exact situation Sierra Leone is confronted with. Former President Ernest Bai Koroma who successfully administered Sierra Leone twice is being hunted for corruption and money laundering offences.
The offences are products of recommendations of the defunct Biobele Commissions of Inquiry. The laws of Sierra Leone say corruption and money laundering are crimes against the state. The former Head of State had faced ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission), the country’ s ant- graft agency for the alleged wrongs.
However, Sierra Leone is almost always devoured by an all-out conflict at anytime the former President appears before the commission to respond to interviews. Like any other African country, Sierra Leone is characterised by regions, tribes among others. Most Sierra Leoneans have perceived the attempted arrest of the former President as a political witch hunt and intimidation.
They see the move as one with the potential to shut down APC (All People’s Congress), SLPP’s main rival.
Investigation mounted by this press shows that youths are ready to mortgage their safety in defence of former President Koroma. A youth at an APC ‘Ataya’ base has told this press that the former president did no wrong and that any attempt to arrest him is “tyranny and oppression” for which stiff resistance would be put up.
As the Bio Administration presses corruption charges, new facts are filtering in. The facts which came from reliable sources indicate that the sons of Kenema are moving against the former President. Kenema descendants hold significant posts in the Bio government: Chief of ACC, Francis Ben Keifalla, former Chief Minister now Minister of Foreign Affairs among others are kenema descendants who are poised to see the former President incarcerated.
A source in Kenema has intimated this press that former President Koroma would one day be held in a police cell. The move is to trim his feathers. The grudge Kenema nursed for the former President could be traced to the days APC was in power.
Most residents in Kenema say the town was neglected in terms of development. While other district headquarter towns prospered under the Koroma-led administration, Kenema was never considered.
To date, a large part of Kenema has not seen any facelift. Streets are still muddy, bridges almost in a collapsed state and energy supply eclectic. The situation, according to Kenema descendants, is created by the former administration. Neglect of the township for many years resulted in its current state.
Arguments on the other hand show the contrary. Former President Koroma was bashed at in Kenema at anytime he visited there when he was in power. Kenema people got a notoriety for being in black apparel to welcome the former President at any time he visited Kenema as a way of mourning the death of democracy in Sierra Leone. One does not expect meaningful development in a community where the people are uncooperative with the government of the day.
Arguments also hold that when former President launched the ‘Agenda For Change’ policy, the President meant well for every district, town and village irrespective of political affiliation. The policy covered five thematic areas: infrastructure, energy, education, health and agriculture.
Kenema failed to capitalise on the projects when they were being rolled out. Instead of cooperating with the former President , they dwelt in vain hopes. They were highly hopeful of development in an SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) leadership.
But, President Julius Maada Bio came during rough times. The world is now hit by a global pandemic, COVID-19 making it hard for the Bio administration. Traditional donors are now constrained with financial resources. Resources hitherto reserved for helping African countries including Sierra Leone have been diverted to anti-COVID-19 campaign.
Some covert investigations reveal that SLPP hardliners are piling pressure on the current President to recover stolen money from former President Koroma. They believe that the only way to recover the money is to arrest the former President.
At the height of corruption trials, lawyers representing the former President have gone to the Supreme court, the country’s highest court, to interpret section 48 of 1991 Constitution.
The provision reads: “while any person holds or performs the functions of the Office of President, no civil or criminal proceedings shall be initiated or continued against him in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by him either in his official or private capacity.”
The lawyers hope that this provision would be interpreted in favour of former President Koroma. The former President would walk free if the lawyers’ expectations became a reality. The trials continue if a contrary interpretation occurs.