By KABS KANU
Former President Ernest Koroma today stunned members of his All People’s Congress ( APC ) party by indicating that he is resigning from politics, after all.
A surprised public statement from the Office of the Former President today said in part that : “Former President Ernest Koroma wishes to reiterate that he has no interest whatsoever in party or national office. ” The statement went on to say that : The former President “strongly believes that he has been privileged by God and his people, to serve as President of Sierra Leone for two terms; and as the Leader and Chairman of the APC, for even a much longer period.”
“He says it is now time for him to leave the political stage and continue serving Sierra Leone as a statesman. President Koroma notes that he is looking forward to his continued contribution to the promotion of democracy, peace, security and stability in Africa and other parts of the world.”
Even though the ex-President had many detractors within the body politik of the APC who had been gunning for him to step down because they too were interested in leading Sierra Leone’s most popular grassroots political party, there will be recriminations within whether it was the right time for Ernest Koroma to leave, at a time when the future of the party has been cast in serious uncertainties by the actions of the ruling SLPP , who are believed to be behind the judicial problems that have mired the party in an unending law suit that is preventing the APC from holding its Delegates national convention. But with the lawsuit itself, filed by one Alfred Conteh of New Jersey, designed to force him out, the resignation of EBK might bring the case to an unceremonious conclusion, thereby paving the way for the party to move forward at last.
Many party grassroots members and fanatics would not be happy to see the former President leave the stage just now, given that he is an immensely loved politician at grassroots level, on whose popularity the APC may want to feed to return to power in 2023.
