By Kabs Kanu
They call him for international duties as elections monitor and observer . When there are problems in the hotspots of Africa, they summon him to serve as peace maker . Whenever it appears as if the democracy train is going off the rails in Sierra Leone, they engage him to get his own input and suggestions about how to get the train back o its right course.
That international diplomats and stakeholders would not stop engaging him in constructive discussions and activities on the future of Arica and his mother country, Sierra Leone, is a testament to the truth his detractors would not love to hear —Former President Ernest Bai Koroma occupies an enviable and unique place in local and international politics as a man with the right ideas, intellect, acumen and commitment to make the world more peaceful, more stable, more progressive and more productive.
Those who have followed him with an honest and objective mind will find nothing surprising about the confidence reposted in Dr. Koroma by the international community and stakeholders. Since his glorious entry into politics, Ernest Bai Koroma has surpassed expectations as a bastion of democracy , good governance, inclusive leadership and sociopolitical and economic accountability and transparency.
Even Sierra Leoneans , who once allowed themselves to be misled by the insidious propaganda and character assassination mounted against him by his enemies, are now beholden of the fact that Ex- President Koroma may not be the villain he is painted after all. And nothing has changed the minds of the people than the charade Koroma’s successor , President Maada Bio, has made in power . Maada Bio himself has opened the eyes of the people of Sierra Leone to the fact that Ernest Koroma was a unique man in power –He is a champion of honest stewardship, a champion of peace, a champion of tribal and regional tolerance , a champion of democracy, a champion of human rights respect and observance and president like none in the history of our nation..He is by far a better man than Maada Bio and most Sierra Leoneans now regret that his term of office ended when the nation needed somebody like him most.
It is in recognition of such sterling qualities and facts that inspite of all the plethora of misconceived attempts by his detractors to vilify him since he left power, none of his detractors has succeeded to transform Ernest Koroma from hero to villain or to undermine the tremendous respect and confidence he enjoys from the international community and stakeholders.
Today’s engagement by Dr.Koroma with the EU Ambassador in Makeni breathed hope in Sierra Leoneans that they have not been left all at sea to flounder as the SLPP government continues its machinations to rig the 2023 elections . Dr. Koroma still has an indispensable role in Sierra Leone – he will work with international stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible elections which will enhance peace and stability.
Ernest Koroma is a silent , but essential and effective cog in the machinery of peace, stability, democracy and progress and Sierra Leoneans are thankful that international stakeholders recognize this fact and are working with him to make Sierra Leone and Africa a better place.
