MANY Sierra Leoneans told COCORIOKO this morning that they wept when President Barak Obama was projected the winner of the U.S. Presidential Elections last night. THey love President OBama like many other Africans. They were so full of emotions, they could not keep back the tears, the tears of joy and victory. But they shed even more tears when they listened to the concession speech by the man Obama defeated in the race for the White House–Republican Mitt Romney. They wept because it was the highest form of political maturity and statesmanship to concede defeat with such moving congratulations of your victor. A rarity in Africa.
As Sierra Leone goes to elections next on November 17 , with President Ernest Koroma expected to win a second term like President Obama, the wish that everybody had yesterday was that challenger Maada Bio will be so noble , statesman-like , mature and patriotic , like Mitt Romney, to concede defeat, and not only that , congratulate President Koroma with the same kinds of glowing words Romney used last night. The wish was not only for Maada Bio, but the losers of the elections to be held throughout the continent of Africa this year. If Africa must become a peaceful continent, losers of elections must copy what the Americans do-accept defeat and pledge to cooperate with the winner to build the nation.
Africa has suffered incalculable socio-economic destruction from conflicts and wars. IT Is high time Africans put an end to self-destruction by seeking peace at all times, not only during elections. It is amazing that after all the bad blood, American politicians quickly put their nation above partisan interests and pledged to work together. Who will not be impressed ?
We were so moved by Mr. Romney’s speech that we have decided to reproduce it here verbatim. These are some of the things that make America the greatest nation on the face of the earth. We can do the same in Africa. The national interest must supersede personal vain glory, lust for power and partisan politics.
We are fascinated.
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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you so very much.
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Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory. His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations.
His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations. I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters.
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This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.
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I want to thank Paul Ryan for all that he has done for our campaign.
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And for our country. Besides my wife, Ann, Paul is the best choice I’ve ever made.
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And I trust that his intellect and his hard work and his commitment to principle will continue to contribute to the good of our nation.
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I also want to thank Ann, the love of my life.
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She would have been a wonderful first lady. She’s – she has been that and more to me and to our family and to the many people that she has touched with her compassion and her care.
I thank my sons for their tireless work on behalf of the campaign, and thank their wives and children for taking up the slack as their husbands and dads have spent so many weeks away from home.
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I want to thank Matt Rhoades and the dedicated campaign team he led.
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They have made an extraordinary effort not just for me, but also for the country that we love.
And to you here tonight, and to the team across the country – the volunteers, the fundraisers, the donors, the surrogates – I don’t believe that there’s ever been an effort in our party that can compare with what you have done over these past years. Thank you so very much.
Thanks for all the hours of work, for the calls, for the speeches and appearances, for the resources and for the prayers. You gave deeply from yourselves and performed magnificently. And you inspired us and you humbled us. You’ve been the very best we could have imagined.
The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work.
And we citizens also have to rise to the occasion. We look to our teachers and professors, we count on you not just to teach, but to inspire our children with a passion for learning and discovery.
We look to our pastors and priests and rabbis and counselors of all kinds to testify of the enduring principles upon which our society is built: honesty, charity, integrity and family.
We look to our parents, for in the final analysis everything depends on the success of our homes.
We look to job creators of all kinds. We’re counting on you to invest, to hire, to step forward.
And we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics.
I believe in America. I believe in the people of America.
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And I ran for office because I’m concerned about America. This election is over, but our principles endure. I believe that the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to a resurgent economy and to renewed greatness.
Like so many of you, Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given our all to this campaign.
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I so wish – I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction, but the nation chose another leader. And so Ann and I join with you to earnestly pray for him and for this great nation.
Thank you, and God bless America. You guys are the best. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thanks, guys.
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