Ernest Koroma, a great leader

Nobody imagined that Ernest Bai Koroma would have won the 2007 presidential election against a tough money backed contender like Solo B. Winning 2012 was a sure bet after that, even though the opposition SLPP said via their various media outlets that the man was a failure. What makes Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma so hugely popular and successful as a leader?

Those close to him who know him say it is because the man is himself.

“He hates blackmailing and sycophancy,” one such confidante said.

According to him, President Koroma is as an effective leader who through his humility and accessibility has earned the respect of his people.

As a leader, he shuns tribalism and elitism. He accommodates his fellow country men and women and above all, has immeasurable tolerance for people who do not share his views and beliefs.

As a leader, one remarkable characteristic he has is that he is God fearing and believes in knowledge sharing with his cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, local authorities the youths for the betterment of Mama Salone. That’s how he was able to reach out to a lot of voters in the SLPP strongholds whose votes definitely made his first round victory certain.

One other remarkable quality about President Koroma people talk about is that he is a man of his words; that way he has been able to achieve many of the things he outlined in the Agenda for Change that has paved the way to the Agenda for Prosperity.

President Koroma is a man with an eye to the past but focused on the present and the future. Addressing a jam-packed Miatta Conference Hall whilst launching the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation during the close of his first term in office, he told his distinguished foreign and local audience that, “There is no turning back as the transformation has already begun”.

A pragmatic leader who knows he alone cannot achieve the vision he has of a better nation, he urged all including teachers, traders, medicos, lawyers, farmers, drivers, etc., to be part of the transformation and take the driving seat.

A leader who is zealous and passionate about transforming the country into a prosperous nation, his focus remains fixing the country’s decrepit infrastructure, providing energy and power, opening up the country with good interconnecting roads, and giving the youths opportunities to realize their full potentials.

One diplomat was heard saying before the election that Ernest Koroma was very difficult to challenge by Maada Bio because of his passion and love for his people and his respect for of Human Rights and Democracy.

While Maada Bio and the SLPP were preaching tribalism and regionalism, he as a leader is determined to bring the country and its people together irrespective of party or tribal affiliation. This quality in him attracted a lot of voters from all tribes to him; hence the massive trouncing he gave Maada BIO.

As a leader, those close to him say he is a President who does not believe in hearsay but believes in hard work and dedication.

“He hates blackmailing and sycophancy but admires hard work,” a close aide maintains.

When he first took over the mantle of leadership in September 2007, he promised to electrify the capital city, Freetown which then was dubbed, the darkest city in the World.

A leader who loves to follow up, he makes sure he pays regular visits to all the provincial towns to assess how to bring about development in the country.

Therefore, it is very inconsiderate of the opposition SLPP to acknowledge the worth of such a great leader.

From his inception to power on September 17 2007, His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma has demonstrated a high level of sincerity and commitment towards changing the face of the country. Such an effective leader is just what Sierra Leone needs as a nation to turn things around.

As an example of his effectiveness as a leader, we have been able to sustain peace and stability since he took power.

Beyond that, President Ernest Bai Koroma in his first five years in office has established good governance as the basis of his government. Today the freedom to question government policies and also criticize the President is common occurrences in the daily lives of all Sierra Leoneans.

Members of the opposition, like the defeated Hon. Tamba Sam, Puawui, UNITY and everybody were free all throughout to criticize the presidency and the government without been thrown into jail. This is one of the main reasons why President Koroma continues to be the right man for Mama Salone!

By Moisa M. Keikura

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