President Koroma’s November victory in Sierra Leone did not surprise many

I am told that one of the opposition parties has petitioned the election results of the last November elections which saw His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma re-elected overwhelmingly as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

After the results were announced on Friday, 23rd November, 2012 by the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Christiana Thorpe, Sierra Leoneans were commended worldwide for the political maturity they exhibited during the elections.

World Leaders Hailed the November Elections

A good number of world leaders sent congratulatory messages hailing the conduct of the electoral process. President Yoyi Boni, who doubles as current Chairman of the African Union, said “the winners in Sierra Leone’s election are the people of Sierra Leone”.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, commended Sierra Leoneans for “the high voter turnout and the remarkable calm displayed by the country’s citizens as they cast their votes” which he said were a “clear manifestation of their desire for peace, democracy and development.”

The UK Foreign Office Minister, Mark Simmonds also added some icing to the cake by commending Sierra Leoneans for their commitment to international standards and the efficient running of the elections. The UK Foreign Office Minister assured that: “I look forward to continuing our work with President Koroma and his government in support of progress, sustainable economic development and lasting peace in Sierra Leone.”

Other world leaders and organizations including President Barack Obama of the United States of America, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, the Secretary-General of the Saudi- based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the European Union, AU, ECOWAS, etc. congratulated Sierra Leoneans for the high voter turnout and described the polls as “peaceful, free, fair and exemplary” compared to past elections monitored in Sierra Leone.

I think it’s the right of any political party to seek redress in the courts, if they have anything against election results or whatever. And since the matter is in court, I would not comment or make any prejudice on it. But many Sierra Leoneans I spoke to after the elections say the President’s victory did not surprise them – and I strongly subscribe to that.

President Dr. Enerst Bai Koroma used to tell Sierra Leoneans confidently at least one year to the elections that:  “My works will campaign for me” And indeed he was right because the electorate voted him in as a result of what they perceived as his developmental strides all over the country.

Shortly after he assumed power in 2007, President Koroma promised to turn Sierra Leone into a works yard and he being the works foreman. For this, he signed a performance contract with all his ministers to ensure that missions given them were accomplished well and on time.

His dynamic Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructural Development, Alimamy  Petito Koroma had this to say about  the Head of State at  the official opening ceremony of the Masiaka- Bo highway in June 2010: “ It is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone and thanks to H.E’s vision that this country is being transformed into the envy of any developing country. We are not only concentrating on trunk roads but feeder roads around the country with EU and SLRA support.”

The Minister added: “He would just come to my office unannounced to enquire about how things were going; just as he would do the same at works sites. His love for accomplishment is unrivalled. He hates sub-standard jobs and respects time limits with military precision”.

‘Di Pa Dae Wok’

The slogan “Di Pa Dae Wok” meaning ‘The President is working’ is a household slogan in Sierra Leone and far beyond. When one starts to enumerate President Koroma’s achievements, the electrification of the capital city and some district head quarter towns comes straight to mind.  Next in line are the massive road construction projects all around the country – the highway from Rogbere to Kambia and Pamalap in Guinea – a highway which after donkey years has now allowed commuters to leave most parts of Sierra Leone in the morning, travel to neigbouring Guinea and back the same day.

Agriculture

President Koroma emphasized to the people of Sierra Leone that the promotion of agriculture is one of his greatest priorities and he was not engaged in cheap propaganda of the past Green Revolutions of our country. With the help of his expert and able bodied Minister of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security,  Dr. Sam Sesay, Government has largely succeeded in transforming the agricultural landscape of Sierra Leone.  The Government has provided the requisite inputs like tractors, power tillers, fertilizers, seeds and other essentials.  For the first time in the history of this land, the APC government has set up agricultural development Banks and the Agricultural Business Centers (ABC) for storage facilities for farmers

Free Health Care

The whole of Sierra Leone erupted into unprecedented jubilation when President Ernest Bai Koroma launched the National Free Health Care Scheme for children under five, pregnant and lactating women in April 2010.

The scheme was welcomed by all Sierra Leoneans irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, religion or other considerations; first because of its free nature and second because of its timeliness to combat the devastating rate at which infant and maternal mortality was decimating our future generation.

The successful impact of this Free Health Care scheme all round the four corners of Sierra Leone did go a very long way to get President Koroma and the APC (four for four) re-elected for another five years term to allow him complete the works he commenced and propel him into the annals of history making in Sierra Leone; leaving his footprints in the sands of time.

Political and Press Freedom Under APC

One may or not like the APC led-government of President Koroma, but what remains abundantly clear to date is that there is no single political prisoner at the notorious maximum Security prison at Pademba Road.  Practicing journalists still wonder whether this is a new APC which allows such press freedom as never seen in this country since colonial times. All these said; it was no surprise that President Koroma won the last elections resoundingly.

But the fact of the matter is, since President Koroma was re-elected, he has repeatedly told all political parties in the country, including the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s that elections were over, and that the country was yearning for unity once more.

The President had always appealed to Sierra Leoneans to desist from acts that threatened to divide the nation after the successful conclusion of the November 17 elections.

“We should all be working now as one united body for the good of our nation by safeguarding our Republic, strengthening our government and building new institutions,” the President told Sierra Leoneans during his inauguration early this year.

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