Sorie Fofana: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 2 August 2018:
The National Publicity Secretary of the main opposition APC Party, Cornelius Deveaux, informed the nation yesterday that the former President of Sierra Leone and Chairman/Leader of the APC party, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, will be returning home today from a private vacation in Guinea, Conakry.
According to Mr. Deveaux, the Party’s leadership and members will receive their Leader/Chairman today at the Gbalamuya Checkpoint and head off straight to Makeni, where the former President has chosen to stay permanently in retirement.
Many people are wondering why President Koroma has still refused to understand that he is no longer in office.
There is only one President at a time in Sierra Leone. (Photo: The current elected president of Sierra Leone – Julius Maada Bio).
In the first place, why has President Koroma refused to retire from active party politics? Why does he want to continue to hold on to the position of Chairman/Leader of the APC party?
President Koroma’s name featured prominently in the Governance Transition Team report released by the Government of President Julius Maada Bio on 4th July, 2018.
In that report, the former President was accused of involvement in several corrupt transactions including the controversial sale of the Government of Sierra Leone 30% share in Sierra Rutile.
He has denied involvement in the corrupt sale of the 30% share in Sierra Rutile. (Photo: Former president -Koroma)
Under normal circumstances, President Koroma’s Passport (s) should have been seized and his personal bank accounts frozen.
It is a well-known fact that several people whose names were mentioned in the GTT report have had their passports seized and their bank accounts frozen.
Those close to the former President should be able to tell him that he does not need any fanfare now.
He should simply return quietly to the country and retire in his hometown of Makeni.
Furthermore, those who are still close to the former President should advise him to retire from active party politics by retiring from his position of Chairman/Leader of the APC party.
After ten years as President, what else does President Koroma really need? Is he really missing the gravitas surrounding the Office of the President?
Let the former President behave like an elder statesman and avoid the political limelight.
President Koroma should not create the impression that he is still the President of Sierra Leone. Why does he need a lavish welcome party after returning from a private trip?
The former President should retire quietly from party politics and maintain the status of an elder statesman.
The APC party should advice their Chairman/Leader to cancel any planned welcome ceremony to avoid being misunderstood by the current administration. That’s the common sense decision at a time like this. May common sense prevail!
About the author
Sorie Fofana is the editor of Global Times.
Sierra Leone is a country where a man who steal a goat is beaten to death, but a man who steal billions of Leones is celebrated. We need to open our eyes well well, or else.
KKY SILENCE
This piece is somewhat of unjustifiable nagging at Hon Yumkellah for adopting what I may say is a position of observation like quite a number of citizens, as cases of corruption filed against the previous government unfold.
The piece tends to be biased as the author’s analysis falls short of objective view, and rather inaccurate. The disposition of Dr Yumkellah in fighting against corruption in our governance system cannot be underestimated.
Honourable Yumkella had repeatedly offered himself in the well of parliament and had reiterated his willingness to partner with this government if they are to tackle corruption seriously, in our governance system.
He clearly asserted that he would be the first to join the government in the fight.
Therefore, Honourable Yumkellah is not inhibited in this fight.
I am so happy to see APC thieves being sent to court for HIDING under the building of roads which are donor’s rights to know how monies are spent. Bravo Maada, jail them, it is time corruption is stopped.
Holidays in Guinea or Senegal??
ART, if I read it correctly in yesterday’s post, the leadership of APC are asking for a motorcade of 50 vehicles to welcome the former president. Assuming the APC will provide the vehicles, but who is going to pay for policing this event?
This is the man that left our country bankrupt; and he wants to continue to do so. He doesn’t deserve any protection, except a few bodyguards as per our constitution.
The APC movement needs to be reminded of their treatment of the late and former CDS – S.O. Williams. APC forced him to retire and stripped him of all his retirement entitlements, including security and the right to carry his gun. He was murdered in his own home. In other countries, a retired army chief will have several guards protecting him, but APC decided otherwise.
All of them will pay the price for their evil deeds.