Sierra Leone Telegraph: 02 April 2022:
Former President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma on Thursday 31st March 2022, hosted the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSRSG) for West Africa and the Sahel, Ambassador Mahamet Saleh Annadif, at his Goderich residence in Freetown.
Accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi, the SRSG met former President Koroma along with the deputy leader of the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray and the Minority Leader in Parliament, Chernor Maju Bah MP.
They discussed several endeavours being undertaken by ECOWAS, the West African Elders Forum, the African Union and other actors relating to the reversal of democratic governance and its ramifications on the peace and stability of West Africa.
Following this, former President Koroma and the UNSRSG held a closed – door meeting.
Former President, Ernest Bai Koroma had similar follow-up meetings last month with the United States Ambassador, United Kingdom High Commissioner, and the Head of the European Union Delegation to Sierra Leone.
Barely a year ahead of Sierra Leone’s multi-tier elections in June 2023, these follow-up consultative meetings with Sierra Leone’s international partners could not be timelier, in view of the country’s current social and political state of affairs.
If it looks like a duck , quacks like a duck ,swims like a duck , then most probably is a duck Given how Bio and his government are doing everything within their power to undermine our young democracy , the UN and other international partners have recognised staying silent is not an option anymore.The UN representative Dr.Babatunde alluded to this in his new year message to all Sierra Leoneans when he was quoted of saying”Lets make 2022 the Year for Sierra Leone “.Clearly, liberal democracy is increasingly coming under attack from all sides .Around the regions of some parts of Africa and the ECOWAS region in particular that used to be a symbol of stability has now become a hot bed of instability, poor governance structures, the absence of the rule of law , press freedom , freedom of speech are all under threats.These increasese in activities from anti democratic forces both from civilian and military dictatorship are increasingly taking shape in the region .
So whilst everyone around you is losing their heads , is important to have adults in the room .And that is where we see the peace initiative been undertaken by our international partners like the United Nations, the European Union , the ECOWAS group of nations are trying to come up with solutions on how to counterbalance some of the activities we see that are becoming a threat to our regional stability, and Sierra Leone in particular as we geared up for the 2023 presidential election.
Former President Korama has shown he is a man on a mission to protect and nurture our democracy .We can not allow Bio and his cronies undermine our democracy by using the Poapa 0.2 rule book he used in 2018 to hijack our democracy on false promises.Any candidate that come forward , needs to spell out in details what they plan to do for Sierra Leone .People should vote with their heads not their hearts .