OPINION > Plein Tok Thank You President Koroma, But...........? Posted by Joe Sawan on Aug 6, 2008, 18:51

Leaders who “say what they mean and mean what they say” are respected and admired.  This is a novelty especially in the 21^st century where the competition for resources and the strategic need for alliances that facilitate development are of extreme importance.

The decision made by His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma to relieve his close buddy the Hon. Minister of Transport and Aviation, of his ministerial responsibilities has been positively received. For his action orientedness, relative firmness and decisiveness, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma deserves to be referred to as “Or President Kamu (Your President), “or President Kami (my President) and “or President Kasubeh (our President).  This signifies the final recognition of President Koroma as the undisputed social, political and legal leader of the Republic of Sierra Leone.  Bravo President Koroma.  You have now taken full control of the Presidential office. There were many cynics and “doubting Thomases” because they did not really believe that President Koroma would be bold enough to send his close buddy on “temporary” leave until the completion of the investigations.

Just as there is nothing as potent as a leader whose time has come, there is equally nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has arrived.  When candidate Koroma was campaigning for the presidency, he proffered the view that the need for change was not only necessary but that it was inevitable for Sierra Leone. 

According to President Koroma, the dire need for change would continue to be imperiled if Sierra Leoneans did not make a concerted effort to change their attitude.  This is a must for the country. It is an all embracing attitudinal change that entails changes that would impact the perceptions of the international community about Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans. 

This requires the presence of an individual who would lead by example and President Koroma is filling that gap.  It could even be speculated that President Koroma would be even more decisive as he continues to grow and mature on the job.  For the young, 55- year- old President, he has not disappointed the Sierra Leonean voters.  Even the SLPP members are reported to have applauded his decisiveness.  Hopefully, the same SLPP members should not be having second thoughts about the potential impact of his decisiveness on his already very positive approval rating.

The cocaine saga is a very sensitive matter because of the international dimension to the matter.  American, Colombians, Venezuelans, Mexicans and Sierra Leoneans are alleged to be involved in the drug syndicate.  But for the American, the cocaine saga could easily be dubbed. “THE HISPANIC CONNECTION” with the potential for a great drama. In conjunction with the Ministries of Information and Communications, Internal Affairs, Defence  Tourism and Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should explore the possibility of making a Hollywood blockbuster film entitled “THE HISPANIC CONNECTION” with film producers in Hollywood.  It will help to positively market Sierra Leone, create a few jobs for Sierra Leoneans and bring in some much needed revenue.  It is an opportunity the country cannot afford to miss.  The film could end up with a five minute statement by His Excellency the President about the country’s resolve to combat drug trafficking.

This is one very situation that the government and people of Sierra Leone should transform into a positive one. In the meantime, President Koroma should continue to demonstrate his relentless drive to support the investigations into the cocaine saga. Sierra Leoneans in general and the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party in particular must commit themselves to supporting the President.  It is not an easy task but it can be accomplished as long as there is genuine collaboration on the part of all.  If the newspaper report that one of the lawyers in the conspiracy trial advised the wife of one of the alleged conspirators to withhold relevant information is true, both the police and the DPP should seriously consider preferring charges of obstruction of justice against the lawyer.