It is never wise to bet against Sierra Leoneans. Say what you may, we know where our differences end, and when to share the warm embrace of each other. No one would have thought that the climax to the 2012 Presidential and General Elections would produce such a picture. But here we are on the third day, of the twelfth month, in the year 2012, and the world has the opportunity to see our leaders embracing each other. Except one is totally possessed by the devil, as a Sierra Leonean everyone must be rejoicing right now. We made it. Bio traded his concession speech for a nationalistic shrug; a meeting with His Excellency that acknowledges President Koroma’s leadership of the nation topped with a hug that depicts national unity thereby discounting all talks about a polarized country.
It is never prudent to go-between our leaders saying what one should do and what the other should not accept. They know when to move from political hypes and highly exalt the realm of the free. They know when to stand firmly united singing the praises of our native land. They know when not to argue against reality and re-echo the message of our One Sierra Leone under God. They know how to feel the pulse of Sierra Leoneans and take the just steps to keep our Green, White, and Blue flying high and mighty at home and around the world. President Ernest Bai Koroma and the All People’s Congress won the Elections. Julius Maada Bio and the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the moment. I am happy they proved most of us wrong and today everyone must be glad because our democratic maturity has been confirmed by the leaders of Sierra Leone’s two main political parties.
It is never sensible to give up on Sierra Leoneans. You never know what comes out of our determination never to start another conflict but live harmoniously. You, by no means would comprehend our strength of mind to better the lives of every Sierra Leonean. Is the Southeast not part of Sierra Leone? Yes it is and contributes healthily to the wholeness of the nation. Is the Northwest not part of Sierra Leone? Yes it is and brings to the national table quality input that makes our nation complete. Are the Mendes, Temnes, Kissis, Konos, Limbas, Lokos, Fullahs, Krios, Yanlonkas, Mandingoes, Sosos, Etc not members of our lovely nation? Yes they are and every tribe is significant because only with all on the Sierra Leonean team, are we able to say, “Our diversity is what makes us unique and great.” We are Sierra Leoneans, and nothing made this Divine truth so real as seeing His Excellency President Koroma and Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio in warm Sierra Leonean embrace.
Finally, it is always a blessing to witness the fulfillment of Holy Scripture among Sierra Leoneans. According to Isaiah 11, “The Spirit of the Lord” now rests on our leader President Koroma. He has “the Spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” Many doubted the wisdom behind his consent to meet with opposition leaders given the fact that he clearly won, and they never conceded. But today, we know President Koroma does “not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears.” With righteousness President Koroma “will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the” good of the nation.
The final outcome is therefore a Sierra Leone where everyone lives in peace; a nation where “the calf and the lion and the yearling live together.” What we therefore have is the upshot of the nation’s Agenda for Prosperity. As prophesied by Isaiah, “The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Welcome to the New Sierra Leone where there is neither harm nor destruction. The entire nation is set to be flooded with prosperity and “the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Can you say Amen? Lonta!