By Dadson A. Musa
Julius Maada Bio came from a ruling family background, went to a renowned government school and got qualifications to enter university. With the rosy options at his beck and call he decided to throw his life into harm’s way by enlisting into an army that was at the time under-equipped, under- paid and neglected. So he didn’t choose the easy path even when it was opened to him.
He could have gone for the Paramount chieftaincy as he has right to it by birth. This was the man who did not only enlist but fought at the battle fronts to keep the rebels at bay. He also fought with the ECOMOG contingent In Liberia.
This was because their unit was probably the best fighting unit in the military at the time. When our war took a twist for the worse they were called back home to turn things around which they were successful in doing. In the NPRC regime he was one of the focused and probably the best Secretary of States so he was counted on and rose through the ranks up to deputy head of state.
After the palace coup in 1996 he was asked to lead as Head of State. On his watch, the first democratic elections were held and he willingly handed power over to the winner. Again, Maada Bio (Brigadier) showed us his selflessness by handing over power even when he had the chance to cling on.
By that act again he saved our democracy. He never attempted to choose a quick way back to power but patiently and procedurally waited to be duly elected. Now the president, Julius Maada Bio has legitimacy and is putting in reforms to turn things around in the country.
Those reforms have been felt in the education, media, infrastructure and other key sectors in governance. His challenge has been the corona disease outbreak which is affected supply chains and caused inflation across the globe. By all indications he deserves a second term especially when there is a lull in the pandemic. We should try him for the last time to see what legacy he wants to leave behind.