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Former Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) chairman John Oponjo Benjamin has described his relationship with former President Ernest Bai Koroma as one defined by robust public opposition balanced with private dialogue and occasional cooperation.
Speaking on Epic Radio, Benjamin said that despite serving as opposition leader and frequently criticising Koroma’s administration, the two maintained communication channels and engaged on national issues. He characterised their interactions as principled confrontation accompanied by moments of mutual respect and practical collaboration.
Benjamin acknowledged that he often “bashed” Koroma’s governance while in opposition but insisted their exchanges included substantive debate on matters of national importance. He cited specific instances when he publicly challenged the former president’s decisions, including the removal of the vice president, the dismissal of the central bank governor, and the sacking of Munda Rogers, then road transport boss.
On the All People’s Congress’s reluctance to participate in governance following contested local election results, Benjamin said he used his standing with APC figures through Koroma to encourage them to take up their roles. He noted that at the time, the APC held 64 parliamentary seats and 10 councillors while the SLPP held 81 parliamentary seats and 12 councillors, and he urged aggrieved APC members to engage in governance rather than withdraw.
Benjamin also described a more personal dimension to their relationship, stating that Koroma reportedly sent him a speech via WhatsApp for his input before delivering it in Ghana, and the two maintained occasional phone contact.
His remarks highlight how political adversaries in Sierra Leone can combine public criticism with private channels of communication, suggesting that despite sharp partisan differences, senior political figures sometimes preserve working relationships to address governance issues and encourage political stability.
