After taking his party through two election victories, Umaru Napoleon Koroma Esq is regarded as one of the most successful Secretary Generals of the grand old party. When he decisively defeated his main contenders to become SLPP Secretary General in 2017, not many were upbeat about his administrative and political skills to handle the affairs of a party beset with internal power struggles.

This year, Umaru Napoleon Koroma will exit his position as National Secretary General of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party. Through this exclusive, we look back at his journey so far. Enjoy Reading.

PN: Take us back to the days you were elected National Secretary General of the SLPP?  What was the feeling like?

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Naps: As a lawyer, I was building my career but I was caught between practicing for a living and also supporting the party by representing SLPP many party supporters in court. That was what started building up the momentum around me and my expanded interest in politics. There was a decisive moment around 2014 and 2015 when the party was in the middle of a lot of legal issues. We were in court over internal party activities. There was the great Dr. Bubuake Jabbie and several other legal luminaries representing the party. A that time, they have done their own bit and they were stepping out a little bit and we were at the back supporting them and eventually, there was the opportunity for us to step forward and represent the party.  So we eventually set up a new legal team for the party of which I was the lead counsel.

PN: Some thought you were too young and inexperienced at the time? Does that affect your attitude towards the new role?

Naps: Yes!! We had all these big guys…. even in the packing order, I was down there. Then came a particular day when three elderly people came to my office and asked me to run for the position of Secretary General for the party. I said What?? Me??  Where am I going to come from?  It was a tough decision but they spoke calmly and reminded me not just about my role as a legal representative, but also about my amiable disposition, as someone who cuts across and strategically, my Northern roots.   They definitely believed I was armed with the natural traits to serve the SLPP at that level.

It was not in my mind to run for any executive position in the party so I did not give them a word on that particular day. I had to consult with some of my brothers like Hindowa Bindi, Babadi Kamara and Musa Mewa. Few days later, I spoke to my head of chamber Antony Berewa who appreciated the idea but cautioned that I may no longer have time for my legal practice. I told him I will give it a try and then we started the conversation. I met the current president who was then our party leader but had lost the 2012 elections and was vying again to become leader for the 2018 elections. I also met some party elders and to cut long story short, I became the Secretary General of the party in 2017. But of course, contesting against those heavy weights and well experienced folks in the political game, like Rado Swarray, Kalilu Tutangi, Brima Koroma was no child’s play. In some case some would look at me and described me as a small boy.

PN: What are your major challenges and how did you overcome these challenges to help reposition the SLPP into a very formidable party?

Naps: There were a lot of challenges. First, it started with the backdrop of us coming as an opposition.  There were people vying for party symbols to go to Parliament to represent their constituencies’. We designed rules and regulations, guidelines for the selection of these candidates but when the final decisions were made and as Secretary General I had to communicate those decisions.

It was a very tough moment for me. Some of the candidates were my friends, very close colleagues, relatives etc etc. But you have to make the right decisions to make sure the people selected would be able represent the nation and the party well. When the list finally came out, for the first time in my people especially those who didn’t get the symbol started accusing us of collecting bribes, some pelting motherly invectives and at some point, I had to go home to my wife ask myself what have I gotten myself into?   But it was a moment I think I was actually trained for because I came from a background of having led my colleague students back at the university wherein you will do your best and still have people calling you an idiot.  The most important thing is how you manage people’s expectations.

 PN: Your tenure as SLPP Scribe ends very soon. What next?

Naps: The party does not have a term limit. There are other positions …. but I have made a personal decision to leave after eight years. It is always good to leave the stage when the music is sweetest. I am not running for any executive party position but that does not take me out for any other possibilities and that will be communicated at the appropriate time. For now, I only need a little bit of break.

PN: What are some of your major highlights in your political career?

Naps: First of all, I say thanks to God for being part of the team that elected the president. I will definitely align myself with many of  the president has achieved for Sierra Leone. At party level, I was able to push for the review of the entire party constitution and we were able to have new constitution for the party. In that constitution we were able to establish two important aspects. One was the establishment of a Young Generation Council and a Women’s Council.  The Young Generation Council is made up of young professionals who will be trained to take over from us.  Both Councils will now have to elect their own leaders within their own councils instead of the National Delegates Conference. So, it’s the young people and women deciding their own fate. We improved the party’s infrastructure greatly with ultra-modern party offices in some districts.

PN:  Are there any important lessons you have learnt from President Julius Maada Bio?

Naps: Oh Yes!! One of the greatest lessons I learnt from President Bio is the power of letting something go. I also see him as a man with a lot of patience. He is also a man of very few words but a lot of action…he has so much humility. He is a godly man and thinks about the human being all the time. That’s basically from his own upbringing as well. I have learnt a great deal from these attributes and I intend to build on them in my own political life.

PN: What do you think other political parties should learn from your party?

Naps: Political parties do have a responsibility as recognized under the constitution of Sierra Leone. The Constitution makes it clear that we political parties are responsible for shaping the political opinions of the people. When you win governance, you are responsible for the day-to-day administration of the state. So, the first thing they have to learn is to organize themselves properly and we have to be very serious and honest about what they want to do.  If you are not honest then you come into leadership, it will reflect on the people you are governing.