By Abdul Bero Kamara (Chief), USA.
Contrary to the negative reports which are being circulated by the SLPP mouthpiece that the APC supporters were responsible for the melee that occurred on Friday 13th, 2009 at Wallace Johnson Street outside the SLPP headquarters, according to an independent eye witness report, the melee was provoked by the SLPP chairman for the Western Area, Mr. Lansana Fadika.
On the day of the incident, Mr. Fadika mobilized SLPP supporters to put a barricade in front of his party headquarters in order to prevent jubilant APC supporters who where accompanying the Mayor Herbert G. Williams to his office after commissioning the clock tower in front of the Eastern Police Station, a project which they (SLPP) failed to implement despite of all the resources they had as a government.
Sources further confirmed that it was the SLPP supporters who started bombarding the Mayor of Freetown and his jubilant APC supporters with stones whilst they were passing in front of the headquarters of the SLPP office.
Consequently, the end result of this SLPP initiated stone throwing drama at a peaceful crowd of APC supporters was a sad reminder of our ugly past.
Unfortunately, collateral damage and unintended consequences resulted as these are always some of the outcomes of planned violent incidents such as the one that was perpetuated by the opposition SLPP against the Mayor and APC supporters on March 13th, 2009.
I personally do not support the burning of cars and the office of the opposition; nonetheless, I do believe in the saying that “those who live in glass houses should not throw stones” and the corresponding instinct and right of self defense by the APC supporters.
When I was a youth my father used to advise me to never challenge some one who I was not sure of defeating, and second to never start a fight in my house even when I have the advantage to win it.
By and large, I don’t know what the SLPP chairman was thinking when he made this dim witted decision to provoke the APC supporters. Also I wonder before he left home that morning if he knew whether that day was Friday 13th.
More importantly, the question that is worth asking the Western Area SLPP Chairman is WHY he chose to provoke violence against the APC supporters on this day in which our traditional pride “The clock Tower” is being commissioned? Also WHY on this day that is traditionally considered a black day? What is wrong with Lansana Fadika? Has he no other way of impressing the SLPP elders and leadership about his over zealousness for his new position except to incite a melee. Why did he not use this zeal to spur the party to do good works of development for all the years the SLPP was in power?
For future reference and a learning purpose I would like Mr. Lansana Fadika to absorb the myth below about Friday 13th -there is a world wide belief that Friday 13th is not a good day for most activities, ventures, and adventures.
Thus, there had always being a traditional or a superstitious belief that Friday 13th is not a good day. Though there is no written evidence to support this myth; however, some folklore has passed on this myth through oral traditions.
Nonetheless, several theories have been proposed about the origin of Friday the 13th superstitious. One theory states that it is the amalgamation of two superstitions that thirteen is an unlucky number and that Friday is an unlucky day.
In numerology, the number twelve is considered the number of completeness, as reflected in the twelve months of the year, twelve signs of the Zodiac, twelve hours of the clock, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve Apostle of Jesus, twelve gods of Olympus etc where as the number thirteen was considered irregular, transgressing this completeness.
There is also a superstition by some to derive from the last super or a Norse myth that having thirteen people seated at a table will result in a death of one of the diners.
Friday has been considered an unlucky day at least since the 14th century, besides, many professions have regarded Friday as an unlucky day to undertake journeys or begin new projects.
Black Friday has been associated with stock market crashes and other disasters since 1800s. It has been suggested that Friday has been considered an unlucky day because according to Christian scripture and tradition, Jesus was Crucified on Friday.
By and large, Mr. Fadika should know that the APC government of Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma respects the rule, and freedom of association of the opposition; however, it will not tolerate any unpatriotic act that will undermine and derail the peace, stability and security of Sierra Leone.
Being a Chairman and an executive member of the opposition does not give one immunity from prosecution for breaking the law of the land. Please try to live by your party’s motto: “One Country One people.” I am confident like others that the true GREEN and REAL SLPP folks will not support this unpatriotic acts of Lansana Fadika irrespective of who it is directed to
Finally, I believe Mr. Fadika has learnt politics 101 the hard way, and I will humbly reinforce it by reminding him and JOB(John Benjamin) that the APC supporters should never again be provoked, and second, they will be ready to defend themselves and their leaders at anytime, any place and any environment.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Lonta!!!!!!!!!!!!. Long live the APC, Long Live the people of Sierra Leone
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