By Mabinty M. Kamara
Member of Parliament for constituency 030 in Kono district eastern Sierra Leone, Emerson Lamina has condemned the recent political violence that erupted in the township of Koidu leading to the death of a 21-year-old man Osman Fengai, an alleged supporter of an ruling SLPP.
“I therefore unequivocally condemn this particular act of violence perpetrated against Osman Fengai that has caused his life, and all other forms of intended violence against any Kono person, group or groups and properties thereof,” the statement reads.
The clash, according to the Police Local Unit Commander, Tankoro division in Kono, Superintendent Franklyn Bawoh occurred between supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the Coalition for Change (C4C) party in Kono over accusations that some C4C members, now loyal to the SLPP betrayed the aspirations of the founder and first leader of the C4C party Samuel Sam-Sumana.
In a press statement published on the 21st of April 2021 Hon. Emerson Lamina noted that the incident that led to the death of the young man was not unconnected to the "toxic nature of politics" in the district supported by certain political leaders, who because of their silence in out rightly condemning the actions of irate youths appear to have fuelled such an unwarranted episode.
He also associated the issue with the use of social media to share and spread hate messages across the district. He said: “I underscore that unsubstantiated allegations and hate messages from these social media posts and broadcasts have the tendencies of poisoning the social cohesiveness, the peaceful coexistence and fraternity that the district deserves in order to pursue its collective socio-development aspirations. In less than a fortnight or thereabout, the district has lost one of its potential youths as a result of an unprovoked violence,” the statement reads.
The C4C Parliamentary leader said “we can each play politics based on our diverse ideologies with humility and finesse in order not to put apart or endanger the lives and properties of the very people we profess to represent and defend.”
Hon. Lamina called on other politicians from the districts and Political Leaders to condemn acts of violence and urged the police to arrest the culprits and bring him to book.
He noted that politicians that use young people to perpetrate violence in their communities do not mean well for the growth of the young people “because they have the clandestine motive to destroy your images and future; because they want you to fail in life, they will rather encourage you to adopt negativities and blur your minds into thinking you are on the right track. Remember, history will not be kind to you if you so choose to follow the path directed by such Politicians,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile a faction of C4C seen as loyal to Sam Sumana also issued a statement condemning acts of violence, calling on the police to investigate the recent incidents.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 23/04/21
