Mr. President, distinguished members of the executive committee, Hon. chairman and members of the Board of Directors of Quardu Gboni, the distinguished Keynote speaker, platform quests, the Honorable Bangali M. Donzo, chairperson of the elder’s committee of Felmausa, the honorable Moriken Kenneh, Vice President of Limany and member of Felmausa delegation; the dynamic chairperson of the women’s wing of Felmausa, Mrs. Fatu Sherif Kromah, fellow countrymen, ladies and gentlemen.
We have come in the name of peace, unity and reconciliation. A venture, the brothers and sisters in our community believe is the bedrock for sustainable progress in our country. We take guidance in the recent testimony by one of the early participants to have appeared before the TRC who stated and I quote, “in history, as in politics, especially the violent politics of Liberia, it is only those who make history must survive enough to write about that history”.
You see brothers and sisters, when it comes to the recent history of Liberia, we are all eye-witnesses to the events that took place or that are taking place. Tonight we are witnessing such an event, indeed a history. While it is true that we are making history, what is lacking at this point is the will and means to record that history. We have not properly articulated those many contributions that the likes of King Sao Boso Kamara made to our beloved country, Liberia.
Many contributions that we have made and continue to make to Liberia have been lost in translation because we have not allowed ourselves to sit in the driving seat of properly recording the history of the nation. Part of this is due to the conservative thinking of our forefathers that succeed the generation of SA boso Kamara, who only minded their own business while leaving everything to others to decide. Now is the time to wake up from our long sleep and take our rightful place in society.
Part of that is to be vigorous in recording the contributions we continue to make to the development and progress of Liberia. Our contributions range from providing protection for the settlers to reside in the land that became Liberia to the recent history when our efforts lead to the forced departure of Charles Taylor, setting the pace for the current democratic process that gave Africa its first female elected president.
Authentic historical account of Liberia is replete with the many contributions our forefathers made in the formative stages of Liberia. The name of Sao Boso Kamara known by our people at the time, as Sabsu, is well cataloged in the anal of our history. Sabsu was a powerful warrior and industrious. He helped to provide protection for the peaceful settlement of the settler the so call “founding father.” These realities were well known by all of our compatriots, but yet his progenies have been subjected to all types of humiliation and atrocities. What does this say about our politics? In my view, it speaks to the level of pacified engagement we have adopted as a people.
Our detractors have used various falsehoods to justify the atrocities against our people, evident by the Botuo, Bahn and many others, including the Barkedou massacres. May the innocent lives taken so violently by these cowards continue to rest in peace; may the souls of those gallant brothers and sisters who gave their own lives in the defense of our people rest in perpetual peace.
Our community is grateful to Quadu Gboni for producing leaders that have championed the cause of justice, peace and reconciliation in our country. We remind you of the contributions of many illustrious sons of Quardu Gboni including Dr. Edward B. Kessely, the founder of the ruling political party in our country today, and the gallantry and selfless leadership of Professor Alhaji GV Kromah in defending our people from the diabolical plans of Charles Taylor and his supporters. All of us can attest to the sacrifices that were made under the leadership of Chairman Kromah in reversing the course of Liberian history during the 90s.
Ladies and gentlemen of Quardu Gboni, I want to, on behalf of the FELMAUSA, extend our heart felt appreciation for the honor bestowed on us to speak to you today. We will like to once again, ask for a moment of silence for the victims of all massacres in Liberia with specific reference to the Barkedou massacre and I would also like to ask that you use the same time to observer a minute of silence for the untimely home going of many of our brothers and sisters over the years, including the late Lasana V. Kromah, formal finance minister, another vibrant son of Quardu Gboni.
Fellow countrymen, I am seeking your support for a suggestion we are forwarding to the community through the Board of Director of FELMAUSA to set a day aside as a memorial service for the victims of the calculated murders and mayhems orchestrated by those whose only objective was to obtain political power thru violence. This day should be set aside and observed by all of our people in the Diaspora, and back home in Liberia. This day will remember the victims of massacres from Botuo, Bahn, to the Lutheran Church, amongst many others. This day will allow for the victims of all these atrocities, killed in cold blood, to be remembered and honored. We can do this on an annual basis. This is the beginning of writing the wrong of our history.
It is about time we begin to strategize, and become more proactive rather than reactive. The capability of our people is now well documented. No other Liberian will now single out the Mandingo tribe for extinction by means of military might. We were forced to adopt modern tactics of self defense. But there is still a calculated attempt to deprive some segment of the Liberian society of their rights to return to their homes in Nimba County and other parts of Liberia. So far the government has not done enough to resolve this issue. There have been numerous calls on the government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to do something about this matter.
I will hope we all can continue to make the case to the government and international community about this issue which is not in line with the process of peace and reconciliation in the country. The government must enforce justice at all levels and not allow this land issue to create further distraction in our quest for reintegration, and unification of all Liberians. As it is said, justice delayed is justice denied. It is my humble view that we as peace loving citizens of Liberia engage the present leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for swift action on this calculated displacement of some members of our society, especially the Mandingos from Nimba County.
With this, I greet all of you beloved community members with peace and reconciliation from the President and the Federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the USA.
