So our Olu is gone! ‘Poo & Wee’
When a close associate of mine called me on Monday evening to say that Olu Gordon had died earlier that day in London, all I could murmur to myself was, “THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.” When I hung up, the hymn “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform” came to my mind spontaneously. From the beginning I had only heard, rather seen the name in the pages of the for-di-people newspaper in March 1998 after my appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It may be that he knew me or had heard about me from my days as a minister in President Siaka Steven’s government. Otherwise our paths had never crossed; even in his life I had met him only once at the IMC offices on Siaka Stevens street. Somebody, perhaps a mutual friend who must have been familiar with the literary heat which we both generated between us, introduced us. Even after that encounter I could not recognized him again. But so it was that we developed that dislike for each other. He never let off and I have to say that neither did I. (Photo: Dr Sama Banya)
I admired his literary style especially his satires. What I never appreciated and for which I never forgave him was his swipe at other peoples’ disability. I was particularly disturbed by his crude reference to Professor Eldred Jones visual disability which had developed over the years but which had never prevented him from his selfless and distinguished public service in various fields. I remember stating that if Olu had meant it as a joke then it was a joke in very bad taste. Other than that I had never borne any personal grudge or malice towards the late young man. By his death Sierra Leone journalism and SLAJ have lost one of their most brilliant members. For all his faults he was loved and admired. As for me I won’t pretend that I will not miss our banters. Life has taught me NEVER to gloat over another person’s affliction as we can never tell when God strikes. God willing I shall attend the funeral; in the meantime I would like to extend my sincere and deep-felt condolences to his family and friends. May God grant him eternal rest and may light perpetual shine on him.
I heard not heard or read about our hard working but at the same time publicity conscious minister of state in the ministry of health and sanitation Mohamed Dadis Koroma until I read that he was recovering from an illness which had taken him abroad. But soon after news of Olu’s death on Monday I was informed that Mohamed Koroma had suffered a relapse and that he had been flown back to London. I have never personally been close to Mohamed Koroma but in spite of his earlier defamatory articles about me we have always exchanged pleasantries whenever we have met. It is interesting that in 2009 or 10, the late Olu Gordon, Mohamed Koroma and I were the simultaneous recipients of awards for our contribution to journalism, although I am not a journalist. I understand that Mohamed’s condition may be a little more serious this time. It is so very tempting to remind the poor fellow about one of his alarming stories about me which appeared on the pages of the African Champion newspaper. That I had taken seriously ill and had been loaded in a wheel chair for a London bound plane and had immediately been admitted in the Intensive care unit of a London hospital. Another edition of the same African Champion carried a false story that I was “suffering from prostate cancer of the penis;” I have never come across that pathology of that description in my medical studies and practice. All of this and more were published by the newspaper at a time when thanks to the Grace and Mercy of God I was in robust health. Ironically a friend who had just read the London story was pleasantly surprised when he saw me walking down Siaka Stevens Street hail and hearty. Again I am reminded never to gloat or pray for another person’s affliction, because “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.” I often simply remind myself of the saying “There but for the Grace of God go I.”
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Emmanuel "Shelly" Conteh
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Sama Banya’s reaction to Olu Gordon’s sudden death shows the depths of senility into which he has sank in recent times. His poorly-worded piece is no eulogy or obituary, but an outright expression of cynicism and consciencelessness!
How can anybody in their right senses sing and dance on the grave of their fellow compatriot no matter their ideological diffrences, as Banya did?
It however came as no surpise to some of us who are already used to Banya’s antics. He could have done hmself good had he shut up and say nothing on hearing Olu’s passing. But it is still not too late for him to do so and let us who love Richie Gordon and are inspired by him to mourn his loss!
6th April 2011