Gone, Phillip S K Sesay, but your memories will stay
I am in complete anguish… am shocked… stressed… in a crying mood presently in Dakar, Senegal. Why? Well, I lost a friend and college mate, Phillip SK Sesay. All things being equal and based on information I gathered back home, Phillip should be buried on Wednesday. I am at the moment in Dakar, Senegal on an official trip (under the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme attending a five day long workshop on fisheries related issues, being the Communications Specialist for the Sierra Leone chapter of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Programme.)
But let me tell you more about Phillip in few minutes…
My terrible flying ordeal
First, I need to express my appreciation to God/Allah for saving my life (and many other lives). It occurred this way whilst flying with Arik airline on Sunday to Dakar through Banjul.
Slightly above 35 minutes upon departing the Lungi International airport, having gone through the still existing (though in a minimal manner) begging culture of some of our immigration officers back home, we met an unmatched storm that saw the flight being dazed… stirred… and moved beyond the apparent control of the driver… or better put the ‘Almighty’ pilot in whose hands my life and those of others had been. Everybody was wailing… literally crying and shouting, calling on Jesus for mercy… Yes!! “Jesus…” they-we-or (better still some of us) shouted … there and then I came to realize that Jesus Christ was having hundreds, if not thousands of fans on planet earth. It lasted for approximately a minute/09 seconds. “Terrible…” you must be saying – and indeed terrible it was. But forget not that the fear of a crash MUST NOT PREVENT YOU FROM FLYING
Yes, I was fast asleep but the shout of “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus…” from fellow passengers, especially from two Nigeria ladies woke me up and all I could do was to turn to my Sierra Leonean brother, Ibrahim Tarawallie from Concord Times, looked into his eyes and I held on to him, with the crazy belief, that was going to rescue me… It was terrible all the way but it ended up with painful and terrible jokes when the plane finally settled done. T hank God, I said to myself, especially for saving my life thus, enabling me to get back home this pending Friday to see my chubby 4 years old daughter, Mary Jane Baimba and my dear friend, Mabel. My last but one trip was to beautiful Ghana and it was ok, unlike the Dakar one. It was a terrible ordeal I don’t want for even my ‘best’ enemy… very terrible.
Missing a friend and brother
The apparent trouble that missed me, but for the intervention of God/Allah brings to mind the death of my friend, brother and college mate, Phillip Santigie K. Sesay, a young, brilliant and promising young gentleman, whose sad event took place about a week or so ago. It was, to say the least devastating and; can I say ‘untimely’?
I came to know Phillip when both of us, together with Major Samuel P. Moody of the Ministry Of Defence, Kadiatu Kamara of Zenith Bank, Poindexter MB Sama of Awoko newspaper, William Freeman now with Care International in Bo, et el colleagues had applied to pursue our Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication. Our stay at FBC was more of a family gathering than one could think, especially when we entered our 3rd year in the Mass Communications department. The quiet and unassuming nature of Phillip Sesay enabled him not to be in problem with any of his colleagues then at Fourah Bay College. At the time, we all had our campus political beliefs but it was very difficult for Phillip Sesay to be associated with any of the political camps on campus until when we were rounding up our studies.
His service to the nation could even be reflected in his workdays at Timap For Justice, a local Non Governmental Organization where he served as the communications chief. He was always pursuing issues related to justice…he was such a nice fellow that we could find it difficult to get a friend like him. It also will be difficult for his parents-Re Solomon Sesay and wife to come to terms with his sudden demise but that is what God had planned for our brother and colleague.
Dead, they say is inevitable. Today it is Phillip, who knows who is next on the list. “Definitely, not me…”- if I should suggest to God, but God works in His own way.
Missed by many but loved by God most
When I posted the news on Facebook, the reactions from college friends were very emotional. Have a feel of what some had to say of our late brother:
“Patricia Thoronka: “It’s so sad, I cried when my co-worker told me this sad news. Philip, rest in peace my bro. Pls John give me update about his burial.”
Patrick T. M Senesie: “Still cant hold my tears, Phil has always been a dear and loving classmate. We love you Phil but God loves you best, your sweet memory will always linger in our mind, REST IN PERPECT PEACE”
Abu-Bakarr Jalloh: “This is a tragic news, Baimba. Phils death is heartfelt. Thanks for letting us know. Please keep us further updated with burial arrangements”
Patrick Taylor: “ still can’t believe a perfect gentle man has left us,,, an advocate fr justice,, a communicator,,, what a comrade, friend n brother we hav lost,,, RIP philly,, even though u have gone, i cant live u out or stop thinkin about those good odd days @ FBC wit u,, ur presence at that time as a colleague @ college made sm of us to realize out potentials in society,, rest in peace phi till we c on dat peacful day”
Sheku Lamin Turay: “ tall, fair, quiet, and a reputable mass communicator who turns into a staunch advocate for justice, may his soul rests in perfect peace!!!”
Isaac Massaquoi was our lecturer in Communication and Good Governance. For him, the death of Phillip “will take a few more weeks for me to recover from the shock of Philip’s untimely death. He spoke to me two weeks ago about helping his sister switch from general Arts to Mass Comm…God go dae wi am.”
Indeed, Phillip Sesay is gone…gone forever. There is great sorrow in parting, especially when you are parting with a friend that you will meet no more till we meet in heaven and that depends if all of us shall meet there someday. The parents of the late man must be suffering from serious grief…one that would take time to be forgotten. But I send them these words of courage-be strong and courageous for the lord you worship will be with you and Phillip Sesay is surely with that God.
Phillip SK Sesay
You are missed by many, Phillip
We missed him indeed, just how we could be saying, – God should not have allowed this young man to go- But that said, it is true also that God loved Philip most no wonder He called him now. But how painful it is, that I am not in Sierra Leone to pay my last respect to you Phillip?
Till we meet again, Rest in Peace, I mean RIP Phillip S K Sesay.
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