January 26, 2022
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 25/1/2022 signed the book of condolence and conducted a laying-out ceremony for the Late Honourable Aloysious Bockarie Ansumana at State Hall Parliament Building, Tower Hill in Freetown. The ceremony attracted very important personalities including the Leadership of Parliament led by the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr.Abass Chernor Bundu, Members of Parliament and staff, ministers of government, family members and other distinguished mourners.
The Late Honourable Aloysious Bockarie Ansumana was a Member of Parliament for Constituency 05, representing Kailahun District under the banner of the Ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). He died on 7th January 2022 in Turkey at age 63.
On behalf of the SLPP, Hon. Mustapha F. Sellu while giving his tribute, recalled his relationship with the deceased. He spoke about the friendly and fatherly advice, the Late MP used to give him. “He was a very soft spoken man” he said emotionally. He described his death as a great loss.
Speaking on behalf of the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) party, the opposition Whip, Hon. Hassan Sesay solemnly recalled the recent death of another MP, Hon. Samba Turay and said it was a sad moment. “We know that some day, somehow, people will escort you to the grave” he said and went on to say death was innevintable. He asked all mourners to pray for the decaesed and spoke about the necessity of friendship and parting.
For the C4C, Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara recalled her friendly discussion with the deceased. She described the MP’s death as a loss to the state, in light of the huge cost on the bye election. She said, “but this is not our wish” she revealed with prayers. According to her, the Late MP was a good debater and used the opportunity to encourage all to pray as well as to trust in God. She also consoled the family.
Hon Titus Kamara, whilst giving tribute on behalf of the NGC said the Honourable Aloysious Bockarie Ansumana was an unassuming friend. He recalled that, the decaesed peaceful appearance, caused him to miscalculate him as Paramount Chief, when he initially met him in Parliament.
On his part, Hon P.C. Foray Gondo representing Kailahun said he was so closed to the deceased and that his death was a big blow. He recalled his development strides. In lieu of several quotations from Williams Shakespeare, the Honourable Paramount Chief trend on death of great men and loss to their people.
Hon. Wuyata Songa recalled a sad moment he had with the decaesed, when they were soliciting support for his medical treatment overseas. The MP spoke about the deceased generosity and arrangements prior to his disparture for medical treatment. She solemnly sang a song she used to sing with the deceased after his surgical operation that preceded to his demise. “The things I used to do, I do them no more” she broke in tears.
The deceased son, Victor S.S. Ansumana Esq made a pitiful call in a devastated mood to his father’s remains, but with no response, he assumed that his Dad was no more. The son gave a brief biography of his father from primary education, intelligence, disciplinary and love for his family. He emphatically spoke about the love of his Late Father’s family love, friendliness and devout member of SLPP. “He was a Christian with very strong faith” he said and recalled his several service delivering in education, agriculture, humanity amongst others. Concluding his enormous tribute, the son rollout into emotional thoughts and solemnly captured the attentions of all mourners like a poet.
A closed friend, P.C. Foday Musa said they as friends will miss the development oriented man, who provided the felt needs of the people. He recalled their friendship spinning since 1983. “Abba as he was fondly called was a generous man and not a difficult man”, he told distinguished mourners. According to him, the deceased never allowed his friends to go without. “He employed serveral friends and supported them to stand up” he disclosed. He recalled that, they had done lot of things together and concluded as saying”he has taken a journey which every of us will take”. He ended with prayers.
The Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations, Sheku Lamin Turay served as Master of ceremonies.
The laying of wreaths climaxed the ceremony.