Lofa CDC Acting Chairman Says Political Reconciliation Must Not Erase Sacrifices of Two Partisans Killed in Foya Violence
FOYA, LOFA COUNTY — The Acting Chairman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in Lofa County, Kolubah Akoi, has expressed deep disappointment over former House Majority Leader Thomas P. Fallah’s apology to Unity Party lawmaker Francis Nyumalin, arguing that the gesture has reopened painful wounds surrounding the deaths of two CDC partisans during violence in Foya.
In an emotional statement, Akoi said he was moved to tears after hearing Fallah’s apology, questioning how the families of the fallen partisans would feel seeing a leader they supported extend an apology to the political establishment associated with the incident.
Akoi’s reaction reflects growing emotional concerns among some CDC supporters over the balance between political reconciliation and recognition of the sacrifices made by party members.
The two deceased partisans, according to Akoi’s account, lost their lives during the Foya violence while defending Fallah. He stressed that their deaths should not be forgotten or reduced to a political footnote as political leaders pursue reconciliation.
“Reconciliation is not a bad thing,” Akoi acknowledged, emphasizing that peace, dialogue, and peaceful coexistence are necessary. However, he cautioned that reconciliation must also recognize the pain of victims, respect the sacrifices of the dead, and address the suffering of their families.
‘What About the Families of Our Fallen Comrades?’
Recalling the events surrounding the violence, Akoi said he had just left a guest house with Mohammed O. Sheriff, Justice Mohammed Kelleh, and Makula Kamara when the incident occurred.
He questioned what might have happened had they been caught in the violence, reflecting on the uncertainty and danger that party members faced that day.
For Akoi, Fallah’s apology raises difficult questions about political loyalty, sacrifice, and the emotional consequences of reconciliation for those who lost colleagues.
He expressed concern that while political leaders may move forward and rebuild relationships, the families of the deceased continue to struggle with the loss of their loved ones.
Akoi said the children of the fallen partisans must now confront life without their fathers or other loved ones, while their families continue to bear the consequences of the tragedy.
His concern, he indicated, is not that reconciliation should be rejected, but that it must not come at the expense of those who paid the ultimate price during the political confrontation.
CDC Chairman Warns Against Blind Political Loyalty
The Lofa CDC acting chairman also used the controversy to caution party supporters against placing unquestioning trust in political leaders.
He urged CDC members who remain politically attached to Fallah to reflect on the Foya incident and the implications of his apology, stressing that loyalty should never prevent supporters from asking difficult questions.
According to Akoi, political supporters must recognize that their sacrifices and commitment to a political cause do not guarantee that their interests will always remain central to the decisions of those they support.
He warned that supporters who stand firmly behind political leaders during moments of conflict may later find those same leaders pursuing reconciliation with their political opponents.
Akoi’s statement presents a pointed challenge to the CDC’s political base: whether party loyalty should remain unconditional when the consequences of political confrontation include the loss of lives.
He maintained that his position was driven by personal pain and conscience, insisting that disagreement with his views would not erase the reality of his grief.
“Remember, this is about Foya, not Lofa,” he declared, emphasizing the significance of the incident and the need to remember those who died.
Reconciliation Must Respect the Fallen
Despite his criticism, Akoi reiterated that he supports peace and peaceful coexistence. His objection, however, is to any reconciliation process that overlooks the suffering of victims and their families.
He argued that political reconciliation should not be measured solely by whether opposing political figures exchange apologies or restore cordial relations.
Rather, he suggested, meaningful reconciliation must also consider the people who suffered during political violence and ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten.
The controversy raises broader questions about the role of political leaders in acknowledging the consequences of political confrontations, particularly when supporters lose their lives in the process.
Fallah’s reasons for apologizing to Nyumalin, as well as Nyumalin’s response and the views of the bereaved families, remain important to a fuller understanding of the dispute.
The circumstances surrounding the two deaths, including the status of any investigation or legal proceedings, would also need to be established to determine what accountability measures, if any, have been pursued.
‘We Live in Blue Forever’
In a final tribute, Akoi described the deceased partisans as revolutionary martyrs of the CDC, saying their sacrifices would remain in the hearts of party members and in the history of their political struggle.
He called on fellow partisans to remember the fallen comrades and recognize the sacrifices they made while supporting a cause they believed in.
For Akoi, the issue extends beyond Fallah’s apology. It is about whether the sacrifices of ordinary party supporters will continue to matter when political leaders seek new paths toward reconciliation.
His message to the CDC faithful is that political peace may be necessary, but it should never require the party to forget those who lost their lives.
As the debate unfolds, the central question remains whether reconciliation can move forward while the pain of the victims’ families and the circumstances surrounding the Foya deaths remain insufficiently addressed.
For the CDC, Akoi’s statement is both a tribute to fallen partisans and a warning that political loyalty must not come at the cost of accountability, remembrance, and the dignity of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
