Dr.
Naffie Ceesay has defended the integrity of her late brother- Ousman Koro
Ceesay, former finance minister of the Armed Forces Provincial Ruling Council
(AFPRC), saying she will not sit behind watching an unremorseful psychopath to
malign the character of their beloved one.
Koro
Ceesay was killed in 1995 under mysterious circumstances at then local
government minister Yankuba Touray’s house in Kololi. Several witnesses at the
Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) have testified under
oath that Edward Singhateh and others including Yankuba Touray allegedly killed
the former Finance Minister.
However,
Singhatey in his TRRC testimony this week, distanced himself from this gruesome
murder, telling the commission that he went home after seeing off former
president Yahya Jammeh at the airport.
At
a press conference convened by the family at Fajikunda, Dr Ceesay emphasized in
clear terms that someone who does not have a moral complex to insinuate that
Koro was probably involved in dealing with rebels or been killed by rebels can
only be believed by insane people.
“This
is because he was trying to plant a seed of doubt about his opponent and
underestimate the intelligence of the Gambia people. With time people will see
the truth and people know the truth because that is not the type of person my
brother was,” Dr Ceesay stated.
She
stated clearly that Koro was a ‘patriot and visionary’ who wanted to transform
and improve his country and her people.
“His
legacy is about service, uplifting and making a difference and should not be
confused with cheap attempts to smear his reputation.”
Dr
Ceesay was emphatic about forgiveness as lots of forgiveness was heard during
this hearing.
“Forgiveness
is not for the villain or perpetrator; it is the victim’s way of taking back
their power and strength. It is not a line you cross after hearing a
superficial or pathetic apology. It is a path you take. And our family took
that path a long time ago independent of our brother’s killers.”
The
US-based Gambian doctor noted that in Koro’s memory, the family has founded the
Ousman Koro-Ceesay Foundation, which she added, has been providing free school
supplies, medical services, screening and community education to countless
citizens for the past four years.
She
noted that the family didn’t go into this process having expectation to avoid
the tendency of disappointment, indicating that for the past 23 years they wondered
what they would do or say to Koro’s killers.
“What
we feel for them is sadness” she added.
She
maintained that true power is not using guns and terrorizing innocent citizens,
but is to hold back from using power when you can use it and instead choosing
to use mercy.
“And
Koro’s life was not ours to forgive; his killers would need to ask the Almighty
for that.”
