It was a scene of serious commotion and disrespect to the bereaved family and guests when a group believed to be directed by Mayor Jefferson Koijee clashed with the Student Unification Party (SUP) at the University of Liberia’s People’s Day in honor of the memory of Amos C. Sawyer.
At the program which was organized by the UL in collaboration with associates, friends and comrades of the late Sawyer at the main campus of the university, our reporter who was present said immediately Mayor Koijee was invited for remarks, a group identified as the Sabu Unit allegedly burst their way into the auditorium chanting and attacked members of SUP for unexplained reasons.
Our reporter explained that members of the Sabu Unit demanded that members of SUP rise from the seats so that they could sit but because the students refused to offer their seats to Koijee’s battle cry group, the fight then intensify thereby disrupting the entire program.
While the UL authority was finding means to cool down the disruption, the hall became a war zone which led to everyone including the guests and mourning family members taking to their heels in search of a hiding place for their dear lives.
Eventually, the hall became empty with almost all the guests adjourning the program and that put the UL police to serious work as Koijee himself absconded the scene as the two groups began throwing stones, damaging properties thereby injuring each other.
After calm was restored, former presidential candidate, Dew Tuan-Wleh Matson, expressed his disappointment over the disruption and added that no matter what the differences are, in the spirit of dialogue, peace should always reign.
The President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Julius S. Sarwolo Nelson, also expressed dissatisfaction over the disruption and reminded that the late Sawyer was not a man of war but rather of peace.
He mentioned that during Dr. Sawyer’s existence, he was a man of dignity who served in the high leadership positions in Liberia and as such, his memorial service should not end in violence thereby describing Dr. Sawyer as a precious gem of the Liberian society and a gift to the world.
Dr. Nelson noted that the acclaimed Professor Dr. Sawyer served the University of Liberia as a professor of political science and Dean of Liberia College and he added, “I am the president of this university and in so doing, I have to serve an example by not running away from such disruption therefore I stayed and brave the storm to ensure that the program comes to an end,” he said.
Earlier, the Sawyer family expressed gratitude to their late father for his service to not just his family, but his country and the world at large. They also expressed appreciation to the University of Liberia, associates, friends and comrades of their late father for the show of love and for standing with them during their time of bereavement.
