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Helping
Bodioh Wisseh Siapoe in Times of Need
Sunday,
January 17, 2009
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Omari
Jackson |
When
I read the sad report on Bodioh Wisseh Siapoe, who is presently recovering from
the Highline Rehab & Care Community in Denver, I never realized his
situation was somehow bad, but when I read his recovery’s report from the
publisher of The Liberian Dialogue, www.theliberiandialogue.org,
(Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh), who, together with his wife visited the brother
December 2009, I felt the need to add my voice for Mr. Siapoe is one of the
brains of political dialoguing in all Liberian issues.
It was evidently clear that Siapoe has
had a bitter experience, and therefore needed some moral support so that he can
know that we are there for him, and also that we remember him in our prayers.
What
was also regrettable was the report that there was a kind of family feud that
had brewed about him, and as a result he may not be enjoying the kind of support
that a man of his situation should be receiving.
When the report was published, I
called the number published, hoping to talk with him. However, after several
times, no one came on the line and therefore I had to postpone it.
After some days, I called back and
again the phone rang without anyone answering the phone. I thought I was calling
the wrong number, but when I contacted Sungbeh, I realized I had the correct
number and therefore I was determined to call and offer my moral support.
Bodioh Wisseh Siapoe in the
cafeteria of Highline Rehab & Care
Community in Denver
Then
a few days afterward I read a report or complain from journalist Joe S. Kappiah
who had called the same number and regrettably reported that Siapoe’s wife did
not allow him to communicate with the ailing colleague. It was strange that a
wife whose husband was seriously sick, and at a recovery home, would not allow
well-wishers to speak with the husband to offer some words of encouragement.
From Sungbeh’s article on the ailing
brother, he reported a family feud between the wife and Siapoe’s sister, and
reported that Siapoe at one time was quoted that his sister was doing all for
him, and at another time said his wife was doing everything for him. I could
understand the nature of Siapoe’s mind, since he is fighting to recover, and
therefore it is possible that if anyone of us were able to call him, he might
find it a little difficult knowing us, and or understanding what we would say to
him.
However, Sungbeh’s article indicated
that Siapoe was sound and well aware of his pal, when Siapoe saw him, and said,
“Wehtoe,” the affectionate name that he had always called him in their days
when Siapoe was residing in Atlanta in the early 90s.
“We did many things together,”
Sungbeh told me during my visit on Saturday, January 16, at his residence in
Atlanta, celebrating his achievement for his Masters in Management and Public
Administration degree, when he learned that I was writing an opinion piece about
the man he had befriended and worked together as friends for many years. “He
has an incredible sense of realism when you deal with him.” I was highly
impressed with the manner that Sungbeh discussed his friend, and though I never
met Siapoh personally, I had on several occasions called him to discuss about
political issues about Liberia.
Siapoe was always confident that
something good could come to Liberia once the leaders were determined to
sacrifice for it.
His sense of humor had always
surprised me, for he held on the idea that only those who are right with
themselves could give of themselves for Liberia’s progress. He always told me
that success do not come by simply criticizing without doing what should be done
for what you are critiquing. I always admired his sense of responsibility, and
to know that a man of such disposition is no longer able to do the things he
would love to do, is something I can only pray to God to give him courage and
comfort to endure.
That there is a family problem in his
trying times demands that those of us who know and wish him well, should make
the effort to help the family back together again.
Siapoe, if he were like his old self,
would have laughed about what is happening with his family, insisting that his
care must be paramount, and after he is well, then the fight or whatever it is,
could go on.
It is unfortunate for Bodioh Siapoe to
go through such trials, for we are all humans, prone to the suffering of the
human flesh. It is my hope that his family can get together to offer him every
support during this difficult experience of his life.
I also pray that all those who love
and appreciate him, will band together and create any condition to bring the
family together, for I cannot imagine the sad nature of his experience that his
wife and children are going through. Hence, it is my prayer that the God of
heaven will visit Siapoh and offer him the comfort and peace that he needs in
this trial period. Get well, brother!!
Omari Jackson lives in Metro Atlanta, GA.
n/a:
You may
call Bodioh’s sister, Catherine Donald at
303-923-3644.
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