MEMORIALIZING THE ICONIC JOURNALIST, PIOS FORAY, WHO WILL BE LAID TO REST IN FREETOWN TODAY :

I call him “Paryay”. He and his younger brother -John, were two unique ‘Sapiens Homo’. I will never forget the fierce debates we had (predominantly on matters political). The Late Saaba Tumoe’ was the ever ready provocateur, quick to come up with a topic which he will throw out and then fade to take in what ensued by way of arguments, chipping in time and again to enquire for either a clarification or proffer a strain of thought which then often made the debates even more competitive but intellectually refreshing. We are here talking of quite an exciting breed of individuals. Nothing escaped their attention and intellectual scrutiny.

The passing of Pios for me, marks the end of an era. An era when astutely stimulated young minds dared do that which, before their daring advent, was unheard of. I am one who all these years made no secret about my distaste for the NPRC. Yes, the true revolutionaries were the likes of Hindolo Sumanguru Trye, Pios Foray, Kabs-Kanu, Saaba Tumoe’, Lans Gberie, Cleo Hancilles, Richie Gordon and others (all like minded) in asserting for themselves and, on the behalf of the entire nation, the right to speak truth to power. Remember, this was a time it was onerously unfashionable to even think of it, let alone do it. Their lives bear witness to this often told fact:- that revolutionaries rarely live long enough to see the fulfillment of their efforts.

They will be forever remembered.

May the souls of our departed colleagues and friends, rest in blessed and perfect peace .