 |
File: EES Governor, Louis Lobong and NS S Minister Mamur.
|
Top Trending News Today:
THE PRISON DIARY --- And a charismatic young man from Otuho community of Eastern Equatoria was rotting in jail with us. By the time I was thrown into this torture chamber, Kennedy Odongi, son of another forgotten prominent liberator, was turning 19 months in prison without contacts.
His father tried to locate him but in vain although his son knew his son was called by the national security service for work.
As a young man who has witnessed the pain of the liberation struggle, Kennedy Odongi known by his stage name "YOUNG G" ventured into music industry at a tender age to educate and enlighten the people on pressing issues in the contemporary society.
He later became a youth leader of Otuho community in Torit. He was highly respected because of his style of leadership and every member of his community talk high of him.
He went as far as promoting unity of his people and members of other tribes residing in Torit and its surroundings. His approach to situations and patriotism helped him ascended to a rank of Brigadier General.
Odongi's wisdom and motivation gave hope to many inmates at the time we were inside the national security prison. But here is a brief look into his arrest is painful ...
The spirit of the longest serving governor of Eastern Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore did not sit well with this emerging influential youth character from Torit in the name of Kennedy Odongi.
Even his villagemate from Otuho tribe, Lt. Gen. Mamur Mete, a powerful figure who is the Minister of Security in President Kiir's government hate him (Odongi) too! Odongi doesn't know any conflict between him and these big fish but all he knew is that he got no personal grudges with these leaders from his region.
He suspected he was being fought by those who are fighting his father politically. They probably don't want anything "ODONGIC" to breath or see tomorrow in their midst and so the Joseph in Kennedy Odongi must be sold to the Pharaohs!
Indeed, every region in South Sudan got its fair share of its own cabals! In a bid to eliminate this young man, Governor Louis Lobong Lojore connived with Gen. Mamur Mete to nailed Kennedy Odongi on the cross as a way of suppressing him from ever dreaming of becoming something in the state or nationally.
The duo are already kingpins of their respective communities and don't want anyone else to climb the ladder!
Sometimes in June 2021, Brig. Gen. Kennedy Odongi received a phone call from the deputy chief of Internal security, Gen. Louis Natale. He ordered Odongi to report to Juba urgently for an assignment.
He lied to Kennedy Odongi that he has been recruited into the national security service with his full rank of Brigadier General and will be deployed to the oil sector.
Upon receiving this news, Odongi invited the entire village for a feast a day before he left Torit for Juba. He slaughtered all his goats and even the only two cows in his possession.
You know, Otuho's dancers dusted themselves with flour and showcased its various traditional renditions to bless and flag off their son for a national duty in the country’s capital.
The community happily ate and danced from dawn to dusk. In their thinking, the dream of their son has come to pass. The son they all look up to as hope for the community is finally joining the big table and they knew it was now their turn to enjoy the national cake.
The message from the administration of the national security to Odongi was loud and clear - he would be accommodated in a top hotel in Juba and his brand new V8 was readily parked inside the compound of the National Security Headquarters.
Kennedy Odongi shared some of his belongings except wives with relatives and friends. He arrived Juba in the afternoon the next day. In his head, the family would come to Juba once he is fully settled.
At the gate of NS, he identified himself with the officer on duty and Gen. Louis Natale was contacted. He was allowed to enter the Blue House.
Kennedy Odongi walked majestically to the office of Gen. Natale only to be redirected to another room where he was told to meet the General for his welcoming and new assignment.
In a matter of a minute, armed men in plain clothes surroubded Brig. Gen. Kennedy Odongi, ordered him to surrender his pistol, shoes, belt, shirt and trouser. He was altogether disarmed, handcuffed and led to the prison. He tried to plead with the soldiers but all he received were hot slaps and kicks at his back.
He was badly beaten and by the time he reached the cells, there were stain of bloods all over him. One of his lower teeth was broken.
By the time I entered this jail as a prisoner, Kennedy Odongi, was holding his oversized trouser with a left hand and singing his old songs, reminiscing the good days.
He became a motivational speaker and his wisdom gave us hope in the cell. He is full of life and his future is very bright! While most of us were weak, weary and tired in the prison, Odongi will join those going for manual work in the morning at the security compound so that he may get a small piece of washing soap and a juice in a small glass for us.
The manual work involves sweeping the compound and washing clothes for the soldiers guarding the facility.
This man, Kennedy Odongi, would even keep part of his little portion of food served once a day to give to other inmate if food delay the next day.
He sacrificed his food to help other prisoners. Kennedy Odongi help treat sick inmates. He converted leftovers of posho (asida) and some leaves of plants he collected from outside the prison during his manual work into medicines for treating fever, headache, flu, diarrhea and some other ailments! He was a doctor where there was no doctor. Odongi is a superhero!
If God keep me alive and I ever stand on the podium to address South Sudanese, Kennedy Odongi will be in my opening and closing remarks. He is a symbol of care, unity and hardwork in our generation! May Almighty be with him and any other citizens going through dirty realities of our current state
... to be continued in the book
Comments
Post a Comment