EDITORIAL: Wishing Liberia Well in Tuesday Vote for UNSC Non-Permanent Seat

FINALLY, THE DIE is cast. Our country – not necessarily the ruling government – Tuesday, May 3, stands before the United Nations, a hand raised among peers, placing claims to a non-permanent seat on the powerful Security Council. A bold move among peers. Amid it all, we blend our hearts and spirits with all patriotic citizens, living and dead, wishing and praying that our country, Africa’s oldest republic, and a founder of the august World Body, would be preferred and chosen by the majority of peers voting to give our motherland the opportunity to serve in that prestigious post. And we call on all citizens to join us in the prayer for the nation, as the voice of the people is the voice of God.

WITHIN HUMAN POSSIBILITIES, our leaders, both ruling and opposition – at least a good number of them – have already on the record made the case, a strong one too, on behalf of the nation at the United Nations and around the world, working around the clock in the last several months as forcefully and convincingly as possible, to woo the hearts and souls of countries having voting right to lean the Liberian way. As far as we have seen, all leading voices from across the Liberian political aisle have spoken in support of their country’s bid for the coveted seat, and what is left is for the rest of the population to, at this stage, resort to fervent prayers, clean our hearts of all misgivings, so that the chip – the choice of the UN electorate – will fall on our country.

IT IS NEEDLESS to accentuate the importance and the justifications for Liberia taking the seat — importance and justification that the rest of the world, particularly those who follow the evolution of the UN System, would appreciate. Our country is not just a founding member of the UN, it has solidly fought and firmly stood for the ideals and philosophy upon which the organization was founded – to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation to solve global problems, and promote respect for human rights. It would also be an understatement to posit that it was because of our country’s natural embrace of, and espousal to, these ideals that it stood boldly almost alone and singularly to demand and labor for the freedom and liberation of Africa, and other hitherto backward and suppressed peoples and nations of the world.

THIS IS WHY we particularly call on African nations to vote Liberia on June 3, as a way of giving back to the country for the critical role it played, and continues to, in the redemption of the continent among world powers while others were snoring. Liberia might be a small country in terms of geographic, military and economic size, but it is “not a small potato” – not a novice and coward – in international diplomacy, peacemaking and fight for human dignity and freedom. The records – as a beacon of troubled peoples, a crusader of international peace and justice, are well documented and verifiable in the archive of the world body. Serving on the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council would be a deserving testament that, indeed, the world body, which Liberia faithfully served for 80 years with credit, truly rewards labor, commitment and faith in it. 

LET’S TAKE THIS opportunity to thank those who have been in the forefront of it all, the President Joseph Boakai, Minister Sara Beslow-Nyanti and her team of diplomatic and foreign relations czars, and the country’s foreign allies, who have been leading the parade and struggle for the Liberian bid. We also laud efforts by the Liberian opposition community, former leaders and activists, and other prominent citizens at home and abroad, for keeping their voices stern and persuasive in favor of the bid. All these homegrown, ‘multi-partisan’ and nationalized efforts are critical given the fact that, as the parlance goes, ‘if your house does not sell you, the street will not buy you’, and that ‘clean hearts at home attracts blessing from the outside’.

WE HOWEVER CAUTION against complacency. It is not over until it is over. Even at the 11^th hour tomorrow, let’s keep our grips and claws on the UN electoral landscape, until the victory is finally announced for our country. While the politicians, diplomats and friendly allies are making the final push, let the rest of Liberians keep on our knees so that the God of justice, and God of the ‘least of these’ will have our back.

GOD BLESS LIBERIA. Victory is ours!!

Please follow and like us: