WITH IMMENSE, INTENTIONAL will and blessing of God Almighty, we, as a people and nation, have survived another turbulent annual voyage. It is only proper and necessary that we first and foremost adore and extol the God of the universe who so expertly navigated our Ship of State to safety. Frankly speaking, besides the war years, this year is arguably the most turbulent year in our democratic space, as the nation hardly bore witnesses to peace, reconciliation and unity which our people were craving for because the previous year (2023) was a naturally divisive elections year.
FROM WHAT WE observed, and reported, the people craved for peace and reconciliation, but they got none because those who could have initiated these critical aspects as national existence were themselves going for each other’s throat. The people yearned for employment and economic development but they got none because the new government was still busy forming itself, developing a national agenda and was embroiled in conflict on Capitol Hill. The people sought piece of mind and stability but the drugs war which the new government placed on its campaign plate failed as parents lost their children to illicit drugs and went wayward in droves.
INDEED, 2024 WAS a heart-wrenching year. The nation could not point to any tangible or abstract achievement. As comical folks would put it, “everything was vlah”. Over $20m that purportedly went to building laterite roads ironically went into the muds it intended to remove. Apology for the failure and the waste was made, and pardoned was granted by the Legislature. Yellow machines brought under a presidential gentleman agreement are in coma. Dozens of busses for public transparent fetched from Ghana are nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, nearly US$15 million was used to “rescue” an “insolvent” SIB Bank. Swarms of ordinary Liberians were flushed out of public institutions for being “partisan” and non-UPists. Legally insolated public offices were de-insolated and dashed in vulnerable spaces. The Supreme Court and its edicts were floated and ignored.
SORROWFULLY FOR LIBERIA, in 2024, everywhere was noise, rebellion of leaders against leaders, hopelessness, despair, frustration and provocation of the masses of the people of people.
HOWBEIT, THE PEOPLE stood still. Calm. While other citizens around the world, such as Ghana, Rusia-George and South Korea, and many others, were challenging their leaders with protests and civil obedience for failing to meet their aspirations, Liberians in 2024 chose to the beat their swords in ploughshares. The real heroes, the real leaders, were the masses. Amid the hardship, the ordinary people remain calm, which is why we salute them.
INDEED, THE ORDINARY Liberians take the credit for everything in Liberia in 2024, next to God. They refrained from violence and insurrectional actions. They could have because the conditions called for it. The temptation to resort to violent dissent was very high. The economy, which often is used as a pretext for protests and often violence everywhere in the world, was terribly in a bad shape. To borrow from Dillon, “the economy was in the toilet”. We saw the Liberian dollar making gains against the mighty dollar, but all that was a mere bluff, maybe transient, because we did not see how that translated into price reduction or high cost of living. Many families could not afford to send their children to school. Many did on credit, and at the mercy of school proprietors. The interior parts of the country were cut off for most part of the year due to bad roads, even though some US$20 million as put forth.
UNDOUBTEDLY, THE POPULACE, the silent majority, deserves the greatest commendation for the safe sail of the 2024 National Voyage. They are heroes of peace. They are the linchpin of our fledgling democracy. They are architect of justice and equality. We salute them and wish them well in the new year. May the Almighty Father continue to give the ordinary people of Liberia the fortitude to continue to serve as the cornerstone of peace and democracy. May they not allow any force, whether politician or business tycoon to steal their joy, and may they not allow their thirst for justice and equality cause them to drink from the cup of violence and chaos.
WE EXTEND OUR seasons’ greetings all of Liberia’s political leaders—be it ruling political leaders or opposition political leaders—who despite their egos that naturally come from contestations over ideas and ideals, continue to see Liberia as the common denominator and after all the bitter fuss over what’s needed to be done and why, live on this piece of land bequeath by Providence and ancestors to. Specifically, as we tender season’s greetings to our leaders, we call out the ruling party. We particularly point to their sense of egotism, arrogance, and entitlement to everything which it so crudely demonstrated during the year.
WE CALL ON President Joseph Boakai and his administration to remember it has the onus to maintain national peace, even if it does not seek reconciliation. Doing so require adherence to the rule of law which the guidance and arbiter of democracy and all its contestations and diversity. We say this because to the extent that the ruling administration holds the High Court or its edicts in utter disdain and disrespect, and rule of law in contempt, connotes the rise of despotism in the administration. This country cannot afford those outmoded maneuvers, for they are an invitation to chaos. Let such attitude remain in 2024.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND fervent happy New Year to all citizens, at home and abroad.
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