‘It’s Time for Action’ -Shoniyin Rallies Liberians, Sermonizing Accountability

MONROVIA – In the aftermath of the December 18, 2024 Capitol Hill inferno, which left the nation’s first seat of government in flames, the Dean of the Cuttington School of Global Affairs & Policy, Elias Shoniyin, has provided deep insights into the country’s perennial governance deficits, which he believes are even more egregious than the fire that engulfed the Capitol Building last Wednesday.

The former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs has rallied citizens to develop a greater sense of nationalism by holding their leaders accountable for the vast governance missteps besetting the country.

“To be honest, I am not moved by the flames I saw today at the Capitol,” he said rather passionately during the week. “What enrages me is the fire of neglect and suffering that burns through our society every single day. It’s time for action, not apathy. It’s time to hold power accountable–not to mourn a building but to demand a nation where our children can learn, our sick can heal, and our people can thrive.”

Shoniyin said he is not one that regularly speaks to critical issues on social media, however, he is obliged by an undeniable sense of duty to speak on the events unfolding in the country.

“This morning, as flames engulfed the dome of our Capitol Building, a wave of disbelief, shock, outrage, grief, and anguish has swept across the nation,” he further said. “For many, it was a symbolic tragedy, yet the public’s reactions stirred within me a profound moment of reflection.”

“As citizens, we must ask ourselves hard questions,” he said. “What does the Capitol Building represent? Power. How has that power been used over time? Has it been wielded for the good of the people or squandered as a liability?” Mr. Shoniyin wondered.

The legislators – a perennial source of the citizens’ woes

In rationalizing why Liberians must hold their leaders accountable for their woeful existence instead of mourning over a burnt edifice, Shoniyin lamented how the Capitol Building, which is now a symbol of fire and chaos, houses just 103 individuals, yet consumes approximately 10% of Liberia’s annual budget, in complete contrast with the harrowing realities faced by millions of destitute Liberians.

Quoting some dire statistics, Shoniyin said Africa’s oldest republic has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children globally; and according to UNICEF, 16% of primary school-age children are not in school; 25% of female youth of secondary school age are out of school, compared to 20% of their male counterparts; and overall, 15–20% of children aged 6–14 are missing out on education.

“If a serious health emergency were to strike you or someone you love today, survival would be a gamble. I personally know many whose lives ended prematurely because they couldn’t access a hospital bed or even basic care.

“A child born in rural Liberia today will likely grow up in poverty, trapped in a cycle that robs them of joy, opportunity, and hope. This grim pattern of despair is inherited by generation after generation,” he noted, adding: “What happened at the Capitol is unprecedented, but it pales in comparison to the daily crises we’ve grown disturbingly accustomed to enduring. These facts—these painful realities—should alarm us, but they don’t. We have become too complacent, too accepting of a broken system, and too reluctant to challenge the status quo.”

Shoniyin continued: “To be completely honest, I am not moved by the flames I saw today at the Capitol. What enrages me is the fire of neglect and suffering that burns through our society every single day. It’s time for action, not apathy. It’s time to hold power accountable—not to mourn a building but to demand a nation where our children can learn, our sick can heal, and our people can thrive. If today’s events stirred even a flicker of emotion in you, let it be the spark that ignites true change. For Liberia deserves better—and so do we.”

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