A Patriot’s Diary
With Ekena Nyankun Juagbe-Droh Wesley
Senate Pro-Tempore, Albert Chie has an appreciation of history. Of course, he is a politician! The politicians in the small West African nation must have tried to fool some of the people some of the time but cannot fool all of the people all of the time. In the last couple of years, Liberians have come to learn some very hardening lessons from those they elect into public offices. Amid increased voices of agitation and vociferous bashing, we can understand that the politicians cannot get away so easily.
But Liberia’s Pro-Temp, Albert Chie is acutely aware of the trappings of increased political conscientization on the part of the masses. Chie is doubtful of the fate of the 15 senators who are poised to face their employers in October this year. The people are conscious of extreme neglect, lack of empathy, and commitment to service that became commonplace following their last election. The people, for nine years, could neither see nor hear from their senators. Some even failed to show up in the counties for ‘Agriculture Break.’ They were on the next available flight to visit family members in faraway lands.
The constituents didn’t really matter. But October this year will determine whether the people really matter after all. Fifteen senators are expected to get what they have paid for over the last nine years. Senator Albert Chie of Grand Kru County must have sounded the caveat but jittery is feverishly pricking the spines of the 14 others who find themselves in a similar fate.
During the last nine years, 15 senators failed to sow for any bumper harvest as it were. What do they expect to reap in a political vineyard characterized by sheer abandonment? Throughout the rain in the last nine years, the buckets that could not get filled amid abundant rain cannot do so magically. Our people might not go to or fancy the Intellectual Centers to engage in frosty debates but our people aren’t stupid.
As we approach judgment day for 15 in the Liberian senate, we urge the good people of our political sub-divisions to vote out all those who abandoned them in the wilderness. They do not deserve a second chance. They failed to deliver as promised. There should be no mercy for unpatriotic leaders who would only remember the people during election time.
Surely, they will and are bound to bring the ‘rice and money’ to woo votes. Take the money and eat the rice. They do not value you. They believe you are for sale. You cannot trust them whatsoever. If you accept their rice and money and vote for them; you are compromising your children’s education, health, the opportunity for jobs, and other social services. That is all the reason why they use every bit of time on Capitol Hill to advance self-interest.
We call on the people to cast their minds back on endless unanswered calls placed to your senators; countless visits to their offices – only to be told they are not available and dozens of unfulfilled promises made. As judgment day approaches, they will start to behave as though you are their ‘precious jewels.’ They are a bunch of chameleons. Don’t trust let alone do business with them. They are not genuine but mindless lynches determined to make a hustling dash for another nine years.
October must position the electorates to chart a new course that will bring benefit to your communities. Teach those unpatriotic politicians a lesson. They don’t merit your mandate to lead any longer. Send them packing through the ballot box!
