Liberian Citizens’ Verdict
It is because of this “Mean Old Lady”, the Liberian people are having the wahala with NEC’s Elections’ Results, says a political observer.
Ellen had Hon. Joseph N. Boakai as her Vice President, whom she worked with for 12 years; instead of pushing him to succeed her, her speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was a clear indication that Boakai was not the choice to succeed her. According her, “It was the time for the young people”. Therefore, she chose to over power to a political neophyte, George Manneh Weah (GMW). The results are what the Liberian people are experiencing today… corruption, extra judicial killings, drug smuggling, etc.
UP Boakai’s performance in the October 10, 2023 National General Elections is a dirty slap in Ellen’s face.
The idiomatic expression, “Slap in the face” means a surprising act that offends or insults someone. It is usually used when the insult comes as a shock or a betrayal. The phrase can also refer to a literal blow, but the figurative use is more common. A slap in the face can be seen as a sharp rebuke or rebuff. In Ma Ellen’s case, it is both rebuke and rebuff because of the manner in which she treated honest Uncle Joe.
Another way to look at is: “Chickens Always Come Home to Roost”. Also, this expression is similar to “what goes around comes around”. It simply means the consequences of one’s evil actions will catch up with them in a negative way. In addition, the idea that a wrongful curse comes back to the one who is cursed as a “bird returns to its nest”. This idiom dates back to the days of antiquity.
However, it wasn’t until the 19th Century that Robert Southey wrote that “curses are like a young chicken: they always come home to roost.” Since that time, the idea of evil men create problems that will return to their own door steps became a phrase used to predict what will happen to an individual or a leader who engages in evil and wicked practices.
In other words, if one says chickens are coming home to roost, it means that the bad or wicked things done today or in the past will begin to cause such problems as: greed, corruptions, ritualistic killings, eating of the people’s money, abuse of power, mortgaging the people’s natural resources, uprooting them from their ancestors’ land, and abusing them for no justified reasons.
But this time around in our country, it should NOT be business as usual! The Liberian people must NOT ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.
My background as a Griot (storyteller) compelled me tells stories because they pass on experiences contained in them so that others may learn from them. The examples below are provided to make the point in this article.
Nothing Remains Hidden Forever
Matthew (10:26), Mark (4:22) and Luke (8:17) all wrote that “There nothing concealed that will not be disclosed…”
…. No sin, be it ever so secret or privately done, as nothing is more covered than hypocrisy, but shall be detected sooner or later; if not in this world, which is often the case, yet the last judgment, and in the world to come:
Neither hid, that shall not be known; for how careful soever men may be to hide their vices from others, they are known to God; who will bring everything into judgment, and make manifest the secrets of all hearts. These were general sentences, which were used by Christ at different times, upon different occasions, and applied to particular cases. (http://biblehub.com/luke/12-2.htm)
In the words of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, “Liberia is not a poor country, but rather is a country that has been managed poorly over the years.” (From her Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy, 2007 presentation) – To which I say, Liberian officials and their supporters can pretend all they want; the Scriptures is clear about the fate that awaits those who disobey God’s Commandments. They can sin by the things they knowingly do or sin by the things they do not do. And that is, they know that something is wrong but fail to speak against it because they benefit from the spoils of the political party they belong to; while the rest of society suffers. James 4:17 explains it correctly: “… To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him is sin”.
Most Liberians are used to the practice of minding their business! Mind your business reminds me of what a Protestant Pastor Martin Niemoller did in Germany during the Nazis’ occupation. It reads:
“When the Nazis Came
For the Communists, and I didn’t object
For I wasn’t a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn’t object
For I wasn’t a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn’t object
For I wasn’t a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object
For I wasn’t a Jew;
Then they came for me
And there was no one left to object.”
In the past, Liberian people ‘Let Sleeping Dogs Lie’ about the 2017 National General Elections’ results. The October 10, 2023 Elections is looking like a repeat of “Mind our Business” … when corrupt politicians of yester year used to advice our parents and the young people.
Today, with all the atrocities and corrupt practices going on, and those that went on in the country during the 2017 Presidential Elections; Liberians were not concern with the environment that was so hostile and unsafe for citizens’ movements. God requires of us to do well, but due to greed and selfish reasons we neglect to do them; the failure is sin. Remember those who fall short of what God required of them to do are called hypocrites; because God expects more from us than our simply meeting minimum standards of behavior.
The truth of the matter is that the world is facing many problems today as individuals, leaders, organizations and countries refused to do and live as God intended for them to live. Instead, they chose to do it on their own. It is regarding these behaviors that the God we serve instructed King David to write: “They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:1-3).
Conclusion
Mind you! There is a difference between God controlling evil and God creating evil. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. Romans 8:28 says, “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” “All things” includes both good and bad things. God can use struggles, heartbreaks and tragedies in ways to bring about His glory and our good. Such events, even though we don’t understand the reason for them, are part of His perfect, divine plan. If God could not control evil, He would not be God. His sovereignty demands that He be in control of everything, even “dreaded” nations such as Babylon; Liberia is not an exception.
In closing, I leave with you the insightful message by Liberia’s own G. (George) Henry Andrews, former radio, television sports journalist and politician:
In order for leaders to retain power they must put their citizens’ interests first. Leaders cannot use brute force to maintain power. This is a grave mistake many power hungry leaders make, repeatedly. Simply put, Democracy is a system of government led by the people – not by dictators or dictatorship. The fact of the matter is, the people are in the majority; and in the end they are victorious.
Also, I leave with you “Conversation in Waterside English”; a poem I wrote on January 1, 1992. The last verse that reads: “Everyday for rogue, one day for master”, should remind us of what awaits those who mismanaged the people’s resources and eat their money.
It reads:
What happened to me
Na to be something small
To joke about;
A na go be the same
Six and seven thing
They do round here;
A be like putting finger
In somebody eye
In the broad open day light…
For me, my part, I na go talk plenty
That person will soon see
What will happen!
The country people make parable
They say softly, softly catch monkey
That the way a go be!
This time, a na go be for ROGUE
A go be the day for the
Real, real Master, GOD!
The plenty corruptions, and
The plenty mysterious killings
Must NOT ‘go in breeze’!
About The Author: Mr. Siahyonkron Nyanseor is a retired Mental Health/Developmental Disability (MH/DD) Clinical Team Leader and QMRP (Qualified Mental Retardation Professional) employed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources – Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta. He has over 30 years’ experience working as Clinical Instructor, Behavior Specialist and Administrator. Mr. Nyanseor is former Secretary, Vice &Chair of ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is the historian of ULAA; a founding member and the organization’s 11th President (1986-1988). Also, Mr. Nyanseor is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is also a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He can be reached at: [email protected]
