Tribute To President Samuel Kanyon Doe, 20th President of Liberia

President Doe, your achievements as Liberia’s 20^th President is a milestone in the history of the Republic as we are not pointing to abstract rather physical evidences that we continuously take pride as the time of history in Liberia unable to ignore willingly or unwillingly.

Your courageousness as nature positions to have led your colleagues to remove over one hundred years continuous rule by a particular class is unforgettable and by no means a conscious minded Liberian or any foreigner  for that matter who speaks or write from a non-partial spectrum will obviously bring back the wheel of time that remembers you.

Big Brother, your proposed and implemented projects are now used as measurement for Liberians Leaders from the end of your nines year tenure; especially those who by hook or crook came; we are yet to witness the kind of rapid development experienced in your time as compared to our present days.

President Doe, your adversaries who undermined your leadership walking under the cover of darkness to form an Interim Government in Banju, in the Gambia when even you were fighting to contain the fighting forces from the Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL) Forces of Liberia headed by, Field Marshall Prince Y. Johnson and the National Patriotic Front (NPFL) Forces of Liberia headed by, Major. Charles G. Taylor on the other hand used the narrow stage at the time to mount a quest for leadership for Liberia; what a shame and disgrace.

Your antagonists who Interim Leadership was without Vice Interim Chairman Person downheartedly failed and even as that, without a developmental agenda or any achievement what so ever; these enemies proposed, Liberia’s International Soccer Stadium “Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium” that is name after you be changed; meaning, since you were undermined and killed you Must not be heard about, neither see anything you fought to bring.

But Dr. Doe the Liberian people, the  farmers down trading, elders, youth, traditionalists, women, student groups stood up tall and told them, “credit must be given to whom credit is due”; the name Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium shall never and ever be changed, the people concluded, and the hall went quirt.

Brave Soldier! “Samuel K. Doe” your forceful murder by a Ghanaian General, Arnold Quainoo (so-called buffalo solder) was satirical because your lover for nation was already posted on the time board of posterity; Quainoo was indeed a buffalo, (a buffalo is a low class animal that does not think about what the future holds) this could have not being another Ghanaian; I know Ghanaian and who they are; (God fearing; though you a dangerous apple among).

The Ganta, Harper High Way Project from 1989 (i.e, the pavement of road from Ganta – to Harper Maryland County) has become a useless project because your oppositions do not wish to see your initiative come to reality.

 Your adversaries even after 26 years are designing strategies not to develop what you left behind, rather to find means to get what you have done out from Liberia in the name of creating; your state of the ark Modern Defense Ministry constructed by an Israeli Architectural Company is being contested to be removed for Ministerial complex to be constructed; sounds so counterproductive, where Montserrado County is having abundant land to construct whatever.

Excellency Dr. Doe the nemesis and my adversaries look upon a huge National Housing Bank constructed in the heart of Monrovia during your administration is not desirable for completion because you are the one who is creator.

Your adversaries and my adversaries see all the blue prints of Liberia 19^th President, Dr. William Richard Tolbert, Jr. as you are implementing or completing, if this is actually the situation, why then our adversaries who professed to love Liberia’s 19^th President complete these uncompleted projects you begin?

We need not to create envy to the detriment of destroying or duplicating; projects

Working with our perceive enemies (though with caution) need to be introduced in Liberia, this is the only way-out to unite a divided nation;

Our leadership (national/president/vice president/speaker) must never leave the load to unity with just the head (president) because if the nation is divided, who do you lead?

“Self” in our time is very much glaring, I here that during the days of Charles Taylor, people say, we use to get something for their kids and even get their pot boiling; I can imagine, self in our times is above the limit. The hungry man can do anything to find food to put on the table for the family;

The opposition of a tribe must never become a part of leadership, that where I have my small guilt when it come to the 1990 war; but has passed and we turn a new page put time behind the past and we forge ahead;

I can tell anyone right now the two friendly counties in Liberia are Grand Gedeh and Nimba; my little problem is from the form, way and manner Senator Prince Y. Johnson Preaches and involving the war and what have you; (personal anyway).

I must be very much emphatic in conclusion, the role of the Vice President under the 11 years rule of H.E. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as President of the Republic is outstanding that cannot be compared to anything. I do foresee a repeat of her Excellency rule or more than difficult time ahead for the South-easterners as Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai takes Office as President.

During the tenure of President William V.S. Tubman as President, and Dr. William Richard Tolbert, Jr. was Vice President, it was death the cause and not transition took place as may be in the case of Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson and Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai.

In the scenario of President W. V. S. Tubman and W. R. Tolbert, Jr., President Tubman died and there were absolutely no interference rather, Dr. Tolbert was left alone to demonstrate his independence leadership

In the situation of Madam Sirleaf, and H.E. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, the former to be, President Sirleaf will be active and shall, “if care is not taken” Play some consultative role which one could suggest that the Southeast will now be considered for developmental priorities.

If the Vice President will actually become the People’s President if elected, I highly appreciate your Honorable office to exercise this ‘trial’ pull your weight to release the 13 Grand Gedeans in jail to be give executive pardon.         

 There are honorable people from around Southern Liberia that call for the support of Boakai for his presidential bid, and this is a task to for VP Boakai to demonstrate that the whole world and Liberian in particular will so that my intervention as Vice President to have the Grand Gedeans jailed since 2013 walk out of jail free will boost your chances in the Southeast, specifically Grand Gedeh.

My tribute ends on this note; “Leaders that do not have the spirit of forgiveness are not people center; and as meek as your voice seems, you are kindly requested to intervene for Government to restore freedom to these Grand Gedeans; this action will provide briefing space for President Doe.

Richie G. Grear,
Representative Aspirant, District Eleven