Concluding her “State of the Republic” address to the nation Monday, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reminded her fellow Liberians on the difficult journey Liberia has traveled under her stewardship since January of 2006.
The Liberian leader said “a nation bound together in 2006 vowed to walk away from the destruction and the hurt of the past; vowed to be committed and determined to ensure a future of peace and prosperity for all Liberians.”
Indeed, when President Sirleaf took office in 2006, there was not very much at the time to share or to divert, as Liberia was building from ground zero.
Fortunately, in just five years, Liberians stood together, lifted their country from the burdens of debt and decay. Under the direction of President Sirleaf, Liberians worked together to increase revenues, restore basic services, remove the heavy burden of financial debts, mobilize foreign investment in the tone of some 16 billion United States Dollars, rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by 14 years of civil war, and – above all – restore hope to a hopeless nation.
Yes, thanks to the able leadership of President Sirleaf, the world marveled at our tenacity, resilience and determination and reached out massively to help us. Liberia’s partners committed resources far beyond our domestic effort and our capacity.
As the Liberian leader reminded us in her address, the pain inflicted on our national pride by the Ebola crisis provides an opportunity to search our souls, to ask ourselves if we have been truthful and honest to the commitments made in 2006 when we embarked on this journey together; to ask ourselves if we have served our country and our people well.
We join the President to say “If never in the past, this is the time for the three branches of the Liberian Government to unite as one government” to deliver services to the Liberian people. We agree with the Liberian leader that “There is absolutely no room for blame shifting.”
Gladly, Liberia is defeating Ebola and the same spirit of unity and patriotism will enable Liberians to work together to blow the winds that keep Liberia Rising.
In union strong, success is sure; we cannot fail. May God bless Liberia and save the State.