By Gideon Nma Scott, Jr.
It is about three weeks since our two Biblical brothers, Joseph and Jeremiah, were handed the mantle of authority to preside over the state of affairs of this country.
From the day of handover till now, they are yet to showcase their plans or make any attempt to deliver on the many promises they made to the nation and the world on how they would have reshaped this small West African nation for the good of the people.
The duo defeated King George and his Lorma sister, Jewel from Bong (I am not trying to be tribalistic here though), in what most people considered as a tightly-contested election that was filled with several acts of violence, including insults and assault, libel and defamation of character, the destruction of several personal and public properties, as well as murder.
Joe and Jerry, as they are affectionately referred to by many of their supporters, first came to the helm of power on a single “R” in their AREST (Agriculture, Road, Education Sanitation and Tourism) agenda, but, in one week of their rule, they added another “R” for the ‘Rule of Law’, to complete the “RR” in the true sense of the word, “ARREST”.
Many critics, as well as supporters of the ruling establishment, praised them for including the second “R” which will ensure that justice will once again stand her grounds to serve the people without fear or favor, as the justice under King George was more or less on the platter for sale.
For the rolling out of their ARREST development platform for the country, Joe and his son, Jerry, called many persons, including religious, secular, traditional people, and some floor fighters, who were appointed to key government positions and are to work along with them to ensure that their campaign promises do not end up being another “Once upon a time” story.
But it appears that Uncle Joe may have looked in the wrong place and chosen another bunch of eye servants or title holders for the top jobs, as it is taking judgement day to see the ARREST agenda translated into work for the good of the people.
According to the Webster Dictionary, an eye servant is a servant who attends faithfully to his duty only when watched; work or service is done only when the employer is watching.
It is a term that was coined by Paul to express the conduct of slaves who worked only when they were watched, and whose motive, therefore, was not fidelity to duty, but either to avoid punishment or to gain reward from their masters (Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22).
There is a difference between an eye servant and the eye of the servant.
Psalms 123:2 Amplified Bible (AMP) says, “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He is gracious and favorable toward us.
As eye servants, their only intent is for the President to see how committed they are to helping him achieve his first hundred days in office deliverable, but in true reality, they are still to render one judgement for the good of the people.
It is alleged that every morning, nominated, as well as confirmed, officials would troop to the home of the President, maybe for briefing or just for greetings or whatever, and leave the tasks for which they have been chosen. This paper is yet to verify the information, but I can say for a fact that scores of government officials would rather have breakfast before going to do the people’s business-a form of sycophancy, something that helped vote George Weah and his CDC out of power.
As part of their 100 days deliverable, the President told Liberians that no car will get stuck in the mud anywhere in the country-that includes the most challenged Ganta to the entire southeast, Buchanan to the entire southeast corridors, as well as the Bong to Lofa road.
Many of the government’s critics have begun counting as we are about 24 days in the 100 days with no sign of equipment directed to these areas to begin working on these roads as the rains are just a stone throw away.
The laterite roads across the country have not only challenged past governments since the 1960’s, they have also contributed to the deaths and amputation of many Liberians who were victimized through accidents due to the bad roads, especially in the rainy season.
In 2001, citizens of the southeast thought to have brought the attention of the government to the deplorable condition of the Ganta to Maryland road when former President Charles Taylor visited the area. Following their two-hour litany, President Taylor informed the gathering that as far back as the 1960s he, Taylor, travelled on that very road when the President of Liberia was from the southeast.
The President’s statement at the time suggested that he had no intention of addressing the bad road concern of the southeast and other rural communities in Liberia.
Also, the immediate past President, George Weah, who boasts of being the son of the southeast, visited the area twice: in 2022 when he made his county tour and in 2023 during his campaign for the second term in office. It is well noted that a ‘son’ of the southeast also did not give any attention to the deplorable road condition during his six years in office.
This is why when Boakai said that no car will be stuck on any roads in Liberia, the entire country rejoiced.
But it appears that the presidential statement is becoming another political rhetoric, because up to press time, not even the Public Works Minister has said anything to address the roads issue, especially the southeast and the Bong to Lofa.
President Boakai and his Vice president should be cognizant of the fact that the delay on the part of their handymen to actively begin addressing the ARREST agenda would gradually lead to them not achieving their 100 days deliverable, and it could lead to a complete failure of the government in the six years.
These “eye servants” should refrain from lip service and start being “servants of the eye” to ensure that the government works for the people, as it has promised.
Remember, 2029 is only a few years from today and you may come wanting…
*The thought of the son of a professional Kru
