By S. Siapha Mulbah
Residents of Margibi County have again raised serious issues on the repeatedly noticeable absence of county legislators during the national county sports meet.
This again was demonstrated at this year’s opening ceremony held at the Nancy B. Doe Sports Stadium in Kakata City on Sunday.
As the host county for Group D in the preliminary round of the nation’s most traditional and political sporting event ongoing in Kakata City, Margibi County, not a single lawmaker from the county showed up after sports lovers and business people gathered to cheer their boys and girls against Grand Bassa County in the opening match.
What appeared frustrating to the locals was a point in time where a huge delegation of legislative official from Grand Bassa County trooped in the stadium with fans cheering and chanting slogans of motivation for the kickball and football teams of Gbehzon and there was no leader from the host county to do the same.
Leading the delegation was the Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Nyonblee Kangar-Lawrence, who have been one of the key figures inspiring the team along with Senator Gbehzongar Finley.
Upon their arrival at the Nancy Doe Sports Stadium for the match Margibi Vs Bassa, the Senate Pro-temp was escorted to the pitch for the official kick-off after which she along with the county and other officials announced open gates at her expense to allow more citizens witness their respective counties.
According to media outlets across Marigibi, the only official that were seen from the host county were local government official who many believe are not powered enough to give the team the kind of motivation the players need for successful participation in the tournament.
Many confirmed to this paper that it is becoming business as usual for the county lawmakers to boycott the tournament from the initial stage and showing up in the dying minutes when the teams struggle to book a space in Monrovia.
Some of the locals who spoke to community radios in Kakata averred that the county officials are not interested in the participation of the team when it comes to unifying the county through sports but are always interested in getting the support of the youth during elections.
They Senators Emmanuel Nuquay and Nathaniel McGill among others lawmakers thereby expressing disappointment in them for not being loyal as it had been professed during different elections.
Sources closed to the county sports steering committee explained to the Inquirer Newspaper via mobile that it is only business partners and individual citizens who wished the county well have reached out to the committee with support for the team.
Our sources further explained that due to the high financial constraint faced by the Margibi Sports Association, the team could not lodge on camp more than three days to their opening match.
It was within 48 hours to the kick-off that the teams were moved to camp for the county meet.
