Yesterday, we at the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) announced our intention to travel to Gbarpolu County to break ground for the construction of a bridge that has, for more than 50 years, claimed the lives of our people. This bridge, neglected by successive governments, has remained a symbol of abandonment and state failure.
To our surprise, shortly after our announcement, the government has deployed its yellow machines and manpower to the site, now claiming that it intends to rehabilitate the bridge. While we applaud any genuine effort to ease the suffering of the Liberian people, we hope this action is not simply an attempt to block the CMC from delivering on a promise the government itself has failed to fulfill for decades.
Let it be known: the CMC does not seek to compete with the Government of Liberia in the realm of development. Rather, we welcome any collaboration or parallel effort that advances the cause of the Liberian people. If our commitment to action has stirred the conscience of the government to finally address the needs of our citizens, then we are proud to be the spark.
We have similar projects pending in Bong County, River Gee County, and a major bridge linking Bong and Nimba Counties. Should the government wish to undertake these as well, we will gladly step aside to attend to other equally urgent needs across the nation. For us, this is not about credit. It is about results.
The CMC exists for the sole purpose of serving the Liberian people. We remain unwavering in our belief that development is not a favor, it is a duty. And if, in our pursuit of that duty, we awaken a dormant government to its own responsibilities, then our mission is already bearing fruit.
Ultimately, the competition that matters most is not between parties or personalities, but between poverty and progress. And if the people win, then Liberia wins. We will continue to act. We will continue to serve. We will continue to lead.
