Monrovia, Liberia – Former youth and student leader, Fedesco “Cisco” Tolbert, has sharply criticized the Liberian government for what he describes as a weak and unserious response to the country’s worsening drug abuse crisis.
Tolbert, a resident of District #10, Montserrado County, said the government has failed to demonstrate urgency despite declaring the situation a “national emergency.” He accused leaders of prioritizing politics and foreign trips over the welfare of the people.
“It is very sad that our leaders only care about the next election and not the next generation,” Tolbert said.
According to him, while thousands of young people are battling addiction, the government has done little beyond holding Facebook Live discussions and producing public relations content. He stressed that no visible progress has been made toward building rehabilitation centers or creating a national plan to confront the crisis.
Tolbert expressed frustration that, instead of addressing the emergency, the government recently sent dozens of officials to a conference in Japan a trip he believes could not compare in importance to saving lives in Liberia.
“Just imagine, a single senator was able to build a rehabilitation facility with limited resources, yet the entire government has failed to expand or replicate such a vital program,” he lamented.
He argued that good governance should be rooted in empathy, patriotism, and basic family values, not propaganda and political maneuvering.
“Our leaders must stop treating the national drug epidemic as a campaign issue and start treating it as a life-and-death situation for Liberia’s future,” he emphasized.
In His Own Words – Fedesco “Cisco” Tolbert, Former youth and student leader, and a resident of District 10, Montserrado County, Fedesco Tolbert, Writes:
“It is very sad that our leaders only care about the next election and not the next generation,”
– Fedesco Cisco Tolbert-
Sometimes, when the masses say that “educated people” have failed Liberia, another educated person may find such a statement offensive or difficult to comprehend. But in all fairness, there’s a lot of truth in it. It is time to apply common sense to the governance of Liberia, not just rely on the “so-called educated” individuals.
Now, let me ask this as an educated person: just a few weeks ago, the entire nation, particularly the streets of Monrovia was filled with people in tears, crying out about the drug abuse crisis, which has been declared a national emergency. And what has the government done since? Besides holding Facebook live meetings with campaign organizers and releasing content for public relations purposes; absolutely nothing tangible has been done.
Not even a site surveys or groundbreaking ceremonies for potential rehabilitation centers nor any real contingency plan to tackle this deadly disease that is destroying Liberia’s potential leaders; our teachers, doctors, engineers, future parents and contributors to society.
Despite this public health emergency that is getting out of control, the government prioritized flying almost half the country’s officials and staffs to a conference in Japan. A trip whose importance is nowhere near the urgency of saving innocent Liberians dying from drugs every day.
At what point will the priorities of the government be clearly visible to the ordinary citizen and not just a big grammar written on paper?
What is the definition of emergency, priority, patriotism, empathy, and humanity to our politicians, especially those in power?
Do we really need a Harvard-trained project manager or an accountant with Master Degree to tell us that the money spent on sending over 50 delegates abroad could help build a rehabilitation center or established a functioning contingency program to address this national crisis? Do these presidents even have real advisors, or are those roles just titles used to justify the gross mismanagement and inequitable distribution of national wealth?
It’s been nearly two years since this government took office, and yet, what we continue to witness is a few brilliant young people once hailed as future leaders and “educated minds” now dishonestly defending government failures with lies and propaganda, just to appear smart and stay relevant.
When we say that almost every politician in Liberia only cares about the next election and not the next generation, these are the kinds of real-life examples we’re talking about.
Just imagine: a single senator was able to build a rehabilitation facility that, even with limited accommodation, is trying to help our brothers and sisters recover. Yet, the entire government has failed to expand or replicate such a vital program that could help as another form of mitigation to this pandemic.
I swear, the people who say that running a government is “extremely difficult” are usually those who view leadership only through a political lens, and not through the lens of humanity and societal well-being. Running a decent government should be no more complex than running a home. In a household, needs and wants are prioritized. You don’t need your children to protest before feeding them. You don’t wait for public outrage before you pay your rent, utilities bills and sending your kids to school. So why can’t our leaders apply basic family-oriented values, human dignity, and common sense to governance?
Why, Liberian leaders, why?
This is beyond frustrating.
