By Archie Ayouba Boan
MONROVIA – Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon is facing criticism after comments he made about unannounced visitors to his home sparked fresh debate about a promise he made during his 2019 senatorial campaign.
Appearing on ELBC’s Super Morning Show with host Emmanuel T.J. Kollie, Dillon expressed frustration with people who show up at his residence early in the morning without informing him beforehand.
According to the senator, some constituents arrive at his gate as early as 6:30 a.m. and expect him to come outside immediately.
“Somebody had your number, and they are to your gate 6:30 a.m. in the morning. Then they say, Senator, I am to your gate. I am not coming outside,” Dillon said during the interview.
He said anyone planning to visit should first send a message or call before leaving home.
“That number that you are having, the time you were coming from your house, you were supposed to send me message to tell me that I am coming to your house. You cannot come to my gate,” he added.
Dillon said he believes many Liberians have developed a habit of visiting people without prior notice and that such behavior needs to change.
“If you are to my gate by 6:30am, it means that you went to bed early, you got up early. You don’t know when I went to bed. You don’t care about that. But you come to my house and say, Senator, I am right to your gate. You will stay there,” he said.
The remarks quickly drew attention because of a statement Dillon made while campaigning for the Senate in 2019. During the campaign, he pledged to remain accessible to ordinary Liberians and not distance himself from the people who elected him.
At the time, Dillon declared: “If I am given your mandate to become Senator of Montserrado County, I won’t put fence around my house. I will continue to openly live and engage with my people.”
Today, Dillon’s residence is fenced, a fact that critics say contradicts the image he projected during the campaign. His latest comments have added fuel to an already growing debate.
Some of his supporters argue that life in public office comes with security concerns and privacy challenges that candidates may not fully appreciate before taking office. They say elected officials still deserve personal space and should not be expected to receive visitors at any hour.
Others disagree, saying Dillon’s comments and the fencing of his residence raise legitimate questions about whether he has remained true to the promises that helped win him public support.
The discussion has spread across social media and talk shows, with Liberians divided over whether the senator is simply setting reasonable boundaries or moving away from commitments he made to voters.
For now, the debate continues, with many citizens weighing Dillon’s current position against the promises he made on the campaign trail seven years ago.
