PHOTO: Bishop P. Manaesseh Conto
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia- The Bishop of the Mission For Today Holy Church, P. Manaesseh Conto is warning the public against taking the humility, commitment, and loyalty of the Kpelle ethnic group as stupidity.
Kpelle is one of the largest ethnic groups in Liberia and historically a large segment of them are seen as humble and in some cases loyal.
The Liberian Cleric gave the warning over the weekend, when he served as guest speaker at the souvenir program marking the 6th anniversary of the National Kpelle Organization of Liberia (NAKOL) held at the Giddings Polytechnic in Kakata City, Margibi County, over 72 kilometers east of Monrovia.
“I often hear people saying Kpelle people are stupid, I want to announce to the World today that if you ever knew any stupid Kpelle person they have all died. Don’t turn our humility, commitment, and loyalty as stupidity,” he warned.
Bishop Conto claimed that the Kpelle people that are still alive are the most sensible, wise, faithful and focus ones.
The Bishop further emphasized that the Kpelle people are not stupid, but they know what they want and what they are going for.
The religious leader at the same time called on the Kpelle people never to feel discourage about who they are rather they should be proud of the tribe and language God gave them stating that they are what they are because God made them that way.
“Whatever you are, whatever tradition or characteristics that make your tribe be proud of it and appreciate. There is nothing you did to make you Kpelle, you were born as Kpelle be proud that you are Kpelle and never try to change it,” he urged the group.
The charismatic church Bishop averred that there are many people who are ashamed of their tribe to the extent that when they are called in their dialect, they respond in English.
Speaking on the topic,”Strength In Unity”, Bishop Conto admonished members of the Kpelle ethnic group to remain united.
The He said it is time that the Kpelle people unite, speak with one voice and go after one goal.
The Mission For Today Holy Church Bishop, who some time ago contested a Representative seat near Monrovia, said the only way the Kpelle people will succeed in whatever they do is by always putting aside their differences and learn to stand together.
The man of God recounted that unity does not only give strength, but it’s important for survival.
Bishop Conto stated that it’s only when the Kpelle people come together and unite they can achieve whatever goal they wish to achieve.
He intimidated that when the group stays united they can stand and face the World with strength, power and courage, but said if they get influenced by someone’s negative comments which people usually do for their benefits then they will get divided and fall and as such, anyone can break them and destroy their peace.
According to him, the power of unity is so strong in that a united group of weak people can defeat a divided group of strong people.
“That is why whenever the enemy wants to defeat a family, group of people, a nation or any institution, he sows the seed of disunity amongst them, because division is one of the strongest weapons that can easily defeat anyone or anything.
If you help others only then others will help you, hence stay together so that survival becomes easy and smooth, never allow any negative influence to break your unity because some people still try to break us to divide us because they understand the importance of unity,” he explained.
Bishop Conto also indicated that the Kpelle ethnic group is considered as the largest group in the Republic of Liberia and other Countries in the Sub-region thereby asking as to what its members are doing with the large number they always boast about.
He told the occasion that numbers are very essential in every sphere of life, but without unity numbers will be of no use.
No matter how large the Kpelle ethnic group is, it will be meaningless if its members do not come together in unism,” he said.
The Liberian cleric continued: “Let’s stop boasting of number if we are not willing to come together and found a common front.”
Bishop Conto, whose church operate the local Gospel Encounter Radio on Monrovia’s Bushrod Island, said disunity brings about failure and the lack of achievement.
He then told the gathering that unity is fragile, as such it must be handled with care.