PHOTO: (L-R) Min. Nathaniel McGill and Rep. Marvin Cole
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Over the weekend, it was all praises being showered on the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel F. McGill in the central Bong County by a group of citizens led by some of their local authorities.
Some citizens here bestowed honor upon Minister McGill for what they called, “services to humanity”.
Bestowing the honor on the chief of staff in President George Weah’s office over the weekend, Elihaji Garfee Swaray, Secretary General of Bong County’s Muslim Council and the Coalition of Bong County Women through Superintendent Esther Y. Walker said, the honored was meant to tell the Minister thank you for the people of Bong County and Liberia.
They then named the sponsoring of grade school students in the county through a provision of financial aid at various schools in the county, micro loan to market women as some positive undertakings by Mininister McGill through the George Weah led government.
“We don’t think anybody or any sitting Minister in this government and even in the pass government did or is doing what this man is doing for our county, knowing squarely that he is from Gbarpolu and not from Bong County. This Minister has made us proud and the government itself,” they said.
But just as the praises were being showered on the Minister of State, state radio ELBC has been reporting that some public schools in nearby areas were unlikely to resume normal academic activities for the new school year this week, because they are in dilapidated condition and lack even chairs for students to sit on.
The Secretary General of the Muslim Community in Bong further lauded Minister the President through McGill for the appointment of one of their sons to serve as Assistant Development Superintendent for the County.
Mr. Swaray and Superintendent Walker at the same time described Minister McGill as ‘an outstanding and real son of the soil, a benevolent and overall an astute Minister’ in the Weah government.
They added that his Ministerial post continues to bring meaningful development to Bong County, despite the economic challenges being faced by the government.
Motive behind the honour
According to them, the motive behind their honour is for the Muslim Community and the Coalition of Bong County Women ‘to purely testify without fear, sentiment or favor of Minister McGill, but his continuous and unbending developmental initiatives through the provisions of Scholarship, loans, among other things.’
The Muslim Community and the Coalition of Bong County Women leaders further indicated that Minister Nathaniel Falo McGill has proven to be one of Liberia’s best Ministers in the 21st century.
“The Coalition of Bong County Women and the Muslim Community are very pleased to bestow this honored to you Minister McGill for your outstanding role in Bong County development and the Liberian society,” they stressed.
They also called on Minister McGill to continue to work in the interest of the people of the County Allah or God will reward him (Min. McGill).
Receiving the honour, Minister McGill extolled the Muslim Community and the Coalition of Bong County Women for their farsightedness in recognizing his continuous support in the County.
According to the Minister State, his support to development is intended for a better Bong County and Liberia as hold where equality will be the hallmark of practices.
He stressed that it’s now time that leaders of Bong County engaged in practices that will bring about a transformative agenda and reconciliation.
The Liberian Minister of State for Presidential Affairs at the same time called on the citizens of the County to vote the CDC Representative Candidate, Melvin Salvage in the District#2 by-elections.
He said Melvin Salvage is the best-suited candidate in the by-election in County.
VP Jewel Taylor also commends Min. McGill
In remark, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who hails from the county, thanked Minister McGill for his many developmental projects in the County.
Said Madam Vice President: “The people of Liberia deserve better lives, one that is people centered and aimed to improve the livelihoods of millions of Liberians including our children, our youth and our women. Our people deserve nothing less and this is why you elected us in 2017 on the basis of change.”
Moreover, VP Taylor called on citizens of the county to put aside their political differences and work with the coalition government in moving the country forward.
Also the Coalition for Democratic Change Bong county District #5 Representative, Josiah Marvin Cole joined the Muslims and the Bong county Women to appreciate Minister McGill and President Weah for always thinking about Bong County.
He said Minister McGill is a true patriot, a man that is passionate for the livelihood improvement of his people.
Rep. Cole used the occasion to call on his people to give him a chance in steering the affairs of the district and later judge him and decide during the 2023 general election.
The Bong County Lawmaker further urged them to be patient and give him more time to continue working with his colleagues at both Houses of the Legislature, the President and friends in and outside the country for a better Country.