The former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, B. Elias Shoniyin, has observed that it is now time to hold those elected to power accountable instead of mourning a building gutted by fire.
Providing a critical opinion on the issues unfolding recently, Shoniyin observed that it is time for action, not apathy, and time to hold power accountable—not to mourn a building but to demand a nation where children can learn, the sick can heal, and the people can thrive.
“If the events stirred even a flicker of emotion in you, let it be the spark that ignites true change. For Liberia deserves better—and so do we,” Shoniyin further observed.
“What happened at the Capitol today is unprecedented, but it pales in comparison to the daily crises we’ve grown disturbingly accustomed to enduring. These facts—these painful realities—should alarm us, but they don’t. We have become too complacent, too accepting of a broken system, and too reluctant to challenge the status quo.
“To be completely honest, I am not moved by the flames I saw today at the Capitol. What enrages me is the fire of neglect and suffering that burns through our society every single day,” he noted.
He underscored that the Capitol Building—now a symbol of fire and chaos—houses just 103 individuals yet consumes approximately 10% of Liberia’s annual budget.
“Contrast this with the harrowing realities faced by millions of our citizens: Liberia has one of the highest rates of out-of-school children globally. According to UNICEF, 16% of primary school-age children are not in school; 25% of female youth of secondary school age are out of school, compared to 20% of their male counterparts. Overall, 15–20% of children aged 6–14 are missing out on education.
“If a serious health emergency were to strike you or someone you love today, survival would be a gamble. I personally know many whose lives ended prematurely because they couldn’t access a hospital bed or even basic care,” he added.
According to him, a child born in rural Liberia today will likely grow up in poverty, trapped in a cycle that robs them of joy, opportunity, and hope. This grim pattern of despair is inherited by generation after generation.
“As citizens, we must ask ourselves hard questions: What does the Capitol Building represent? Power. How has that power been used over time? Has it been wielded for the good of the people or squandered as a liability?” he indicated.