By Emmanuel wise Jipoh
Liberian clergy Reverend Dr. Sylvester T. Toe, Sr. has warned the electorate to do away with electing leaders with questionable characters.
Delivering a sermon during Sunday Service on 10 September 2023, Rev. Toe urged Liberians to reject candidates with questionable characters, whether they are vying for the Presidency, the Senate, or a Representative seat.
“Corrupt leaders must be punished and prosecuted. One way to punish them is to deny them your vote, it is to reject them with their flowery speeches,” said Rev. Toe.
He urged the electorate to follow their conscience in choosing the right leaders that will govern them and their future.
“How can you ask for a first, second, or third term to the Senate when there are war crimes and economic crimes upon your heads?” the clergy wondered.
“How can you ask for a first, second, or third term in the House of Representatives when your district is crying for common incentives?” Reverend Toe continued.
The prelate urged voters to punish those whom he deemed unfit for elective positions by rejecting them on 10 October 2023.
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He believes that this will be the first step of deterrence to others who are harboring similar ambition of contesting for public office.
Reverend Toe of the Trinity Healing Church located in Paynesville, admonished voters to vote wisely with a sense of patriotism, rather than voting for money, wealth, or a handful of offers.
He delivered the sermon under the theme: “Shine Your Eyes,” with text taken from 1st Samuel 8:1-4, Proverb 29:2, and Psalm 55:21.
Rev. Toe advised Liberians to forget about re-electing people who have misused the opportunity once afforded them to serve in the best interest of the country.
Rev. Toe chided public officials whom he accused of dismally performing over the last five years for seeking re-election at the detriment of the vast majority of the citizens.
He lamented that Liberians are enduring the wrath of the economy.
The Prelate cautioned the electorate not to fall prey to rhetoric from politicians which to a larger extent is based on lies and deceit propelled by their naked desire for state power.
“During campaigns, they come with rhetoric, sweet mouth. This is how the Psalmist describes them during election campaigns: His words are as smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart,” said Rev. Toe.
“His words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords. What that text is saying is that the speeches that most of them come with are flatteries, sweet talk.”
In Liberia, he said, talking is free, noting that some call themselves ‘talk and do,’ but in reality, they do nothing but talk.
“They are mostly deceitful. They are mostly liars. Their real intentions are greed, dishonesty, bribery, and the desire to prevent justice.”
“Such leaders are a burden to the nation. They must be rejected by the people whether they are vying for a first term a second term, or a third term,” the clergy urged Liberians.
The Trinity Healing Temple Pastor said public officials have desecrated the integrity of being a public servant and brought the country to international public ridicule through their acts of corruption and impropriety.
He wants them to account for their deeds before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Not only must they be denied our votes, they must be prosecuted through international war crimes courts and economic crimes court,” Rev. Toe suggested.
“Remember, when the righteous rule, the nation prospers. But when the wicked rules, the people mourn.”
“Like the people of Israel that rejected the sons of Samuel for dishonesty, bribery, and failure to dispense justice, shine your eyes and vote,” Reverend Toe reminded Liberians.
Rev. Toe stated that those who are found and charged with corrupt practices against the state must face the economic crimes court, not the ballot box.
He continued that those who pervert justice are automatically accomplices to the crimes of the perpetrators.
“Whether they are Presidents, Senators, Representatives, or even incoming ones, they must be denied our votes.”
