Gbartala — Even in former President Charles Ghankay Taylor's absence, Bong, where he started his revolution, was agog all through Tuesday as his admirers, political followers and associates gathered to mark his 66th birthday in grand style.
The celebration began with a thanksgiving church service at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Gbartala town, where the Pastor, Rev Joshua Gertiminah, challenged the congregation, to emulate Taylor, currently serving a lengthy sentence in Great Britain.
The celebration attracted a large crowd to both the church and Gbartala for what many say was because of Taylor's sheer force of personality.
What is that aspect of Taylor's personality that could attract such a mammoth crowed which filled the church and overflowed outside, he asked. He answered his own question:
"It is a given that Taylor is a huge success, but that is not why all of you left your homes and different towns to be in Gbartala today - even though the man you have come to celebrate may never know the individuals that have come to do him honor."
Continuing, Gertiminah added: "You have come to Gbartala today because Taylor is a man who after climbing high in the political and economic ladders of Liberia, did not seize and throw away the ladders in the way most Liberian leaders usually do; he made the ladders available for others to climb up too. And even when some people are too weak to make good use of the ladders, he helped pull them up.
He added: "That is why you are here today - never forget that and you go and do likewise, help others to climb up the ladders of life and love". And the crowd applauded, while some others bellowed Taylor's sobriquet: "The pride of Liberia."
Immediately after the thanksgiving church service, the crowd, which included traditional leaders, entrepreneurs, key professionals, Taylor's ex-fighters and top politicians from all the 15 administrative districts, were joined by a bigger crowd at the headquarters of Taylor's National Patriotic Party in Gbarnga, to begin the social celebrations.
Mark Thompson, an ex-fighter of Taylor's defunct Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) said he abandoned his day's activities to show gratitude to a man he called "redeemer". "Taylor redeemed the life of the ordinary Liberians not only in Bong County but the entire country."
Another ex-ATU fighter, Theresa McGill, told FrontPage Africa that the day marked an important period in her life.
"Today is like a personal holiday that I can't let go without showing gratitude to our former president. I would like to wish Mr. Taylor all the best as he celebrates the rest of his life in jail."
Several musicians, comedians, various women's groups struggled for chance on the two podiums available to entertain the audience while politicians outdid each other in extolling Taylor.
Some residents of Gbartala town wore a festive look as it was specially decorated for the event as they celebrated their former president who is serving a 50 year sentence in a London cell.
The celebration attracted a large crowd to both the church and Gbartala for what many say was because of Taylor's sheer force of personality.
What is that aspect of Taylor's personality that could attract such a mammoth crowed which filled the church and overflowed outside, he asked. He answered his own question:
"It is a given that Taylor is a huge success, but that is not why all of you left your homes and different towns to be in Gbartala today - even though the man you have come to celebrate may never know the individuals that have come to do him honor."
Continuing, Gertiminah added: "You have come to Gbartala today because Taylor is a man who after climbing high in the political and economic ladders of Liberia, did not seize and throw away the ladders in the way most Liberian leaders usually do; he made the ladders available for others to climb up too. And even when some people are too weak to make good use of the ladders, he helped pull them up.
He added: "That is why you are here today - never forget that and you go and do likewise, help others to climb up the ladders of life and love". And the crowd applauded, while some others bellowed Taylor's sobriquet: "The pride of Liberia."
Immediately after the thanksgiving church service, the crowd, which included traditional leaders, entrepreneurs, key professionals, Taylor's ex-fighters and top politicians from all the 15 administrative districts, were joined by a bigger crowd at the headquarters of Taylor's National Patriotic Party in Gbarnga, to begin the social celebrations.
Mark Thompson, an ex-fighter of Taylor's defunct Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) said he abandoned his day's activities to show gratitude to a man he called "redeemer". "Taylor redeemed the life of the ordinary Liberians not only in Bong County but the entire country."
Another ex-ATU fighter, Theresa McGill, told FrontPage Africa that the day marked an important period in her life.
"Today is like a personal holiday that I can't let go without showing gratitude to our former president. I would like to wish Mr. Taylor all the best as he celebrates the rest of his life in jail."
Several musicians, comedians, various women's groups struggled for chance on the two podiums available to entertain the audience while politicians outdid each other in extolling Taylor.
Some residents of Gbartala town wore a festive look as it was specially decorated for the event as they celebrated their former president who is serving a 50 year sentence in a London cell.
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