ARTHINGTON – Essentially, there is nothing astonishing about what we do. We hired and elect the most skilful and knowledgeable personalities who know their jobs; we evaluate their abilities and support what they do. In achieving this goal, it requires the intentional commitment of his followers to ensure that he/she has the needed support to lead. It is with this perspective that we have decided to support a leader who will resurrect a devastated city emerging from years of civil unrest. But this can only materialized if you have the right person to sail the ship. That person must be someone who is ready to solve obstacles that may ensue, especially during crisis time. Leroy Eimes, an expert in Leadership, also tells us that a leader is someone who sees more than others see; that sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see. With this summary, we will be highlighting the renaissance of a historical City and the man behind this vision.
One thing we all must do now is to captivate the dreams and inspiration of this your humble servant, the Lord Mayor of Arthington, Hon. Romeo R. Clarke, as he organized and implemented the first ever post war homecoming program of the City Corporation of Arthington. In our view, and as a citizen, God has sent us our own Nehemiah, who is humble, intelligent, far sighted and possesses the qualities of an inspiring leader who has taken the task to get his people from where they are to noble heights and to where they have not been. Mayor Clarke, in one of our many meetings, tells us that in difficult periods where there is no leadership, society stands clueless and inactive.He inferred that “progress occurs when courageous, skilful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.” He sees himself as the one sent at this time to provide the needed leadership and to inspire his people to prosperity. That’s why Hundreds of Citizens of the historic City of Arthington on November 29 to the 30 descended on their hometown to celebrate the City first ever post-war Homecoming program aimed at bringing back life to their once celebrated city. The program, held under the theme: A Reviving Hope, A celebration of Renewal”, brought together senior citizens and youths in their numbers to grace such an auspicious occasion. The colorful program was inter spiced with music, food sales, stories of the past, and meet and greet sessions where old friends and families interacted once again. This joyous occasion brought back memories of the past, reminding us about the work of our forefathers and the responsibilities that lies ahead of us to protect their legacies. The showy event brought citizens from West Road, South Carolina Road, Main Street, Georgia Road and the five clans, namely, Dihlan, Gbarbvea, Morwah, and Gbogbodee, all wearing T-shirts depicting the roads and clans they represent and live.
The Homecoming, envisioned by the third Post War City Mayor, Hon. Romeo R. Clarke, sought to build the needed momentum amongst citizens of Arthington to ensuring that they unite to rebuild their devastated City that currently lies in ruins since the end of the war.
Arthington, founded in 1869, is a small city that lies on the Right Banks of the St. Paul River but remains one of the most highly hit cities since the war where infrastructural and road connectivity are lacking. These are major hurdles currently facing citizens of Arthington and it’s quite important that they confront it at all spheres of life. But the newly appointed Mayor, a son of the City, whose vision for Arthington resonates in his mind everyday of his life, is galvanizing the needed support of all Arthingtonians, both at home and abroad to join him rebuild their hometown.
In the wake of these celebrations, and to see a glance of what we expect from his leadership, Mayor Clarke and team have installed signboards at various intersections of the city depicting the locations of the various Roads and Clans. He has brought semblance of dignity to the Administrative offices of the City by establishing a Park on a piece of land that hosted what was once called “The Tyler’s Mansion”, to help bring back the loss memories. Work is also presently ongoing on the City Hall and Administrative Buildings.
The Homecoming that ran for two days saw some eminent citizens of Liberia gracing the occasion, to include the Bishop of the Philadelphia Central Church, Dr. George D. Harris, the Superintendent of Montserrado County, Hon. Whorway Bryant, the leadership of the St.Paul River Left and Right Banks, Hon. Theophilus Bass and Jefferson Bates, the Officer –In-Charge of the Township of Millsburg and some friends of the Mayor, Doc.& Doc Mrs Tanu Duwarko paying him a visit, among others.
In his official statement as Superintendent of Montserrado County, Mr. Bryant urged citizens of Arthington to join their Mayor to rebuild their city. In his word “we like to use this occasion to call on all citizens of this great City not to make your hometown a cemetery, but rather a place of hope and redemption”. He disclosed that his leadership will work with the City of Arthgington to get the needed support from National Government to ensure that development returns to the city. Superintendent Bryant then encouraged citizens of the City to return home and develop their land, something he said, would breathe life into Arthington. “ If citizens themselves cannot take the lead to develop this place, no one will do it for them, my people it is good to be back home, join your hardworking Mayor and build this beautiful place once again”, he asserted.In continuation of his plead to citizens, the Montserrado County Superintendent frowned on citizens who boast of having hundreds of acres of land but have refused to return home and develop their lands.
Activities marking the Homecoming included a grand parade through the principle streets of Arthington, followed by an indoor program, and a sports tournament. Also, on Day one, a mini rally between the men and women were held. On day two, a Thanksgiving Service in honor of the goodness of the Lord, was held in the Mount Carmel AME Church in Arthington where prayers were offered for the Mayor . The Pastor of the church, Rev. Edward Mason, speaking on the theme, the wave of Change, admonished the Mayor to remain steadfast in his vision if he wants to see a new Arthington. He emphasized that there is no easy way to change and urged the Mayor to focus on his vision and stay away from distractions that will come along the way. He said it took a handful of people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and as such, the Mayor should look up to the cross of Christ for direction if he is to succeed. In remarks, Mayor Clarke called on his fellow citizens to join him rebuild their home and called for their support to ensure that his leadership brings pride once more to Arthington. “My fellow citizens, I’m so passionate about Arthington, I just don’t sleep because of this place, I dream Arthington every day of my life and because of this love, I will fully represent you people, but I need your backing if we are to succeed”. he emphasized. He was however, quick to recognize the fact that it will be a difficult task to get Arthington back to its pre-war status, by reminding himself about the need to focus on the qualitative aspect of change than the quantitative. He said if Arthington must be rebuild, we have to use our time to focus on the quality by identifying the crucial needs of the citizens and by working to get them involved in the rebuilding process. He said when this is done, the quantity aspect of enlargement will follow.
The two days event was climaxed by a reception for all citizens of Arthington at the City Hall. On day one, as part of efforts to raise the needed funds to rebuild the city, food and drinks were on sale for affordable prices.
This article praises the idea of a self-believing people whose desire is to transform a broken City that needs the Nehemiah Principle to succeed. The book of Nehemiah tells the story of the restoration of the City of Jerusalem. When examining the book of Nehemiah as a unit of progress, one will notice that it is a book which focuses on leadership. It tells us about the rebuilding of the walls of Judah. In addition to utilizing this great biblical philosophy on leadership, Our Mayor has dedicated his time and energy to our home town and has realized that it is his term to have the walls of Arthington rebuilt, so it requires us as citizens to lend him our unflinching support.
The primary focus of the Mayor’s leadership is to remain focused on repairing and rebuilding the walls of Arthington. With his farsighted vision, this task will surely be accomplished. That is why we are knocking on the doors of Arthingtonians to support a leadership that is people-centered, and all in all a man with passion to serve his people. After working with him for a short period of time, I have come to the conclusion that he has the capacity to organize, coordinate, cooperate, and engage constructively so long it has to do with Arthington. The principle of Nehemiah when it comes to leadership gives Mayor Clarke an added advantage to accomplish the mission for which citizens of Arthington have been yearning for. The idea of rebuilding Arthington is a solution to a problem that citizens of this City have faced for a long period of time. As a result of that, he sheds a vision that through your support we believe our home will move to a higher height. He encouraged you to join his team to rebuild our City as a solution problem that is averting its progress. The concept of this problem must serve as a driving force for total Involvement . The walls of Arthington need to be rebuilt so that development and progress can take place, and to have this accomplished, Hon. Romeo R. Clarke has the needed ingredients and charisma to take Arthington to another level of excellence. Congratulations and thanks for hosting the Homecoming. We look forward to working with your leadership always so long it has to do with my place of birth, Arthington.
Discussion about this post