By Amos Harris
Monrovia, Liberia – As Liberia marked its 178th Independence Day, the National Orator, Reverend Dr. Emmett Lafayette Dunn, delivered a stirring and unapologetic message to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Liberian people. Speaking from the historic Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Monrovia, Dr. Dunn called for bold leadership, decisive action against corruption, national reconciliation, and a redefinition of Liberia’s founding ideals.
Dr. Dunn, who also serves as the Presidential Envoy for Partnership and Philanthropy, urged President Boakai to move beyond merely suspending officials accused of corruption. Instead, he called for their outright dismissal in line with national laws. “Fire and do not suspend, enforce the laws,” Dr. Dunn declared, to thunderous applause from an audience that included government ministers, diplomats, religious leaders, civil society groups, and ordinary Liberians.
He delivered a direct plea to the President: “Uncle Joe, tomorrow is not promised to you. A second term is not guaranteed. Act now. Clean up this mess. Do it for those who stood in the rain to vote for you. Do it for Mazel, who died in childbirth this morning for lack of proper medical care.” While refraining from naming specific individuals, Dr. Dunn’s remarks resonated amidst growing public dissatisfaction with what many perceive as the Boakai administration’s limited disciplinary response to allegations of financial mismanagement, audit discrepancies, and contract fraud involving government officials. Critics argue that suspensions have become a shield rather than a remedy.
Beyond anti-corruption, Dr. Dunn used the momentous occasion to propose a reimagining of Liberia’s national identity. He called on the President to lead a process to revise the country’s historical motto, “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here,” suggesting it alienates the indigenous majority and no longer reflects the collective identity of modern Liberia.
“Mr. President, with deep respect and sincere love, I urge you to appoint a national commission tasked with proposing a new motto—one that is inclusive and representative of a new Liberia,” he stated. He explained that while the current motto honors the legacy of freed American slaves who founded Liberia in the 1800s, it excludes the cultural, historical, and spiritual contributions of the indigenous communities who were present long before. “‘The Love of Liberty’ speaks to the settlers who came, but it fails to speak to the vast majority—the indigenous people who were already here,” Dr. Dunn said, prompting reflective silence in the crowd.
Acknowledging recent government efforts to heal historical wounds, such as the national memorial for President William R. Tolbert Jr. and the ceremonial reburial of President Samuel K. Doe, Dr. Dunn insisted that symbolic gestures must be backed by sustained institutional reforms. He proposed the creation of a Standing Committee on National Reconciliation, tasked with developing long-term strategies for peacebuilding, unity, and inter-generational understanding. “On behalf of the people of your republic, we accept your apology,” he said, referencing the president’s call for national healing, “But reconciliation must be institutionalized.”
In another compelling section of his speech, Dr. Dunn focused on Liberia’s democratic fabric, stressing that the role of political opposition is central to any functioning democracy. He cautioned against the growing tendency to sideline, silence, or demonize opposition voices. “The opposition is not the enemy of the state; they are a crucial part of the machinery of accountability. A nation where opposition voices are silenced is a nation walking into darkness,” he warned.