Mr. Kimba's Exclusive Interview With Senatorial Candidate

KIMBA: Hello, Mr. Bedell!

BEDELL: HI, Mr. Kimba! How are you?

KIMBA: Mr. Bedell, you visited Maryland recently, how do you explain your visit?

BEDELL: it was the best of my life experience. The people welcomed me in grand style. The visit was rich and educational. Everywhere I went, I received a Red Carpet welcome. I didn’t know how much my people love and appreciate me until that day. I realized that I always read when I was growing up. It says, “The greatest remuneration to receive is the gratitude of the people!” I could see this in real life. And I was fascinated! Initially, when I received the Petition from my people, I never took it seriously. Because this was not the route I wanted to take in helping my people and nation. Just as my father used to say, “Man proposes, God disposes.” After this visit, my plan changed. I have no cause now to hold back anymore. I vow to go full blast! God first and the people second!

KIMBA: Mr. Bedell, we have been following NEC’s information. Your name is on the Provincial Listing of certified candidates of Maryland. There were many who said you would not register. They said you didn’t have the funding. Senator Morias is one of those who made such remark. How did you get through? And how do you feel now?

BEDELL: Peter Said, “Silver and gold have I none, but in the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk!” And the lepers got up and walked. Money has and will never beat God! I give thanks and praises to God! In seven years in Liberia, I have not had any gainful employment. I worked pro bono work as a volunteer in the country all those years. And so, it is true, I did not and do not have as much money as my counterparts. But I have one thing they don’t: God and the people. With God and the people, whom shall I fear?

KIMBA: We hear you have the most organize team on the ground. We also hear there are heavy weights on your side. We hear of Mary Broh, Amb. Winston Tubman, Allen N. Yancy, III, James “Salinsa” Debah ( the world renowned footballer of Liberia), Joe Nagbe (former Lone Star Captain), Benjamin Saydee (former Mighty Barrolle star), John Hilary Tubman, Jnr ( a Maryland Businessman), Robert “Break Dancer” Clarke ( former Lone Star powerful winger), Ezekiel “Zico” Doe (former Lone Star master dribbler and scorer) and many more. How did you manage to have these powerful people on your side?

BEDELL: Again, it’s God’s work! My Team is well-organized. True! I have heavy weights on my side. True! Little did I know that I would meet these individuals in the future. I met them all somewhere down the process of life. I worked at the Tubman Law Firm at the Pan African Plaza with Amb. Tubman in the early 80s. I met Allen N. Yancy in the late 70s while I was in high school. He was one of my teachers in community development. He helped us developed a good and strong sense of community. As for Mary Broh - the “General” – I met her first in the United States and then worked with her during her cleanup campaigns in Monrovia during her tenure as Acting Mayor of the City of Monrovia. Like her, I am result-oriented and a no-nonsense person. James Debah, Benjamin Saydee and I featured together on the Mighty Barrolle Ball Club in the 80s. And so they know me very well. Ezekiel Doe and I featured on the same Ball Club – Atina – in Maryland prior to coming to Monrovia when he featured on Invincible Eleven and I on Mighty Barrolle. As for Robert Clarke, he played for Invincible Eleven while I played for Mighty Barrolle. Recently, Robert and I worked together on Maryland County Sports during two separate County Meets. From there, we created a stronger understanding of the work that lies ahead of sports in Maryland. John Hilary Tubman and I met in Harper when I newly arrived from the US. Since then, as a businessman, he has been a good supporter of my work. Normally, they say JHT or “John-John” as we call him, barely support politicians. But he’s in my corner. He believes in my ability to deliver the goods for Maryland than anyone else. His support has been magnificent!

I met all of these prominent and eminent persons guided by the plan and purpose of God. To date, having worked with them in the past, they’ve helped in making me the man and leader that I have become.  I’m thankful to them. Thank God for all of them and their support for my candidacy! There are more. I can’t count them all now for lack of space and time.

KIMBA: Let’s leap for a moment. How do you describe Sen. Dan Morias’ possible support for James Anderson instead of you? Were you not the one who braved bullets at your breast from the police during the many street protest demonstrations to set Morias and others free from prison?

BEDELL: I’ve heard of the Morias move. But see, I came to Liberia through the power of God. And everything I have done was and is guided by Him. All my blessings are from Him. With Him and the people, whom shall I fear? So, let the proverbial chips fall where they may! I’m not worried! Sen. Morias may support whomever he wishes. He and no one can defeat the power of God and the people. I am a believer in the cliché, “Never blame anyone in your life. The good people give you happiness. The bad people give you experience. The worst people give you a lesson. The best people give you memories.”

KIMBA: But Mr. Bedell, how would you describe Sen. Morias as far as helping to set him free from prison in 2010 ritualistic killing case, now that he may support Anderson whom he, at one point, considered as a “nonentity” and a “lazy fool”?

BEDELL: Every man will have to give account of his own deeds and action when the judgment day comes.

KIMBA: Mr. Bedell, when will judgment day come? Are we going to be around that time?

BEDELL: I believe when God created this world, he gave each person the opportunity to do his best in seeking communion with each other. Equally so, each person is required to account for his or her deeds and actions. It may take a day-or-two before that happens; but for sure it will come when it will come! And it won’t be too long! Many tend to seek God, but instead, they end up following the devil.

KIMBA: Mr. Bedell, I am still running on Sen. Morias’ record. Because people have these same concerns. They are saying, if Sen. Morias supports Anderson against you, then he is “worthless” and “Unappreciative.” What do say about this?

BEDELL: I am a strong believer of Hon. Bob Marley’s quote. "Truth is everybody is going to hurt you you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." My people need me more! See, everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition was characterized by guilt: all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

The benefits of redemption include eternal life, forgiveness of sins, righteousness, freedom from the law’s curse, adoption into God’s family, deliverance from sin’s bondage, peace with Him, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled.

KIMBA: What are your predictions on the Midterm election; will it be held this year or what? And will you win?

BEDELL: I’m confident the Election will be held. But one thing I know for sure is, it won’t happen on time set by our Organic Law – the Constitution. Again, the decision who wins the election lies with the Father. He brought me. And only He, with the people, will do the rest for me! I am confident about that!

KIMBA: Are you going to win?

BEDELL: Basic principles: no matter what, no matter when, no matter who, any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet. You just need the right broom.

KIMBA: So do you have the right broom, Mr. Bedell?

BEDELL: Certainly! God and the people!

KIMBA: Yes, Mr. Bedell, you talk about the Constitution as far as the postponement of the Election is concerned. Are you saying the Government is violating the Constitution by postponing the Election?

BEDELL: No, that’s not what I am saying. I am saying that the Government needs to be mindful of the Constitution and its Provisions as far as Election is concerned within the context of the current State of emergency!

KIMBA: We hear that you have added more feathers into your cap in your pro bono advocacy work. The insurance company has now reached a settlement to pay Little Felecia Prowd that was involved in a car accident.

BEDELL: True! Little Felecia Prowd of Bigtown will be paid a settlement cash for the accident she was involved in. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) driver bumped into Little Felecia in the Little Wlebo Refugee Camp area in 2012 and dragged her several yards. Two years later, we have reached a settlement. The insurance will pay FIVE THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS and DRC will send the little child abroad for additional medical treatment. It’s a “Win-Win” situation. I am glad and happy for Little Felecia. Thank God again! He’s in the driver seat!

KIMBA: Mr. Bedell, I keep hearing you talk about God; what’s up with that?

BEDELL: He is our ONLY hope and Guidance! Without Him, we are nothing! My coming to Liberia is a Calling from God. And I have been continuously guided by His will and purpose!

See, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.  So if our spiritual and moral condition worsens, how can we then expect God to improve our economic and political conditions? 

KIMBA: Thank you Mr. Bedell. Any last words?

BEDELL: Yes! “If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people.”

Let people feel free to speak truth to power! For “Truth is born into this world only with pangs and tribulations, and every fresh truth is received unwillingly. To expect the world to receive a new truth, or even an old truth, without challenging it, is to look for one of those miracles which do not occur."