Names and titles are given to individuals, institutions and events for certain reasons. In most instances, it is because of achievements, failures, challenges or historic-making events. These names or titles, sometimes like nicknames, always go with some explanations, which are usually used by others to relate to a similar situation.

In other words, such are used to make reference whenever the society, individual or group is faced with a situation that brings to mind the reason why such a title or name was given. For example, during the Liberian civil conflict, a particular area was referred to as "Kuwait," an apparent reference to Kuwait in the Middle East which was a battle ground when it was invaded by Iraq.

In the area of sports, players are given certain names, titles or nicknames for their performances. In Liberia, there was a particular player, Washington Blaye referred to as "Defense Minister" because of the way he stopped strikers from penetrating the defense of the national team, thus avoiding goals. Similarly, another player, Roland Brown, formerly of Charlotte Tolbert High School, was named "Iron Gate" and another Liberian player, Sarkpa Myers, was known as the "Rock of Gibraltar" because of similar reasons of that of the Defense Minister.

Today in this country, it is common knowledge that President Sirleaf, before ascending to the Presidency, was given the name "Iron Lady" after that of the late Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, who was faced with a military challenge during her first term known as the Falklands War with Argentina, which surrendered in June 1982.

President Sirleaf, a former strong opposition leader in the 80's, was given the name years later because of her bravery in speaking out fearlessly on issues of national concern. At one point during the regime of former President Charles Taylor, it was widely speculated in some quarters that Madam Sirleaf, who was then out of the country, would not return for fear of her life. But she proved her skeptics wrong, she returned home. Upon her return, this newspaper carried the biggest headline: IRON LADY IN TOWN."

So you see, titles and names are given for certain reasons. Today in Liberia, the issue of indispensability has cropped up with the re-nomination of Madam Mary Taryonnoh B oh, by President Sirleaf as Mayor of the City of Monrovia. Since news of the re-nomination of Madam Broh, there have been mixed reactions, as some including Bong County Senior Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor has welcomed the re-nomination of Madam Broh while others have rejected it. How-be-it, this article is not intended to look into the merits or demerits of the public comments on the issue, but to view it from the perspective of titles and names.

I have been covering many events for years in this country. This is my first time observing this situation in which a person who resigned for allegedly flouting the law, has been re-nominated. I know of instances in which officials voluntarily resigned, and such resignations were rejected by the appointing power on grounds that such persons still enjoyed the confidence of the appointing power. But to see what is transpiring in Liberia is too strange and unusual, thus making it a matter of public discussion and also giving it a high degree of news worthiness, as was reported yesterday by the media.

Prior to the re-nomination by the President, while in the United States recently, I read a story in one of the newspapers in Liberia in which it was recommended that Madam Broh, who had resigned the post, should be re-appointed. The recommendation came in the wake of concerns that since Madam Broh left the City Hall, there have been piles of garbage in the city. Evidently so, newspapers have carried photos of the mountain of garbage in parts of the city since that resignation.

It can be recalled that former Acting Montserrado City Mayor resigned after being suspended by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for moving to the Monrovia Central Prison to release then suspended Montserrado County Superintendent, Grace Kpaan who was taken to the Monrovia Central Prison by members of the House of Representatives. At the time, it was said that Madam Broh allegedly moved to the Monrovia Central Prison with a group of women and reportedly obstructed the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House's orders of incarcerating Supt. Kpaan at the Monrovia Central Prison, after she the Superintendent was found guilty of contempt of the House.

Indeed, since her resignation, the impression has been created that there is no other Liberian to replace her to clean the city. As observed, most of those welcoming her re-nomination speak of the issue of 'keeping the city clean." Yes, this is good, but my concern is the issue of indispensability.

I have decided to give her the title, "Mary Broh: The Indispensable," meaning that without her, there can be no clean city, as being argued or debated without Mary Broh. Simply this means that it is only Madam Broh who now has the expertise, experience, vigor, knowledge and ability, just to name few qualities. In the future, whenever people wanted to make reference regarding the issue of indispensability, the name of Madam Mary Broh would crop up.

To make a long matter short, Madam Mary Broh, yet to be confirmed by the Liberian Senate, the fact that she has been re-nominated has made history. Please don't ask me about the case in court. I beg you, my dear readers; this is not the intent of this piece. I rest for now.

NB: Atty. Wesseh was a member of the Monrovia City Council and served under the Chairmanship of Cllr. David A.B. Jallah, Dean of the Law School; Daniel Johnson, now Superintendent of River Gee, and briefly under Madam Mary Broh.