Many Liberian coastal counties are deteriorating due to heavy rain falls and lack of maintenance. But a number of them could be on their way to recovery if only they were among Madam Sirleaf's immediate national priorities. Presidential Elections are getting closer, therefore, anything away from Madam Sirleaf's reelection bid, is wasteful. Madam has put an indefinite hold on the County Development Fund (CDF). The question is, why should Madam Sirleaf prioritized Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Kru, and even Grand Cape Mount Counties now? What do they have to offer her immediate political quest for reelection? Largely, these places are not as populated as Montserrado, Nimba, Bassa, Bong, Lofa or Magibi are. Besides, with so many sons of those regions taking part in the race, they could vote the other way.
No one should doubt the fact that, under Madam Sirleaf, national development would be narrowly shifted to bigger political subdivisions, where she enjoys or battling to garner large political support. And for that reason, roads and bridges linking places like Grand Kru, Maryland, and others will remain in the back-burner, despite the claim by the Ellen Policy Chief, Sebastian Muah, that Grand Cape Mount primarily failed because of my ineptitude. Hahahaha!
Here in the United States, university professors and tenured lecturers are legally privileged to take a leave of absence from their teaching jobs. Hence, sabbatical leave is reserved only for faculty members with deepen educational interests who want to explore and examine new areas of instructional methods to improve the standards of their departments.
According to MCLI, sabbatical leave not only help faculty to grow professionally, it gives them a break from their normal duties. In addition, it enables faculty to engage in study, research, travel, work experience, or other creative ventures that contribute to the academic institution in general. A sabbatical leave is a competitive process awarded to eligible faculty on the strength of his/her application. Funding for this purpose is limited.
I purposefully provided the above info to refute the bogus claim made by Sebastian Muah, Key Policy Chief of Liberia's national development efforts, that as a student of Carnegie Mellon University pursuing Masters, he was placed on a sabbatical leave to serve in his capacity as Deputy Minister of Planning and Policy. Hahahahaha! Nowhere in the American academia are students placed on sabbatical. As a matter of fact, there are requirements and timetables in taking a break from an academic program. You are dropped after a certain length of time. While the claim made by Sebastian is shamefully phony, it serves as a carnal warning that any report on national reconstruction put out by those who lack the moral compos, is worth validating.
Nevertheless, in the American political cycle, there is something called the Bradley Effect. This is a phenomenon characterized by the tendency of non-white political candidates to perform better in opinion polls than they do in actual elections when they are running against white candidates. Those who favor the incumbency of Madam Sirleaf classify my criticisms of her administration as one with a Bradley Effect. That is, they do very little to shift opinions, than they do to the Madam. My efforts to dig up the social ills of the administration are genuinely founded on many factors.
For instance, in my tenure as County Development Officer in Liberia, Muah was one of those who spearheaded a smear campaign to put me down when I attempted to expose many misgivings within the administration. But if Muah lied on his academic profile, what else can he not say about those he hates? Many Liberians shut their mouths when they gain government appointments. For me, this was an opportunity to identify government's weaknesses. People despise you when you criticize government from within. Muah called it a schizophrenic behavior. In Liberia, it is considered abnormal when you criticize government from within. No wonder the country is the way it is. Everyone complains, but once appointed, he/she zips it up and flow with the tide.
I truly believe that those Liberians wishing to serve their country through their national government, must not only do so with honesty, but should be willing to pathways with their friends and personalities once they decide to do it candidly. Most people prefer to keep their acquaintances and characters, hence flow with the tide. This attitude of flowing with the way things are historical done in Liberia, is principally why our nation is far behind today.
A number of sympathizers commend the administration's level of tolerance with its critics. I still believe that the hands of the Sirleaf government are tied behind its back, by the presence of international power brokers. For most part, Madam Sirleaf has clearly demonstrated her lack of tolerance for opposing views. For instance, when I pointed out to many irregularities occurring within the PRS in our local Liberian newspapers, Madam Sirleaf immediately called on the Civil Service Agency and Minister Konneh to have me fired. This lack of will for opposition has manifested itself in her attempt to play divisive roles in political parties that are against her interests. In recent times, she has engaged in the business of bribing influential figures in other political parties with trips abroad. The removal of Edwin Snowe, as Speaker of the House, was one credited to Madam Sirleaf. Many believe that had Snow rallied behind Madam Sirleaf, chances are he could have remained Speaker today.
The United States is among those making the claim that the inability of the Liberian Legislative branch to remain independent is mostly hampered by bribes from the executive branch. Because of diplomacy, the US won't pinpoint, but it is implied that the red cap is a perfect fit for the madam. Prince Johnson and Mobutu Nyempan are among legislators who were threatened by Madam Sirleaf for not being friends of the President. In addition, even her judicial neighbors, led by Chief Justice Johnny Lewis, are kneeling in obeisance to her. Within her own party, the UP, partisans who disagree with Madam Sirleaf, have been sanctioned. The recent removal of Mr. Henry Fahnbulleh from an elected position of Party Secretariat is a dash in this direction. In addition, all of those who walk on the opposite lane of the President are denied jobs in her government. These days, the Madam is scheming to replace those UP members of the House who are not on her side. Madam Sirleaf's vindictiveness is an opened secret. Front Page Africa (FPA) could tell you more.
A number of counties which are predicted to look the other way based on ethnic affiliation are struggling to get by under the administration. This too is lack of tolerance. It goes to say that one attitude of Liberian leaders, is their ability to spearhead the development of their native counties. We saw how Harper shined under Tubman. While Bentol flourished under Tolbert. Even Tuzon, in Grand Geddeh, boomed under Samuel Doe. However, areas like Bomi and Sinoe Counties, places Madam Sirleaf claimed to have native connections, have been brushed aside for more populated counties that will bring her bigger votes. These days, the president eats her breakfast in Lofa, brunches in Magibi, lunches in Bong, dines in Nimba, and takes her supper in Grand Bassa. There is a complete shutdown of government.
Others may think that the presence of a Nigerian General as head of our Armed Forces is in itself, a way of playing it safe. The belief is that, in the event of an insurgency, or civil strife, the Federal Republic of Nigeria will commit its troop to quell down any such rebellion. Smart move! However, under international law, there is something called, pacta sunt servanda—this is a Latin phrase, which means that promises or agreements must be kept. It is a private contract which in tandem implies that non-fulfillment of respective obligations is a breach of the pact. From experience, these types of private pacts are normally not fulfilled because prior to execution, both parties have to weigh the financial and human cost into account. Nigeria could execute this decision, if that republic were still under a dictatorship. On the part of Liberia, this pact has never been ratified or approved by our Legislative branch? And because of that, Madam Sirleaf is in violation of our national laws which clearly state that the head of the Armed Forces of Liberia shall be a Liberian citizen commissioned by the Liberian National Legislature.
Under the same international protocol, there is a subsequent law, which excuses parties to these kinds of pacts from execution. Under Clausula Rebus Sic Stantibus—things thus standing: is such that whenever there is a fundamental change of circumstance, which was not anticipated by the parties, other than what existed at the time of the conclusion of the treaty, it is not enforceable. And unless the change is objectively essential to the obligations of the treaty; and the instance wherein the change of circumstances has had a radical effect on the obligations of the treaty, it does not hold. Under President Tolbert, there was similar pact signed between him and Sekou Toure. What happened in 1980? And were there any Guinean troops on Liberian soil on the morning of April 12, 1980? What occurred in 1980 was not anticipated, that a group of indigenes will high jack state power. Dejavu!
Therefore, the money paid to this Nigerian General and his million-man staff by Madam Sirleaf, and drawn out of our coffers, ranging in the millions, is a complete waste. Are we implying that within one of the oldest countries in the world, no one is that schooled in military administration to head the AFL, such that we have to fetch in a Nigerian? Where in twenty-first century Africa is this possible other than Liberia? Sometimes, I wonder whether we have a legal civil liberty body in Liberia, like the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU). Well, everyone of them wants to be county attorney or judge.
Edmond Gray blogs on http://remiegray.blogspot.com, he is the Founder and President of The Wish Center (www.wish-center.org), a think tank human rights organization that defends the rights of Africans, everywhere. He can be reached at 763-447-1063 or remiegray@gmail.com.
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