What is the Real Reason, My People? My Uncle once told me that for every decision a man/woman takes, there is a given (stated) reason and a real (mostly unexpressed) reason. As I woke up reflecting on Liberian politics and the makeup of political supporters I deeply concur with him. The real reason(s) for supporting “under qualified” politicians over “properly prepared” ones has become an order of the day. I want to take aims at Montserrado and Nimba Counties as examples in the current Special Election before zeroing on Nimba County which is my heart beat: 1) Politicians, especially, who are supporting and financing the senatorial bid of Amb. George Mannah Weah are quite aware that Mr. Weah is not a political match to the like of, for eg., Ben Sanvee and Christopher Neyor. If the three were place in a different political space void of the sentiments in Montserrado, Weah will consent to pledge his support to someone else because he is aware that in real terms of ideology and administering the affairs of the Senate, these guys will do far better and the people will gain a lot of legislative advantages if Liberia Legislature was a serious institution to go by. But this is strangely different in Liberia where politicians don’t go for principles but job, not for quality but for popularity; where voters a highly sectional and sentimental, but shortly begin to live with the frustrations from the bad decisions. 2) A notable person confided in me that he is not behind Sen. Johnson in Nimba for job and personally he has not decided yet to vote for him but he has to identify with him because there where the sentiments of most Nimbains are directed. He acknowledges the capabilities, for example, of Mme Edith Gongloe-Weh and Cllr. Quiqui Gbeisaye but expressed fear that they will not win. So for him he is “identifying” with Sen. Johnson because of his fear being on the side of a loser. Then, I dropped my respect for him for his lack endurance, independent education and ability of face his opponents and even win them over if he has a justifiable conviction on who he suports. I concluded that this was his real reason for supporting the Senator but then a feeble one. If is reason for identifying with the Senator is true, then I think he is not alone. Why, for example, will the entire County Administration snub making opening remarks at the County’s Senatorial Debate where this popular Senator has refused to attend but showed up at the campaign launching of the Senator in the same City and at a lightly later time? Interpreting the fear of this brother, I concluded that the County Administration was afraid that the venue of the debate was full of losers who they are afraid to identify with. So they prefer identifying with the “Iron Man of Nimba County” even in violation of the code of conduct designed for appointed officials of government where they are forbidden to openly declare support in a national political contest like this Special Election and at the same time forsaking their administrative obligations in the County by accepting all citizens and welcoming strangers, especially ones like the PUL which formally informed them in advance about the debate. Well, I keep getting tired each and every day when people threaten me not to openly declare my support for a candidate because it will upset my political bid in the future. This advice (threat) sounds like there is desperation on my face for political position. As a person of faith, I live with my conscience and once I don’t prayerfully say out what my heart leads to say I mostly end up regretting why I have to keep such important information in my heart. This is why I have even decided to take a prolonged visit in my electoral district next week to educate our people on the dangers in electing a leader who is inaccessible to them, and to x-ray and together produce a report card for the incumbent on his three code legislative responsibilities (law making, oversight and representation) before deciding with them whether he should fail or pass. I will appeal to my people to do this void of sentiment and must exercise real peace because whatever decision we take on December 16, 2014 will hunt us for 9 strong years. Finally, I hope members of the Nimba Legislative Caucus, especially Hon. Grupee, Hon. Koung, Hon. Kogar, Hon. Toweh and Hon. Yealue who have decided to canvas for the Senator will prepare themselves to give us the real reasons for supporting him. An elder once told me that your partner’s real feeling for and thoughts about you can be made known in the time of confusion/conflict. I am strongly convinced that everything you said about the Senator during your crisis time was the real information to our citizens. If it were not so, then you need to come with an open apology in the knowing of the people of Nimba and even re-instate him to the political institution (NUDP formed by him) which you expelled him from. Leaving all these hanging to parade with him across Nimba will only prove to us how much political liabilities you have become. And such status is not good for Nimba County’s progress, for Nimba needs leaders who will exercise consistency, integrity and independence in their judgments, decisions, and actions as Hon. Jackson F. Doe and other late heros of the County were. We call on our citizens to generously receive all their children who will visit their communities to seek vote, but the real decision of voting must be in favour of the one you can talk to, visit, who will listen to you and who will agree to come spend some time with you. We should not follow the bad example of the County Administration by openly rejecting others because no one can actually predict the future of this election. God bless you.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:57:24 +0000
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