Worlea-Saywah Dunah
Driving to town on Monday a young chap tried selling a flag to me but I inquired why I should buy. “It’s our Independence Day papay?” “What does it mean, look around you pekin?”
“I know but papay la the hustle…” he lamented, driven to despair as the society cannot provide them quality free education and opportunities for growth into nation builders he hawks between cars – President Tolbert’s acclaimed ‘precious jewels!’
In 2005 we heralded that the experienced mother would give the lift for revival; in 2017 we chanted the grassroots change will champion the change better; then in 2023 we danced to the mantra of over four decades of experiences will swiftly change it all.
In each instance there were strides in development but in every instance, even this early the sticky issues of radicalization of development to lift this old, backward country out of the mud of underdevelopment has failed – the persistence of the entrenched culture of corruption invariable wins.
Once President Sirleaf declared that corruption is a vampire in Liberia, a statement which to this day her opponent used to ascribe failure to her declaration to fight corruption – they missed the point of her exasperation.
A comedian had a skits during her regime that she once sent someone to ELWA Junction and gave him five dollars United States dollars for fare. The gentleman returned, gave his report and went outside. According to the comedian after an hour the president referred to as Dawoh, sent for him.
“Did you use all of that money to pay your way my son” the President inquired?
“No Mama I finish eat it ooh, I thought it too small that why I not talk about it…”
We all laughed hilariously at her supposed stinginess, missing the underlying latent fact of dishonesty which is the focus of the President’s concern. The lashing Nazarene, Christ Jesus, said he who is unfaithful in small will be unfaithful in much; that man represents the typical Liberian, a product of a culture of corruption and lack of accountability.
Thus, President Sirleaf’s contribution remains the laying of the foundation for accountability by establishing the integrity institution including the anti-corruption body.
As soon as President Weah took the mantle he trusted much younger people to steer the state; surprisingly then began the emergence of a more vicious forms of corruption rendering him powerless as to who to trust to implement his grassroots populist agenda seeing the deep roots of this evil plant. As he built recreation centers, roads, hospitals and schools at frenetic pace he labored in his heart as to how to ignite a culture of responsibility and accountability.
In the end President Weah resigned: “You trust people, they don’t trust themselves…”he lamented. Well, he saved the democracy he inherited when swiftly capitulating even when the final count was not in ignoring the sheer arrogance of the incompetent which had alienated the masses who love him so dearly.
It was not only a democratic selflessness unseen in Africa but a slap to those who abused the opportunity of youthful leadership for change.
He looms largely still; however, to reboot his grassroot thrust he must begin to trust proven new allies seeing that the purity of his sportsmanship fell prey to Tubmanism in its gargantuan Grendel youthful ebullience.
Hopeful still ever Liberians enthused that over four decades has excessively equipped President Boakai to handle this multi-headed Grendel that frustrated his two predecessors – after all he grew up and lived those years with that evil monster.
Quickly he became unorthodox to outwit the evil, he hired an artist who had remained outside of the mainstream of government her entire life to lead his inauguration; and he swiftly regretted it as the mismanagement resulted in a heat that nearly aborted his regime before it started.
How Liberia arrived here is no secret; how Liberia will escape is the elusive cry.
True the settlers declared independence to control trade thereby generating revenue for the state which was themselves. I daresay the settlers established a ‘comprador state’ howbeit to domestic interests; a state that was a pure vehicle for accumulation of wealth for the elite officials not a state dedicated to building a vibrant society.
Today that perversion of state has evolved into a mockery, comprador capitalism of its worse form buttressed by a deeply entrenched culture of corruption established by no other than the autocrat President Tubman.
Truly his birthday is the pleasure holiday of Liberia as his presidential yacht would take three weeks on the sea between here and Maryland as wine, women and partying on taxes. Is nearly half million united states dollars for two days in Buchanan by those elected by the poor villagers and slum dwellers any different?
The church, the mosque, the indigenous traditional culture and the schools have all succumbed into the culture that the tailcoat wearing cigar smoking autocrat constructed. Those who siphon the taxes, become rich overnight are made father of the year, celebrated in the mosque, honored as father of the land with sacred traditional accolades while the faithful are called ‘stupid’.
Ah, that a nation made up of followers of Christ Jessu, the Holy Prophet Muhammad and our sacred traditions finds no balm to cure of corruption? The Liberian clergy, the Imans, the Chiefs and Zoes must ask themselves what they are teaching since their members control the state.
Sadly, we sing gospel songs on buses to work, prostrate to Mecca in offices, yet hasten to commence the loot of the state thereafter consigning our kids into hawking. In Kenya the Gen Z, peers of the hawker, stepped up to demand change of same corrupt culture that has forced them into castrating hustle.
When Liberians get weary of the dehumanizing hustle and demand accountability then presidents will listen; but presidents muster the courage to radicalize development and confront corruption by casting aside the ravenous Tubmanists around them; only then Liberians can begin to celebrate true national birth.
*we can talk: saywahd@yahoo.com; WhatSapp: +231886567470
