BY D. WA HNE JR.
Our struggles as a nation have been to attain satisfactory levels of development and a robust economy that serves the development aspirations of all Liberians distributivity. But have we been able to achieve these dreams?
The more we dreamed and want these, the more we are farther away from achieving them. This is pitiful and disappointing.
Can we say there are problems within our structural mechanisms to achieve our goals? The answer, in my conclusion, is an affirmative yes. The Political structure and the political will of Liberians are punctuated with obstructions to development and with chaotic approaches in execution of development plans.
Government institutions that drive our democracy have become institutions built on partisan doctrines and serve partisan aspirations rather than Liberia as a first call duty.
This has resulted to prioritizing partisans’ well-being rather than development of Liberia and the concerns of all Liberians. This is a major source of division within our body polity and a promoter of bitterness and crisis.
We must realize that our philosophy of party politics and the manner in which we practice it when we gain control of the nation can never be a driving force to achieve unity, peace, and development. We need to revisit our ideologies and reconstruct our national course.
Where do we go as a people when the reliance of each elected government is to create jobs for its partisans by removing others who are perceived as non-partisans from their jobs? Is this the democracy we advocate for as political institutions? Is this our thought for seeking leadership mandate from the people?
The above situation has been a revolving experience from one government to another. We think the time has come that we must become more innovative and inventful of new methods.
If this cannot be avoided through individuals ownership of political parties, it might then be useful to amend the Constitution to create two state-owned political parties with stringent laws that will prevent the current state of condition.
It is normal in politics for political institutions to contest elections in a rivalry manner such as what obtained in the 2023 elections. But after elections, there is the serious business of governance which involves all Liberians.
We therefore must move from partisanship to the serious responsibilities of uniting and reconciling differences, developing the country and catering to all Liberians through fair policy formulations and executions. Liberia must then become the superior political party.
President Joseph Nyumah Boakai is an experienced political actor who draws his experience from the 1980s. I was an admirer of him (LPMC) and the late Jeremiah Tulay (LCADP), as well as Daniel Goe (BCADP) in the Agricultural sector.
During the Sirleaf’s Administration, I interacted with this statesman and admired him from various discussions we held. I still believe he has the will to impact Liberia positively.
As he blends with young political actors, he has the obligation, as the President Liberia, and Elder Statesman to guide their exuberance and guide the nation from crisis free actions and policies to a brighter path which binds every one together for collective development.
He has to do so by first reconciling preselection differences and post elections fears, war of words, violence and disenfranchisement. He needs to reconcile his relationship with other statesmen, especially former President George Weah.
Liberia is sharply divided as she was divided in 1985 pre-election and post-election periods.
The difference is that 1985 divisiveness which led to 14 years of civil war was on the rejection of the results of the elections; while the current divisiveness points to Government presumed hostility to former President George Weah and his CDC, and alleged witch-hunt of members of his government, and what is suspected to be an alleged total ploy to eliminate his political party from existence.
The Liberia People Democratic Party has called for a Reconciliation Conference that would bring all stakeholders together in order to achieve an all Liberian approach to national development. Its Political Leader, Moses Y. Kollie believes the nation can be saved from scaring developing trends that led to Liberia’s past civil wars through this Conference or National Dialogue.
The Government need not to therefore view this approach as weakness on her part, but as its constitutional strength to achieve unity, oneness and it’s ambitious ARREST AGENDA.
In my discussion with the Honorable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable J. Fonati Koffa, he expressed his passionate belief in a one Liberia where Liberians come first in all that we do.
From his expressions and reactions, he is determined to ensure that peace prevails and democracy is sustained under the rule of law. If this passion that I have observed translates to concrete actions, he will be fulfilling one of his major constitutional mandates.
As the Speaker of the National Legislature which is the constellation or configuration of the total representation of the people of Liberia, the nation looks up to him to mobilize a process for National Healing through a Reconciliation Conference.
Liberia needs this urgently as yesterday or else, we may be heading for a collusion that may lead to our democratic demise instead of collective approach that might lead us to the development we craved for and longevity of the State.
