If
Opposition Messes Up, NPP Could Win
2003
Elections
By Bodioh Siapoe
A Trip to the Future
WINDSOR MILL, MD, Nov. 24, 2002 -- Take a mental trip with me into the
future, for a moment. Two Thousand Three is the future. Elections had just
concluded in Liberia. Twenty political parties and independent candidates
took part in the recent elections.
Over the airwaves, a mellow radio personality at the Liberia
Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) declares the National Patriotic Party
victorious, followed by Radio Veritas and DC 101 FM in Monrovia. Charles
Taylor and his rebel movement under the cloak of a political party have
been re-elected for another six years. Liberians abroad are getting
telephone calls from home about the recent political victory. Doubting
Thomases would prefer to verify the development with either "Focus on
Africa," or "Voice of America." Sure enough, those stations
also joined Liberia's local media institutions to report Taylor's
triumphant re-election as president.
In post-election rhetorics, meanwhile, the opposition cries foul about
the process neither being free, fair nor transparent. Opposition
politicians quickly discount the reality occasioned by their arrogant
superegos way before the elections.
Few weeks after those elections, some participants in the electoral
exercise had already decided to flirt with the victors for jobs with
Monrovia's criminal empire. Others will rush back to the United States to
seek gainful employment until the next elections.
In the Cause of Themselves, the Struggle
Abates
The masses, once again, have been dealt a deafening blow. A few they
reasoned would have been an alternative to the killing machine in Liberia
are themselves surviving on blind chance. Those the masses thought would
deliver Liberia from want and beggary have always been unfocused -- a
classic example being their unwillingness to merge for Liberia's sake.
If individuals and political parties cannot see reason to consolidate than
compete, they are no different from any man who marches into an abyss by
evading responsibility: the responsibility to put country first. Like
Taylor, many of the aspirants are closet dictators capable of surviving,
not by means of reason, but by means of force. Meanwhile, the caterwauling
of selfish individuals lingers months after the elections of 2003.
In Real Time
The above scenario could be inevitable. It might be because more than ten
Liberians in the United States claim to be alternatives to the NPP
administration. Of the ten, the George Kieh-Alaric Topkah and the Marcus
Dahn 2003 campaign committees, respectively, assert they have crafted
national strategic plans to move Liberia forward. They are courting
Liberians, therefore, to give them a chance to lead.
What is very disturbing, however, centers on how the Atlanta, GA-based
Kieh-Tokpah Camp has come to label itself "the leading political
voice in contemporary Liberia … because the existing political parties,
movements and organizations are ideologically and programmatically
similar: all of them simply want to use the Liberian people as pawns,
acquire state power and then use it to promote the continual pillaging and
plundering of public resources for personal gain…"
Could this be rhetoric or reality? By what yardstick has Dr. Kieh and
Mr. Tokpah gauged the masses to determine such leading role in
contemporary Liberia? If the statement is true about New Deal Movement's
popularity, then it ought to be congratulated, by all means, for being the
people's choice. The New Deal Movement is pretty young; it was organized
in January 2000. Their success rate, therefore, would be laudable among
its peers in Liberia's political arena.
Conversely, the New Deal should be cautioned about false advertising if
the assertion leaves much to be desired. A substantial number of the New
Deal Movement's membership in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s participated
actively and freely in progressive entities, such as the Movement for
Justice in Africa (MOJA). In its promotional literature, the Deal (which
prides itself as putting "Liberia First,") forgot -- hopefully
through an oversight -- to credit its assumed political prominence to MOJA
or the Liberian People's Party. It would have been prudent for the Deal ,
at least, to have acknowledged Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh, Dr. Amos C. Sawyer,
Ambassador Dew Mayson, among others for the daring sacrifices they made to
the Liberian struggle for democracy and social justice.
Are there other national strategic plans?
To date, one has yet to see any plans from the rest of the
foreign-based presidential aspirants. Do they have any to share with
potential voters before the 2003 elections? Or, are they spoilers waiting
in the wings to hustle whatever crumbs might fall off Taylor's table? Time
will tell.
Political Nadir
Quite recently in Philadelphia, PA, five Liberians declared their desire
to merge their political groupings. That concept entices, and should be an
eye-opener for others to follow. It is an excellent idea whose time has
come. This is a beautiful opportunity for Liberia to be redeemed from the
clutches of anarchy and mass destruction.
This could be a beginning for the Liberian People's Party, the United
People's Party, the New Deal and other equally well-populated parties to
merge. They should merge because their political philosophies and
ideologies are similar. The Kieh-Tokpah Campaign Committee has a point
there.
Better yet, the five parties that have declared the would-be merger
could also consolidate their bases with the Liberian People's Party, the
United People's Party, the New Deal Movement and others that might have an
interest to save Liberia from its current state of disrepute and
disrepair. After all, few of those parties are renegade distractions of
the major parties, including the True Whig Party. Liberian politicians
must consider the amalgamation proposition if they truly believe in saving
the country of further banditry. This is time they wear the
"rationality." For long, they have worn the expensive suit of
irrationality.
Reason versus Ego
Liberian politicians and their followers should keep their egos in check
now, during and after elections. They should heed the voice of reason.
They must be rational in deciding what's good for Liberia, and not for
their selfish whims.
Pols should denounce collective vice, which is the source of their
defeat every election year since 1985. This time around, the opposition
should consider "the bigger picture" as opposed to the
suspension of their consciousness, which is not blindness, but the refusal
to see; not ignorance, but the refusal to know what Liberia truly needs.
The opposition easily rejects its ability and sincerity to construct
Liberia because of this ubiquitous irrationality. As a result, they commit
to a course of blind destruction and play the blame game where everyone is
wrong and the each of them is right.
Moving Forward
As Liberia prepares for the 2003 elections, her sons and daughters must
be reminded that rationality is the recognition and acceptance of reason.
The urgent need to amalgamate to save the nation must take centerstage
this election season. All Liberians - politicians and the common Joe Blow
in the streets -- should be rational this time around in whatever decision
they make to redeem their country. Rationality should be their only source
of knowledge, their only judge of values and their only guide to action.
What Liberians should expect in
Presidential Candidates
For well over a decade now, Liberians face two states of mind: happiness
and chronic suffering. They dreamt of happiness when elections were
scheduled in 1997. They hoped someone decent would be elected to provide
some degree of successful state of life. The elections result of 1997
teaches them the warning signals of failure and death, not hope nor
happiness.
What Liberians have as a government is a cabal of men who lead, not by
means of reason, but by means of force. The country, therefore, must seek
a moderate nationalist aligned with a correct set of principles; a leader
that is optimistic, positive and upbeat; a leader that is enthusiastic and
hopeful. Liberia demands a leader who perceives the unseen potential of
other Liberians; a leader who is willing and able to provide a truly
democratic opportunity for all Liberians.
Liberia's new leader should have the courage to focus on ideas and
issues, not demagoguery, sectarianism, ethnicity and personality. He must
have the capacity to discuss issues so as to chart a striking evolution of
contemporary ideas, moving toward a political analysis of multiethnic
democracy and social justice.
Liberia's new president must be a noble personality, a balanced
character and a beautifully integrated individual that is disciplined and
visionary; a functional product of personal decisions rather than external
conditions. He must be able to choose his responses to situations based on
remarkable courage and unbridled principles to redeem Liberia and not for
his selfish gains.
The new leader must be committed to adopting a more critical and
revolutionary posture that will engage Liberians in a rational process of
transforming the country into a sensitive nation dedicated to the well
being of all Liberians.
The presidential victor - assuming the opposition merges and wins --
must have the capacity to unify ethnicities for peace; provide education
for all Liberians; induce the private and public sectors of the Liberian
economy to provide jobs; and take politics to the people. He must have an
achievable plan to educate and train Liberians so that they may become
productive citizens. Only when Liberians have jobs can they have dignity.
So, Liberians must be able to support themselves and their families first
under the novel leadership. And this is not simply about radical politics;
it is equipping people to move progressively easily through this Digital
Age. It is about "walking" people literally into the future - a
splendid opportunity and a collective mutual responsibility.
With such community of purpose, Liberians shall have empowered
themselves to act. The Liberian Nation must afford its citizens the power,
the strength and courage to accomplish anything and everything politically
correct and humanly possible. We essentially believe Liberians have the
vital energy to make great choices and decisions about what is in their
best interests.
Who has the vision to lead Liberia? There are many recycled politicians
and potential mindless brutes that could be worse than the proverbial
"devil we know." Nonetheless, there are many good men and women
"on the ground" who could step up to the plate and assume
redemptive responsibilities in the collective struggle of Liberians to
reconstruct and reconcile themselves.
Whether the leader envisaged resides overseas or is on the ground,
Liberians need a leader who radiates positive energy, an individual who
believes in others; whose attitude is optimistic.
Can the Opposition Defeat the NPP in
2003?
Yes and no. Yes, the Opposition can dethrone the NPP administration in the
elections if and when its members see reason to get off their high horses.
All parties must field one presidential candidate; the rest should seek
legislative, state, municipal and local government offices. They should
also encourage their protégés to vie for other positions of trust and
power. With this formula, it just might be possible for Liberians to
achieve some sort of representative democracy, on one hand. On the other,
the opposition could be trashed once again if it eschews any reasonable
merger proposition. The NPP government would enjoy a shoe-in victory were
the opposition to replay the egocentric game of 'me-too-ism."
A Critical Link is missing
The critical missing link within the opposition is the sincere desire to
merge. This is the possible nexus to winning the 2003 elections.
Consolidation of the major political parties would pose a formidable
challenge. It would be better to merge all of the opposing parties to
defeat the Liberian dictatorship. But would anyone listen? Would the LPP,
UPP, New Deal Movement and others agree to merge? Are "top dogs"
willing to suppress their egos for national salvation? I think not. No one
will be willing to give up his false pride because each craves the
Liberian presidency at all costs. And this sad degree of irrationality
will deepen Liberia's woes at all levels..
Major Barriers in the Camps
Time, political, ethnic, technical, fiscal and bureaucratic constraints
are live and well in many of the presidential campaigns operating from a
distance. Most opposition politicians lack sustainability planning. Fiscal
resources crucial for outreach programs are zilch. Aspirants are not open
to building partnerships that could foster collaboration rather than
competition. By virtue of their distance, these presidential hopefuls
appear to have little or no civic responsibility and connection to the
greater Liberian Society. Most, if not all, have expressed high hopes but
have no fiscal resources. And that is a throwback for critical
freethinkers who could have voted in the pending elections.
Where we are
From the look of things, Charles Taylor is bound to get re-elected for
six more years. Let the grand opposition prove me wrong.
Bodioh Siapoe
National Chairman, Coalition of Progressive Liberians in the Americas (COPLA)
www.copla.org
bodioh@hotmail.com
bwsiapoe@aol.com
410.594.2567
