We’re all well enough aware of the impact of the Congress for Democratic-led-Government’s entropy. But we should and must continually remind ourselves of the weaknesses of the administration. And in our effort to rebuild vibrant state institutions, it requires intellectual consciousness. It’s expected that most qualified, competent and experienced personnel be involved in the debates and the management of the state of affairs.
A critical look at the economy and living standards of the ordinary citizens cannot be overemphasized. Of course, public corruption cannot be side-stepped. Education, Health and Agricultural Sectors are relevant discussion points.
As time is fast running out and approaching the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections in Liberia, each and every adult citizen should be encouraged to make productive debates. These debates will provide information necessary for the conduct of free, fair, transparent, accountable and acceptable results to all to further enhance our emerging democracy.
For so long we’ve had election malpractices, with the recent being the 1985 National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) against the Liberia Action Party (LAP). The manhunt of perceived enemies because of their expressed views on the sociopolitical, economic and living standards of the poor masses was massive and life-threatening. Of course, we were the poor masses and still are the very poor masses all as a result of grafting activities with impunity. We were and still are the suffering masses living in abject poverty as resultant effects of continuous high level of public corruption that remains unchecked. Amongst others of public corruption are ill-gotten wealth and uncounted gains, misplacement of government officials and line managers.
Never have we been and never shall we be willfully ignorant in the determination of the political leadership of this country of ours. We challenge an intellectual community to debate the issues of:
- Public Corruption
- Education, Health and Agriculture sloppiness
- Concession Agreements
- Party Registration
- Political Parties Financial and other Requirements with NEC
- Public Education
- Electoral Guidelines
- Financing National Elections Commission (NEC)
- Reviewing Balanced Representation of NEC Commissioners
- Voter Education
- Presidential Candidates and Legislative Debates
Whether one calls it a nelsonian politics or nelsonian knowledge of politics, this time around we call on political parties to educate their partisans to vote on the basis of equality, justice, growth and development. We would appreciate more productive debates to enhance our emerging democracy. We hope no one will be chased out for their expressed opinions and views on national politics and socioeconomic conditions adversely affecting the greater majority of our population.
Turning a blind eye on sociopolitical and economic issues affecting our country and people not only degenerates this country into electoral disturbances and chaos but prolongs the growth and development of the human capital investment and rebuilding efforts of the state. We all have individual and collective responsibility to protect this country from political chaos.
Martin Luther King once said, “One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” In this content and context, the citizenry definitely will defy any electoral threats against political parties and candidates, independent candidates, political actors, political commentators and the press corps, freelancers and ordinary citizens. We hope the CDC led-Government will act responsibly, promptly and decisively to correct electoral malpractices including but not limited to – stuffing of ballot boxes by any party, double voting, intimidation of election poll workers, observers, harassment of opposition political parties and candidates, independent candidates, political actors, press corps and ordinary citizens.
We want to send this with a proviso that ballots manipulations before, during and after voting will be unacceptable, denied and left uncounted nationwide. Any unjust electoral laws or pronouncements to give leverage to a particular political party or coalition of political parties will be challenged and prevented from taking any office. We therefore request political parties to take these issues very seriously and accordingly advice and warn their political leaders and partisans to think about – Peace, Security and Justice. Peter Tosh once sang, “Everyone is crying out for Peace, none is crying out for Justice.” We’ll demand Justice and Security and pray for Peace. Our People and Country should and must live in a land of law not of men.
Our experience with the 1985 vote-rigging remains fresh on our minds. Probably, that vote rigging amongst other things led to nearly 15 years of civil conflict (civil war). We need not a repeat. Therefore, we request political parties, independent candidates and other interest groups to have their uninformed partisans and supporters to abide fully with acceptable electoral laws now, in 2023 and onwards.
If any political party, independent candidate, the National Elections Commission (NEC) or the CDC led-Government remains willfully ignorant of complaints, then it will be a recipe for political disturbances and chaos. Collectively, we should do everything necessary and all means possible to avoid political disturbances and chaos by conducting the elections freely, fairly, credibly and transparently, with the results being acceptable to all contesting candidates. A genuine defeat should and must be accepted, as a genuine win would and must be accepted for a peaceful transfer of political power.
Political disturbances and chaos arise from malpractices, threats and injustice. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” Therefore, we expect all parties of interest in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections to act responsibly to maintain peace and security for the nation-state.
We’ve got specific interest in the country and people, and the forthcoming elections. We’ve got so many things to say now to critique the government. Yet, we should say and criticize in all fairness, not only to gain political favor and leverage.
Thanks!
By Pero M.K. Kerkula, New Castle, Delaware, USA
About The Author:
Pero M.K. Kerkula is a former instructor of public administration at the University of Liberia (2011—2015), former lecturer of service learning and community development at the United Methodist University (2011—2015), former student leader at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Liberia (2003—2004) and former delegate to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on Liberia held in Akosombo, Accra, Republic of Ghana, June– August, 2003.