My sympathy to Musa Bility and other members of the President’s Sirleaf Inner cycle who lately discovered her real intent for the 2014 Senatorial and 2017 Elections Early yesterday morning with no knowledge of the heated debate or tension in the Ellen Inner circles about her intent to get her son to be president, I read the below statement from Mr. Musa Bility, a well-known friend of the president. Although he still seem to defend the president’s legacy as means of maintaining friendship, I take this moment to extend my sympathy to Mr. Bility and all those who are lately discovering President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf’s intentions for 2017 elections. However, I think they were blinded by her gifts like some men deceptive gifts to women in the name of love with an intent of lust. Bility said in Front page Africa on December 10, 2014 that: The mere thought of the Presidents Son running for the Senate of the most populous County in our country and the implication that could have on the 2017 election is something Im in no position to support. This position of mine is in support of ensuring a lasting and memorable legacy for a President who has done everything to change the future of our Country. For me, to do anything that could blur this excellent feat is simply not to be considered. And Im convinced that it runs counter to the Presidents ideal of consolidation for continuity I am commenting on Bility’s statement because I raised the same caution in my Facebook post this morning. The President, in giving on one of her reasons for contesting 2011 elections told Front Page Africa Newspaper that she went against her promise not to contest second term elections because there was no one capable to run the country. Is that not a selfish and greedy statement? I hope Front page Africa would publish that interview again. Probably, many did not take that statement serious at the time. From that statement, a reasonable mind would deduced that president if given a second term would not easily leave power and that she would do everything possible to stay in power or manipulate the electoral process to put someone she believes can be president. For some of us, it became a genuine reason to support other candidates. President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf true intentions is for her Son Robert Sirleaf to replace her as President It is now glaring that she believes that the only competent people to be presidents in Liberia are the Sirleafs. The real intention of our president and her son is not really the senatorial elections but for him to contest 2017 elections as president. A successful rigging of the senatorial elections in Montserrado creates room for rigging 2017 elections. I am happy that members of her inner cycle are discovering the truth. The very acts that the president stood against is what she is now doing. Her actions can no longer be trusted and for those of you who continue to do so, you need to reexamine your conscience objectively. I hope she would listen to members of her inner cycle like Harris Greaves who warned: “Don’t allow family to blind you to the dictates of statecraft...” Front page Africa December 10, 2014. Few years ago, she secretly promoted her son to serve as Board Chair of NOCAL which was later discovered and through criticism of nepotism, he resigned belatedly after achieving the mom’s agenda.( dw.de/oil-politics-and-the-family-in-liberia/ September 20, 2013). While there, he utilized the opportunity to get resources from the oil companies to carry projects in communities with the clear intent of winning the minds of people in impoverished slum communities in Monrovia. The real intent was to get support from those communities for his current senatorial and covert presidential intention for 2017. It is obvious that his mom supported his actions. As a result of his relations with the oil companies, many critical issues such as potential health implications and other sustainable economic issues were not properly addressed by NOCAL, the entity that should regulate the Oil business. He was de facto president of NOCAL and at the same time Board Chair. In Liberia, it is impossible for president son to serve as Board chair without unnecessary interference into the day to day corporate activities. His relations with the oil companies and secret gifts from oil companies to carry projects to promote his political aspirations robbed NOCAL of its real function. Despite the conflict of interests’ issues with her son receipt of gifts from these companies to carry on projects in communities as if it was his personal funds, the president at no time disassociated herself with his action The oil sector became the Sirleaf’s property and in a so-called National Oil policy discussion, the Sirleafs brought one of their sons, Estrada Bernard, a 17 year high school student from the US to present as an expert. Ms, Laymah Gbowee, the noble Laureate and others indicated their dissatisfaction and the President insincerity about the oil sector (Www.news.heritageliberia.net,retrieved December 11, 2014). The president took to no action and our lawmakers slept over the issue. Robert Sirleaf is not the only son of the President that holds a strategic positions in Government. Fumba Sirleaf is the head of the National Security Agency and Charles Sirleaf is the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. The president is on record for criticizing previous Governments for violation of the nepotism clause in the Liberian Constitution. . Now, the manifestations of all her actions are clear and the real goal is that Robert’s mom wants to strategically place her son to succeed her. This may be one of the reasons why she has shown no interests in her own Unity Party since she took over as president. She probably believes no one is competent in her party to become president. NEC INDEPENDCE Need to be Examine Critically NEC has critical role for Liberia’s transition as President Sirleaf’s tenure is about to finish. If NEC qualifies Robert in the midst of public evidence that he is an American citizen, then Liberians need to question the independence of NEC and immediately call for the change of NEC’s leadership. NEC is to uphold the electoral rules as indicated in our constitution irrespective of Robert being the President’s son. To do otherwise undermines NEC credibility and creates potential grounds for conflict. Although some of us have a different opinion about the dual citizenship which needs careful consideration, I believe that until the constitution is amended through a referendum, we need to abide by our constitution. Compromises on the rules now create room for chaos. Supreme Court Bench Must Uphold the Constitution to Prevent Conflict At this crucial moment, the Supreme Court’s role is very crucial. The Supreme Court must illustrate independence on the various constitutional matters. The Supreme Court role is cardinal for the consolidation of peace. It is my hope that the president’s friends on the bench should separate their emotional attachment from the president and rule on constitutional matters with integrity. The Judiciary is an independent branch of government according to our constitution and must ensure that such as independence is practiced. The Proactive role of Civil Society and UNMIL must Start Now! Furthermore, civil society organizations like the Council of Churches needs to wake up. They need to be proactive and start addressing the current issues. The President term is already over and she needs to be told that she cannot continue business as usual. The president in 7 to 8 years failed to lay a solid foundation for postwar recovery. Our economy is still being subsidized by donors; children not getting access to quality education; we don’t have security of our own; mismanagement and corruption is still reigning; and reconciliation is still a big problem. Seven to eight years wasted with the fundamental issues that led to the war not being address. UNMIL must also act now and must support processes that leads to peaceful transition. Provide robust and independent monitoring of the electoral process so that Liberia can sustain her peace despite the many mistakes the current leadership has made. UNMIL must consider that Liberia failure is UNMIL’s failure and must not allow any secret interests of any of the world’s economic powers prevail over the destiny of Liberians. We are tired of all the ills and we can still make the difference. We did give Madam Sirleaf the opportunity and we need to give others the chance to serve. Conclusions The president seem to want to buy time by correcting her mistakes or perpetuating her dynasty by promoting her son to be president in 2017. Her current actions suggest that she wants to steal the senatorial elections of Montserrado, the most populated county in Liberia to justify future rigging of 2017 elections. All well-meaning Liberians need to critically examine the president’ role and speak out. Her former Justice Minister, Cllr. Linda Tarr, a former member of her inner cycle resigned and publicly indicated that the president is not supportive of the rule of law. Musa Bility and Harris Greaves in recent statements in Front page Africa Newspaper on December 10, 2014 revealed the same intent. These are all key inner cycle members. Her inconsistencies raises more questions, and as Liberians we need to speak now or we stand to risk our peace. If she is serving with diligence then let her give our country the chance and her works will speak for her after she leaves. Premature fear raises questions about performance.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 12:18:31 +0000