Some say the backwardness of the country is due to a single person who sits on the periphery of power and does what he or she feels like against the will of the majority of the people. They also think that a particular person who is the leader of the nation, for example, the President, is the one who needs to make way for the "bad" things in the country to change and become "good" things.
These critics also feel, in order to change all the "bad" things in the country that are supposedly put in place by the "bad" leader, the leader needs to take an exit from power. The critics think by so doing, the "problem" in the country will disappear. So the need to get rid of the leader is as strong as the solution to the "problem." When that particlular leader is kicked out of office by all "means necessary," then the “problem” automatically goes away. Hopefully then, the nation will return to "sanity." All things considered, the opposite is true. Because history is replete with dissappointments in this regards.
There were those in and outside the country who felt (maybe they still feel the same today) that President Tubman (the 18th President of Liberia) was the “problem.” So they felt the "problem" which supposedly was Tubman, would go away if and when Tubman exited power by any "means necessary." They felt getting rid of Tubman meant getting rid of the "problem." All of a sudden, Tubman died. Whether natural or not, he died in office. As such, the critics expected the "problem" that was brought in by Tubman would die also with the physical body of Tubman. But they were wrong. To their utmost surprise, the "problem" remained after Tubman's death. Because they were dissappointed the "problem" did not go away with Tubman, they shifted the "proble" to Tubman successor. In this case, William Richard Tolbert - President of the Republic of Liberia.
William R. Tolbert replaced Tubman. Many were glad and happy Tubman passed on. Much applause to tolbert. But soon, Tolbert's honeymoon into power shortlived. In no time, Tolbert was accused of being the “problem.” Just as Tubman was accussed. Now they wanted Tolbert out of power by any "means neccessary." And when they tried hard and struggle hard, they were able to succeeded. In not time, Tolbert was removed violently (murdered in cold-blood) from power. But when Tolbert was killed, as was in the case of Tubman, the “problem” did not go with him. It remained behind. And it towered over all else. Dissappointment set in for those who felt Tolbert was the "problem."
Then came Samuel K. Doe. Understandably, he killed Tolbert through a military coup and took over his job as President. After Tolbert’s death, Doe and his military comrades enjoyed a high level of support from the people. There was massive support for Doe and his henchmen from the populace. Again, as in the case of Tolbert, Doe's hooneymoon was great but shortlived. He became the “problem.” The same solution that was applied to Tubman and Tolbert (murder) was applied to Doe - he was murdered.
Efforts mounted against Doe from all angles. He was humiliated and bludgeoned to death. After his death, the same “problem” that lingered on and on and that was expected to go with him, did not go with him. The "problem" remained. The same blame poured over Tubman and Tolbert was now served on him. Doe left the "problem" behind.
After 14 years of generalized anarchy of violence, Taylor became President. Prior to his seizure of power (he launched a guerrila warfare). He was exalted by almost every Liberian. As was in the past with Tolbert and Doe. This time the people were tire with Doe and so they welcomed Taylor warfare to rid them of Doe. The people wanted Doe out of power. No matter what, they wanted Doe to go, "dead or alive." So Taylor remove Doe and took power.
For few months Taylor enjoyed the hooneymoon of power. Then "bang!" the "party" was over. He was accused of being the "problem". And they believed that by kicking him out of power by any, "means necessary," like Tubman, Tolbert and Doe, the "problem" would finally go away. And the country will be "sound."
Concerted efforts were mounted. In no time, Taylor was kicked out of power. They kicked him through the back door right into Nigeria. From Nigeria they sent him to Sierra Leone. From Sierra Leone, they posted him to Europe to be judged by the Whiteman who has no idea of our pain and “problem.” The Whiteman who just doesn’t give a darn as to what we think as a people, will judge President Taylor. With all this, Taylor forceful removal from power was expected to kill the “problem” in Liberia. But guess what? The "problem" continues to haunt the nation.
Today, Ellen is President. And people are beginning to shift the “problem” on to her. What that tells me is that Liberians have not yet learned.
The failed past and their experiences, as far as the “problem” is concerned, have not taught them any lesson. They continue to still exclusively blame their leaders and consider them as the "problem" of the nation.
In as much as there may be reasons for such a claim, the opposite has been proven to be true!
A wise man in a village provided solution to this kind of situation:
Once upon a time; there was a village located downstream on a very large river. Much of the economy was built around pulling people out of the river as they floated by. Some of these people were dead; others injured. The dead were buried, the injured were revived and treated. Some had long-term disabilities as a result of their experience in that river. The village continued in its efforts to bury the dead and treat the living, developing sophisticated procedures and programs in their quest. However, no matter how much money was spent, how many programs were developed, how many great technological advances were made in the treatment of the ill and the injured, folks continued to float by the village...dead, injured, disabled. One day, a wise person came up with a radical idea...why not go up the river and find out why people were falling in the river in the first place.
The same question comes back to us as Liberians:
If Presidents Tubman, Tolbert, Doe and Taylor were considered the “problem” in our country and we got rid of them with the hope of getting rid of the “problem” but the “problem” did not go away, why can’t we stop momentarily, ask ourselves why is it that each President has been our “problem”?
Secondly, we need to ask ourselves, if we got rid of those leaders who were considered as the “problem,” and still have the “problem” lingering on, even though those leaders are forever, why can’t we try to stop and figure out whether it is true the “problem” is due to political personality?
The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) needs to learn from this backward experience and adopt to new and progressive measures. Instead of having two leaders of one organization.
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