I'm not really optimistic concerning the upcoming general election in Liberia given the events of previous elections (1985, 97 and 2005).
Opposition political parties proved incapable to present an alternative to the incumbent.
Cash destroyed the opposition since the birth of multiparty democracy in Liberia.
This time around during 2011 elections, it seems to me there will be no difference. Opposition will die on arrival.
See, I am on a working visit to Liberia as a volunteer. I work for no one but myself. My allegiance is to Cause which is Liberia and the people. As such, I am objective when it comes to events in Liberia shaping change.
From what I continue to see in the country, I think the activities of the opposition are not and will not be encouraging. Consequently, come the 2011 General Election, the opposition will become meaningless and useless for all intends and purposes. Because opposition attitude and mentality remain the same – sitting at each other’s necks for a single post they all cannot occupy at the same time.
In 1985 election, the opposition fell apart at the hinges. President Doe dished out huge sums of money. And when ruffle of the dollar hit the opposition’s conference room, they all disappeared one-at a time and landed into the hands of Dr. Doe.
The same became true in 1997. Charles Taylor turned the opposition upside down on its head with cash. Key members of the opposition betrayed the cause and joined Taylor bandwagon.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s case was not an exception to the rule. Opposition in 2005 cracked in the middle. And Ellen became victorious.
Many true progressives were shocked and angry to see the opposition falling on the same sword year-and-year again.
The demand to know why the opposition cannot grow guts to withstand the temptations resounds throughout the corridors of Liberia.
Today, we are now awaiting an official inquiry into the most serious breakdown of opposition. But who will provide it?
Liberia is still the most liberal country in the Africa. That’s my personal opinion!
This is why compared to elsewhere in the African region there has not been any attempt by many to arrest the situation of a weak opposition on excuse that everyone has the right to do whatever he or she wants in terms of power politics.
Many think that’s what freedom is all about – to make decisions even if those decisions are detrimental to the wellbeing of the state. Liberia, in this sense, is a completely in a different category compared to others. They say we are freer than the rest of Africa.
We are, of course, nonetheless affected by global and African socioeconomic and political issues.
In Liberia, internal quarrels continue to slow down reforms. Ongoing corruption drives the nation backward. But opposition politics is not making the issue better. Instead, it makes it rather difficult for the country to move forward into its inheritance.
Some opposition politicians point fingers to perceive “wrongdoers” in a particular government, especially the head of the government. But as soon as some members of the opposition are elected and/or appointed into office, they abuse their positions. They find themselves involved in corruption and nepotism. Thus, the system of justice becomes powerless to hold them to account - there is often no proper investigation that is possible.
Can the Liberian political opposition change this time around? There are reasons to doubt it!
Opposition against Doe (85), Taylor (97) and Sirleaf (2005) promised change to the Liberian people. But there are no enough signs that all the necessary reforms will take place when this opposition takes power. Because opposition mentality and attitude remain the same as in yesteryears.
This is why we must continue to protest against the attitude of the opposition!
We need an evolution - to give our people the rights and liberties to press change not just to hope to remove leaders that are perceived to be corrupt.
90 per cent of our people do not know who to trust to lead the country. Because, most, if not all, opposition members are as corrupt as the ones they try to chase out of power.
The problem in the country is not mostly with the leader, but rather the pace of change within the country and who to lead it.
I work as a volunteer in the country. I serve as a social justice advocate, social critic and peacemaker and builder. But while we express ourselves as much as we like, we're not being heard enough by the opposition to change its political attitude and behavior.
There are enough problems in Liberia for the opposition to pay attention to than to crowd up in an election process fighting over who becomes the “candidate.” We have poverty, illiteracy, and the slow rate of development tearing up our possibilities.
The Liberian people cannot take this any longer. If the people don't see any change, they will simply become angrier; they will lose faith in the political system and could become radicalized because nothing is happening for them.
What could be a big sign of hope for many Liberians is a new mentality to create a new Liberian person who will see himself not as a god to deliver the people. Such a new Liberian will not cramp up in splinter political parties with no sense of direction rather than hustling for himself.
If a new leader must be borne in October election through the Ballot Box, the opposition has to change its reckless attitude for power. It has to present an alternative to what it queries. Otherwise, it must make way for the incumbent to go on with leadership and complete her mission.
Coach Josiah Johnson once observed, “The most dangerous player on the field of play is not the one with the ball; the most dangerous player is the one without the ball.”
I am not entirely optimistic that the opposition can make any difference from what I see from it today on the ground. Because it is the “one” without the “ball.” Ellen is the “one” with the proverbial “ball.”
I am Thomas G. Bedell speaking and working on the ground in Liberia.
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