For many observers, the outcome of the by-election was an indication that policies of the current government do not go far enough to relieve Montserrado county voters of their socio-economic plight. The ruling party , it seems, has to reorganize its priorities to be more people focused.
The fallout of this by-election also knew no bounds. The Planning Minister threw his credibility on the line with his now infamous “go back to school” battle cry. The media was also a casualty of this by-election. Both the Daily observer, once a reputable news outlet, and the Daily Graphic newspapers ran apparent hit pieces on Mr George Weah and Madam Geraldine Doe-Sheriff. Their respective fibs robbed them of their neutral status and portrayed them as heavily partisan entities whose stories were meant to hurt the chances of the CDC. It was also a shock that these publications elicited NO apparent reaction from the Press Union of Liberia (PUL)! Strange bedfellows and alliances were formed, some of which are doomed due to idealogical differences!
It will be a folly of unimaginable political consequences for any interested politician to dismiss the significance of the outcome of this election. Montserrado county is not only overpopulated but possesses at least 400,000 plus registered voters. That is out of a population of 3 million plus. Indeed the outcome cast a long shadow on the up coming elections of 2011.
As the dust settles on the election the winner, CDC, should be cognizant that Montserrado County voters chose them because of apparent lack of meaningful impact the UP policies have had on their lives despite the record aid and international goodwill the government has received. It is high time the CDC provide leadership and proffer relevant policies that will positively impact the lives of her Montserrado County constituents.
This by-election loss also presents the UP with a golden opportunity. The General (presidential) elections is two full years away. Weah and the CDC apparatus MUST be taken on as it relates to differences in policies and mode of implementation. Indeed politics is a game of numbers ! Mr Weah, like Coca Cola needs NO advertisements in Liberia ! UP operatives should be encouraged to desist from personal attacks and stick to the ISSUES !
The party needs to radically reinvent itself and do everything possible to shed the perception of corruption that has dogged it since it took the reins of power. Whiffs of cronyism, nepotism, the business as usual mentality and grand ole “patronism” should be publicly jettisoned if the party is to make any significant impact in the general election of 2011.
Lastly, we want to congratulate the winner , the CDC, and commend the Liberian nation for a job well done.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 92 )Peoples League for Action and National Salvation (PLANS) position statement on the Upcoming Montserrado County senatorial by-election
We would first like to congratulate the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Unity Party (UP) candidates for reaching the second round of this all important Montserrado county senatorial by-election. We also wish congratulate the other parties and candidates and their respective supporters that participated in the first round of voting. Your collective participation was a significant milestone in our collective quest to entrench the democratic process in our body politic.
Parties Rhetoric
As me move forward into the second round we will appeal to the CDC and the UP to tone down their political rhetoric. Our deeds, words and actions should be symbols of our dedication to the democratic process. We are all aware of the potential of our words been misconstrued by rogue elements within our ranks who might misread them as calls to violence.
The Election Commission
The NEC has an obligation to ensure that fairness is the hall mark of this process. Its actions will guarantee that whoever the winner is will be clothed with legitimacy. We will encourage the commission to conduct it duties without fear or favor and exhibit a high sense of impartiality and nonalignment to any political party or cause.
Security Forces.
The fine men and women charged with maintaining law and order are encouraged to display neutrality and evenhandedness if there are any outburst of street protest from partisans from either parties involved in this runoff election.
Resort to Court for adjudication
In every elections there MUST be a winner and a loser. Parties that might feel a sense of loss due to anomalies are encouraged to seek redress in a duly constituted court of law. The courts will be our best bet to seek redress and justice for whatever malpractices that we might assume hinder our desired outcome. To ensure peaceful coexistence as Liberians from different political persuasions we all MUST conduct our politicking within the bounds of peace, stability and the respect for the rule of law.
Peace and stability for country growth
The outcome of this by-election, and our collective reaction, will send a loud and clear message to the world of our dedication to the democratic process and respect for the core values it represents.
Once again we want to congratulate the parties involve, the Montserrado county electorate and the people of Liberia and wish Liberia a peaceful and successful second round.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Interim Chairman (PLANS)
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( 3.1 / 77 )While Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf grapples with her final decision of whether to run for the Liberian presidency in 2011 we see hangers-on doing everything possible to ensure she hears nothing else except their praise singing.
The one-term promise. This boils down to credibility if anything at all. This was a public statement, a campaign promise. If such public declaration can be ignored, at the urgings of praise singers, what else will the President be willing to forgo and or ignore ?
Serial hangers-on, inept functionaries and praise singers have been so woeful in their Machiavellian activities that they have successfully cast the government as a corruption-prone entity. Parochial self interest and self-preservation seem to be the order of the day. The interests of the very people we pledged to serve are all but removed from our to-do list.
It seems like there are no independent voices within the government at all. Indeed, no one is brave enough to tell the proverbial empress that she has on no clothes ! I find it hard to reconcile record unemployment, widespread poverty, inadequate housing and a barely functional healthcare delivery system with the extravagant display of wealth by some of the government’s functionaries - riding the high priced cars amidst potholes !
Liberia and the UP government will be better served if Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf begin looking beyond her comfort zone and incorporate well-meaning Liberians both local and in the Diaspora to assist in the rebuilding of our country.
I will humbly urge the President to listen to voices of independent minded individuals. Those who speak out of altruism and have the interest of the country at heart. As we collectively move out of this by-election and reflect on the lessons it presented, I hope the ruling class will wake up to reality. Indeed, all is NOT well within our motherland.
Long Live Liberia!
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 2.9 / 85 )If anything I would blame the Daily Observer for promoting this non-story to prime time news status. This so-called Concerned Liberians against Muscular Democracy (CLAM) added nothing to the current political debate in Liberia. Through their flimsy statement they exposed themselves as political opponents of Mr Weah disguised as sanity seeking patriots. Is it the group's purview to impose boundaries on the diction of a political figure?
Mr Weah did not make a call to violence neither did he try to incite his followers. It is a shame that groups such as CLAM sycophantic attack is given such prominence by the Daily Observer.
It is also interesting that this man, George Weah, who political opponents label as "uneducated" inspires so much political fear just by "showing up".
That profound fear is understandable. Because it seems his mere presence was able to sway the elections the CDC's way. I believe if anything Mr Weah scored a major political victory here.
No wonder the loud cries of "go back to school" !
One can only hope that the Concerned Liberians against Muscular Democracy is not a metamorphosis of the Movement for the Defense of the Down-trodden !
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 78 )Is it right to have almost the entire Unity Party government machinery campaigning for Candidate Urey ? Everywhere you turn some minister is saying something related to the Montserrado county senatorial race. Are there not campaign laws as in America where public officials are restricted from campaigning on government’s time and or using government’s resources.
I am also shocked by recent statements attributed to Planning Minister Konneh and Finance Minister Ngafuan. I was of the opinion that some of these Ministers were appointed based on competence, their sense of independence and/or bringing a sense of balance to the government. I did NOT in my wildest dreams ever believe they were at most “die-hard partisans” of the governing party
I think the government’s huge investments in Candidate Urey is a precarious gamble. If Candidate Urey lose it will signal a mammoth dent in the government’s credibility and a sad showcase of its weaning popularity with the Liberian masses.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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