Your Excellency!

Happy Flay Day. Too soon, after the memorable celebration on Tuesday, to bother you with a hot, critical political counsel; but as we move to elections which represent a test case for our fledgling democracy and peace, we must flag all potentially explosive issues for timely appraisal and possible remedy. Beyond the tempers of politics and elections, there stands the imperative of harmony as basis for durable peace and stability. Successful democracies are those that turn electoral controversies and petit bitterness into the compost that fertilizes political pluralism and stability.

We set the premise supra because tempers are rising over your critics say is turning state developments and ceremonies into campaign stunts. There are outcries particularly from the opposition that in visiting communities and dedicating state-sponsored projects, you often seize the moments to blow your own trumpet and make it appear that national development is your personal initiative and that dedicated projects are for your personal glories.

Recent events include your administration’s tour and/or dedication of development projects in Nimba and Grand Cape Mount Counties. Following Dr. Tipoteh’s outburst that you capitalized the Nimba Independence Day ceremony into political campaign, there came alarm from the elected officials of Grand Cape Mount County that you visited the county on development matters without their consent.

There might be other observers who might think that you don’t need any individual or group’s permission or the definition of development tours before you can visit the people or any part of this country. Granted; but you need not lose sight of the fact that all Liberians, particularly elected officials of Government, have pivotal stake in the country’s recovery and development efforts which your administration has capsulated into the PRS or Lift Liberia.

When there are scheduled development meetings in any part of the country, known stakeholders in the particular area being visited need to be a part. Or is the PRS your exclusive development agenda? We agree that during your development, the direct beneficiaries are often in audience with you, but those who inspire and direct the thinking are also or mainly their sons and daughters who happen to be serving in other capacities in the public or private sector. They must be present to balance the discussion.

Indeed, Your Excellency, there would absolutely be no problem raised against the move you make if it were your private NGO Menseagon, or perhaps the Ellen Johnson Market Woman Fund, because you personally direct their fundraising regimes. The same cannot apply for the ‘National Cake’ which is a collective property and to which each Liberian is an equal heir. Meetings in Tewor District, for instance, meant for the discussion of how to dispense the locals’ share of the Cake, should include those they directly elected or regard as their voice. Because, you see Madam President, most of the locals look up to the educated elites like you and others to actually lead or guide them into what is worth the choice. This is not to underestimate their sense of reason, but you will agree that the level of education, experience and exposure which you and other stakeholders have is a precious asset for the bulk of our people.

Your exclusion of important stakeholders from development meetings, which has now become a concern for other Liberians, should not be your version of past leaders’ personalization of national development. The likes of Tubman, Tolbert, Doe and perhaps Taylor, had the national budget in their pockets; they pronounced the dispensation of the National Cake for a community and it was done. This is not what you are imitating; but the tendency of the past that you are yet to shed, and which is sparking censure amongst your fellow elected officials and other stakeholders, is entering communities and initiating development discussion in their absence. They feel, and rightly so, excluded from a process they ought to be a part of.

The crafting of the much-adored Poverty Reduction Poverty Paper by your administration together with its international development partners and which culminated into the MDGs-based PRS was expressly, if not professedly, characterized by mass participation, transparency and inclusion. You would therefore agree that it would contradict the original philosophy of participation if you proceeded with the implementation of the Liberia Lift in a way that shows that it was called “Sirleaf Lift”. That is what it would be if development meetings and projects dedication ceremonies were carried out by you alone in exclusion of other national stakeholders.

Your move is now triggering skirmishes between your office and others who are claiming legitimacy in the PRS implementation process so to speak. Towards elections, these skirmishes are likely to increase in magnitude and ferocity, to add on the already explosive electioneering process. This is a case of concern for others, including us. Think about it as we move towards 2011. Thank you for your time.