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Congratulations,
Madame President
Sunday,
January 22, 2006
By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh
President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was beautiful on the day of her
inauguration, and came across as meaningful when she
spoke to a weary nation about her dreams and plans for
the country she fought so hard to govern.
She glowed on this day (her day, of course),
and dazzled the crowd with her unique ability to be
tough and to the point, and spoke with confidence
about a dying nation and its brutalized people
struggling everyday just to reach another day.
Ellen, who is no stranger to the abuse
anti-democratic governments often reined on the
opposition, further elaborated about her vision for a
democratic Liberia, and commits her administration to
the “creation of a democracy in which the
constitutional and civil liberties and rights of all
of our people will be advanced – and safeguarded.
“
“While ensuring the security of our nation
and people, we will work tirelessly to ensure that the
writ of democracy is expanded, not constricted in our
land,” she said.
President Sirleaf made believers out of
Liberians yearning to be set free from tyranny and
years of neglect, on a day an entire nation listened
to the most powerful political figure in the
country.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sworn in by Chief Justice
Reed-Cooper
Liberians came out smiling and hopeful about
the “new era of democracy” their new president
talked about, as their own era of expectancy sets in,
even before the president made her way to the Executive
Mansion.
Out of country Liberians awaited anxiously the
day after for words out of a country many prayed and
shed tears for; and jubilate for a people whom some
have not seen in years, but whose pain they feel
because of the eternal ties they share.
In the presence of God and Chief Justice Henry
Reed Cooper who administered the oath, Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf promised to “support, uphold, protect and
defend the Constitution of the land,” and impressed
the throng of dignitaries and ordinary citizens who
left their homes, their countries and busy schedules
to be a part of history.
Yes, history was made in Liberia on January 16,
2006, and Ellen became that history. As the first
democratically elected female to ever hold that
position in Liberia and the continent, our new
president made us all proud when she stood firmly and
said the words that confirmed her as the sworn leader
of Liberia.
The journey to the 16th of January
was never an easy one for the Liberian people, who had
to overcome years of oppression, starvation,
humiliation and armed conflicts to finally see peace
and a new day.
And it certainly was never an easy road for Ms.
Johnson-Sirleaf, who had to overcome spineless despots
and infested prisons to reach the political milestone,
on an inauguration day so many enjoyed when they sat
adoringly and attentively on the soil of a country
that came very close to the brink of obliteration.
We writhed emotionally over the plight of
our people who were victims of the wicked ways and
criminal actions of the ruling few, whose leadership
style had a ruinous outcome on our country and those
we loved dearly.
President Sirleaf echoed the sentiments of all
when she said: “The tendencies of intolerance of
each other’s“ opinion rooted in parochial and
selfish considerations – and greed – have driven
us into our descent into recent tragedies and
paralysis as a nation and people. These negative
national tendencies have, in the past, breed ethnic
suspicion and hatred, led to injustice, social and
political exclusion.”
We should never allow the hatred that we have
for a particular ethnic group to ever destroy the historical
tradition of co-existence that the Liberian tribes enjoyed
over the years.
When the Liberian people or tribes do that,
they feed into the waiting and corrupt hands of an
imbecile and the visionless leader who will quickly
exploit the ethnic rifts between the tribes in order
to rule violently and indefinitely.
There are no justifiable reasons for anyone to
enslave another human being like presidents Samuel K.
Doe and Charles McArthur Taylor did close to a combined 16
years, when both men became ruthless, as their insane desires
reached its peak to rule
over others.
Liberians endured years of tyranny at the hands
of those despicable leaders who hijacked their lives
when it was convenient to do so. That part of our
history should never be repeated.
So when a new president like Ellen comes on the
scene and talks about a new day in Liberia, (which
means the beginning of a different leadership style)
that tilts toward freedom, prosperity and an effective
approach to governance; and is optimistic on an
inaugural day about a bright future, we listened and
also celebrated cautiously.
The Liberian people are optimistic about an
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration, and are also
cautious because they are not used to the kind of
leader who talks about empowering women and putting
food on their tables, and certainly are not used to a
leader who talks about allowing them to have a say in
the decisions that affects their lives and their
country’s future.
The tasks ahead of Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf are
humongous. As a result, Liberians of all professions,
ethnic and political persuasions must roll up their
sleeves in helping her achieve her programs, which she
describes as: “Political renewal, a new era of
democracy, economic renewal, governance, bonding, war
on corruption, foreign policy and reconciliation.”
We can be critical of the new president when we
genuinely disagree with her, but must be very careful
not to be seen as trying to pick a fight because
of our dislike of a lady who was elected by the
people.
Liberians can also disagree with their
president when they think she’s heading in the wrong
direction, must support her unwaveringly, and
shower her with accolades when she’s heading in the
right direction also.
This is our new era of democracy, as Ellen
would say, and we must enjoy it. Congratulations,
Madame President!
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