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Let the Voters Decide
Ellen's Fate
Monday, May 02, 2005
By Tewroh-Wehtoe
Sungbeh
Presidential candidate
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has taken a political beating lately
for her "Level Monrovia, and we will build it" comments
allegedly made by her during the early days of the Liberian
civil war, over a decade ago.
Just
like many other Liberians who were emotionally carried away and wanted to remove President Samuel Kanyon Doe from power
during that tumultuous time, Ms. Sirleaf did not conceal her
dislike of Mr. Doe either, and unabashedly supported the
chameleon Charles Taylor at the time she was quoted as
making the incendiary remarks which is hurting her today.
At
least Ellen's brave enough to say what she felt at the
time, even though she claimed not to have made the remarks
exactly as reported, but later realized the danger of
supporting Mr. Taylor, and quickly withdrew her support from
a guy who brought so much hurt and shame to the people of
Liberia.
She,
however, apologized over and over for being “stupid,” as she
referred to herself before her supporters in Philadelphia
recently, and moved on with her life and a presidential
campaign which has taken a toll on her and her family.
Her
critics are not giving her any break, nor are they giving up
confronting and reminding her about her past, which they
want potential voters to know about when they go to the
polls in October.
Liberians have the right, in this age of freedom, democracy
and technology to ask their presidential candidates tough
questions. And they expect honest answers from their candidates –
a far cry from the days when those individuals would be
harassed and intimidated for attempting to reveal anything
about a presidential candidate, let alone ask a sitting
president any question.
In the wake of the expose about Ellen’s past and perhaps her
present activities, it will be wise to bring into the mix a
sense of fairness across the board, so that those who are
pursuing her vigorously, and by all means necessary, will
not risk being accused of hypocrisy and sexism, and be seen
as trying to prevent the only formidable female presidential
candidate with a good chance of winning from occupying
the Executive Mansion.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Because
during the days or months leading to the civil war, many
prominent Liberians and the less prominent ones said or did
some things they wished they didn’t say or do, and supported
Charles Taylor covertly and overtly in the jungles, in Gbarnga and in Monrovia, after he won the presidency.
Other
Liberians who physically participated in the civil war, and
never care to apologize for their deadly acts went
from the killing fields directly into occupying government jobs some are unqualified to hold.
Amos
Claudius Sawyer, one of the prominent Liberians who
initially supported Charles Taylor through his Association
for Constitutional Democracy in Liberia, (ACDL) later served
as Interim President of Liberia.
Others
like Blamo Nelson, Harry Greaves, J, Milton Teahjay, etc,
etc served in the Taylor and Gyude Bryant governments in
various capacities. Have we ever pursued these people the
same way some are going after Ellen Johnson Sirleaf today?
What’s wrong with that picture?
Two
powerful former warlords, Alhaji Kromah and George Boley
live among us in the United States. Have we gone after them
yet? They are not running for president, I will be told.
Both of them once served jointly as Vice Chairmen of an
interim government in Liberia; and Mr. Kromah even ran for
president of Liberia in the past, right?
Even as
some of us risked everything to go after many of the people
who stole the mineral resources of the country, killed many
innocent Liberians and destroyed an entire country, their friends
in the United States with whom they often reside while
visiting are selective in their public prosecution of
others.
However, it is fine with them to go out of their way to wine and dine with their
“esteemed” visiting guests, provide housing and comfortable
living quarters for them but have no interest, whatsoever,
in confronting them about their roles in their previous
lives. But these critics can
find the time to constantly beat on a lady who has
apologized publicly, and reportedly wept for a comment she
regrettably made years ago, while others who killed, stole, destroyed
and forced their way into government positions moved on with their lives unhindered.
Ellen
is traveling around Liberia and the United States listening
to Liberians, and engaging them in public discussions about
her vision, and what she will do for Liberia once elected.
So far, she’s on track, and is doing the right thing.
Liberians must also engage her publicly, and press her into defining
her candidacy and herself, and explain to them what she
intends to do for them and
the country if elected, and must fully explain why
she believes she’s a better candidate among the many
presidential candidates on the campaign trail, and why they
must trust her with their country at this time.
And if
they sincerely believe Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the right
person to lead them at this time, let them do the right
thing in October.
If the
Liberian people think she’s the wrong person to lead them at
this time, they ought to also do the right thing in October.
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