"Vote of No Confidence?" Richard Tolbert Ought to Take His Arrogance Elsewhere Of Two Soccer Legends

Sunday, August 10, 2008    

            By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

Sungbeh

     In the wake of the sudden suspension of Senator Isaac Nyenabo, President Pro Temporo of the Liberian Senate for six months for constantly siding with President Sirleaf when he should have been trumpeting the ideas of his hard-line colleagues, the Liberian Legislature once again showed strength and courage recently when they declared a ‘vote of no confidence’ in the leadership of National Investment Commission Chairman Richard Tolbert, whose naked arrogance and disrespect of the body led lawmakers to do the unthinkable, unheard of in the history of the Liberian nation.

     With that ‘verdict’ – two in a row, of course, there are whispers from many quarters that change could be in the air, at least for now, and that the legislative branch known historically to engage in what is known in Liberia as “so say one, so say all,” a reference to its rubber stamping, seconding and approving of every request on the table from the president, is trying to at least do business a little differently without fear or favor while demanding the same from the executive and judiciary branches of government, as they work together to move the country forward.

                                                        Richard Tolbert

     That is still to be seen because old habits don’t just go away that easily, especially in a country where the president is the only rooster that crows when it comes to decisions that affects the population. And instead of not asking tough questions and just jumping to approve whatever the president wants because she's the president, members should begin to ask tough questions within their official authority, and not just rubber stamp the president’s request out of mere loyalty but should do it in the interests of the Liberian people.

      Just as I have been very critical of the Sirleaf administration on whose watch the price of rice has increased to US $45 per 50-lb bag depending on the grade, in a country where majority Liberians hardly earns US dollars; and where the government is still struggling to contain armed criminal activities and corruption, I have never been shy or scare to take the legislative branch on publicly in previous columns for their often spineless, corrupt and lackluster leadership they have shown since they were elected in 2005 to represent their respective political subdivisions.

     However, it is about time that those guys, who have not really shown leadership, a sense of independence and reasons for being do something that truly defines their mission; and do it in a bold and sensible way Liberians from all across the country – young and old will be proud to know that their Senators and Representatives are doing the job for which they were elected, and that they were elected to uphold and defend the Constitution of the land even when the interests of the powerful such as the president and members of her inner circle are threatened.

     The issue at stake is a complaint filed by Maryland County Representatives James Barney, which states that Mr. Tolbert, as Chairman of the National Investment Commission violated the investment laws of the nation when he granted the Buchanan Renewable Energy (BRE), $150m investment agreement without the approval of congress.

     Mr. Tolbert, then refused to confirm or deny the allegation and also refused to appear before the body three times when he was summoned to explain the reasons behind his decision, but claimed it is his responsibility as chairman of the National Investment Commission to negotiate such deal without their approval.

     When pressed further after he finally decided to appear before the body, Tolbert cited “honest error” and based his decision on the fact that he thought he was acting in the “supreme interest of the Liberian people.”

     The deal that Mr. Tolbert supposedly negotiated in the ‘supreme interest’ of the Liberian people is not just another deal that has no teeth in it. It is huge, it is possibly flawed like other investment deals, and it is about Richard Tolbert, who cleverly dragged then-Acting Finance Minister Tarnue Mawalo and Deputy Justice Minister Cianneh Johnson into the deal so it will not appear to be a unilateral decision.

     Perhaps Mr. Tolbert does not remember one Edwin Melvin Snowe, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and self-appointed foreign policy ‘expert’ who once single handedly attempted to negotiate the recognition of Taiwan in 2006, instead of respecting the official one-China policy of the Republic of Liberia on the books, a clear violation of the 57^th article of the revised 1984 Constitution, which authorizes only the president to conduct the foreign affairs of the nation.

     Snowe’s blunder regarding the Taiwan/China issue and his alleged criminal past affected his public standing in a negative way, and led to his eventual ouster as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

     The arrogance displayed by Richard Tolbert tells me more about his style – the ‘lone ranger’ way of doing things, which is not only condescending, it diminishes his credibility in a contentious and fragile society where respect for others and collaboration on projects is the only way those leaders in Liberia can achieve positive results. 

     Richard Tolbert's style, like the arrogant and disrespectful style of others in the president's inner circle also shows that they only respects and cares more about the executive branch than the legislative branch, and cares very little about the Liberian political system and all the branches of government essential to the functioning of the republic, which is the wrong way of doing things. 

     As a result, laws of the land are constantly being violated by government officials and members of the president's inner circle like Richard Tolbert now, whom when cited by a police officer, a judge or congress to appear before them often refused to respect the office of that law enforcement official, simply because the citation is not coming directly from the president of Liberia. 

     In this period of nation-building when all eyes are on peace and tranquility needed to effect the positive change needed to build a vibrant, prosperous and law-abiding nation, all efforts must be emphasized that authorities - from the president of Liberia to the lowest person on the totem pole in government and society must abide by the laws of the land else --- he or she will bear the full brunt of the law, because they are not above the law. And if going to prison or paying the necessary fines are the only way to bring discipline in Liberia, then something must be done to send that message in order to get the attention of the would-be violators. 

    However, after she won the presidency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf did what most Liberian leaders often would do during their tenure; that is they encouraged and brought onboard individuals from the Diaspora whom they considered competent and capable to work with in rebuilding the country.

     Whether those Liberians that joined President Sirleaf in Liberia truly believes in her and shares her vision is unknown. And whether those individuals only joined the president not out of patriotism and a call to help rebuild Liberia, but to escape prevailing personal problems and hardship in the United States and elsewhere is also unknown. One thing most people do know is that Liberians are returning home in record numbers since this president came to office, and more are said to be returning home to either work in government or to engage in business activities, which is good news for the local economy that has been stagnant for a long time.

      Even though President Sirleaf reportedly nullified the agreement Mr. Tolbert signed with Buchanan Renewable Energy (BRE), Tolbert should have known better that as a senior level official working in this administration or any other administration, there is no way he or any other person should sign an agreement or contract unilaterally without the approval of those above them, and that there are times when that individual will be called upon by the legislative branch to shed light on key issues regarding the contract, and to shed light on his or her policies or department so as to ascertain facts during an investigation, or to appropriate funds needed for the operation of that department.

    So why in the world will this guy, Richard Tolbert, who was once highly regarded and once touted as a possible successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2011, when her term expires refused to appear before the Liberian legislature when the body wanted to know the reasons behind his conduct?

     Like former Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe, who was ousted by his colleagues because of his obvious lack of judgment, Richard Tolbert should never get away with his blatant disregard of the laws governing the Republic of Liberia. He is not above the law.