By: Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe
“Thinking aloud about my country, Liberia
My fellow Liberians,
I am deeply troubled by the recent conduct of certain members of the House of Representatives who unfortunately call themselves the so-called “majority block,” a nomenclature that finds no support in the Constitution of Liberia. Their inability to garner the 49 votes—representing the two-thirds majority of the 73 lawmakers—to remove the sitting Speaker should have ended their quest.
Instead, this group of 43 Representatives proceeded to elect the very House member whom the current Speaker defeated in the last speakership election. This action stands in stark contradiction to the Supreme Court’s opinion on the matter, wherein the Court made it clear that any action not consistent with Articles 33 and 49 of our Constitution is ultra vires. In my view, the group’s choice to act alone—by refusing to attend sessions to reach the simple majority needed to legally conduct House business, and by purporting to elect a new Speaker without constitutionally removing the current Speaker—is patently illegal.
Sadly, the Executive Branch and the Senate have chosen to recognize these actions, despite the Supreme Court’s stance. Such disregard for our own highest court’s decision is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Liberia. The Speaker has rightly filed a Bill of Information to inform the Court that the “majority block” members are conducting themselves in manners that interferes with its judgment. The people of Liberia are anxiously awaiting the ruling of the Court on the bill of information.
As a Liberian, I believe that the actions of the “majority block” have brought shame, embarrassment, and severe reputational damage to our nation’s image as the oldest democratic republic in Africa.
Historically, Liberia has been counted among those nations—not just in Africa—whose government officials understood diplomacy and etiquette in handling official matters, even where they disagree. Yet today, under this regime, decency in official conduct is fast declining. What future are these officials in the Legislature trying to shape for our country? Children follow what they see their parents and elders do, far more than what they hear them say. Let those who have ears to hear, listen to these words of commonsense and change for the better, to give Liberia the image it deserves: a land of liberty that was meant to be a haven of equality for all Liberians without distinction, under the rule of law.
Moreover, it is appalling that these dissident lawmakers—breakers of our organic law—refused to cooperate with two ECOWAS delegations, one led by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and another led by the highly respected Professor Ibrahim Gambare.
From all indications, this so-called “majority block” was openly disrespectful and plainly rude to both delegations. It is inconceivable that they fail to recognize Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s stature as an eminent African public servant and diplomat who has held several positions in Nigeria and the United Nations, including, Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, President of UNICEF, UN Under Secretary-General and the first Special Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, Chairperson of the African Union Commission as the Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur, and a world-renowned scholar whose works—including his seminal “Theory and Practice of International Relations”—are held in the highest regard in academia. Let us not forget that the sons and daughters of ECOWAS, especially Nigerians, shed their blood to restore peace in Liberia. No patriotic and informed Liberian will ever disrespect anyone representing ECOWAS in Liberia under any circumstance
Additionally, no well-informed Liberian who knows about the role Liberia in world history will ever conduct himself in the manner in which members of the “majority block” of the House of Representatives are conducting themselves towards officials of ECOWAS. The conduct of the “ majority block” and its approval by President Boakai and the Liberian Senate has the potential of undermining Liberia’s bid for the non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
Liberia is a founding member of the United Nations, the League of Nations—its precursor—and many other international organizations. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) evolved from a meeting held from July 15 to July 19, 1959 in Sanniquellie, then Central Province (now Nimba County), convened by President William V. S. Tubman and attended by Presidents Ahmed Sékou Touré and Kwame Nkrumah. If our leaders today were mindful of Liberia’s historic role in promoting international peace and security in Africa and around the world, they would likely not behave as they are doing now.
This behavior we witness is not only an abuse of power; it is a notorious display of ignorance and naïveté—unbefitting the most basic standards for lawmakers. It is especially disheartening that some among them are lawyers and university lecturers, thereby betraying their years of schooling. One must ask in frustration: What kind of country is this becoming, when our representatives blatantly disregard the rule of law, the Constitution, and the counsel of regional institutions that helped secure the peace we enjoy today?
Amidst all these missteps, I remain an eternal optimist and cannot give up on Liberia. In the words of soldiers at the battlefront, I say to all well-meaning Liberians at home and abroad: “No retreat, no surrender!” The struggle for a better Liberia must continue until we elect and appoint officials who tenaciously hold the conviction that government is a place to serve, not to steal.
Let us, as citizens, remain vigilant and committed to upholding the rule of law.
Liberia’s status as a beacon of democracy in Africa is at stake, and no one who truly loves this country should stand idly by while the Constitution is trampled underfoot. We owe it to ourselves, to our children, and to the legacy of all those who fought for our democracy to reject such unconstitutional, shameful actions. May God guide us back to a place of honor, respect, and adherence to the constitutional principles upon which our great nation was founded.
A Better Liberia is Possible”
