[allAfrica.com] [Africa_2005] Toward A New National Orientation Liberian Observer (Monrovia) NEWS December 21, 2005 Posted to the web December 21, 2005 The chief facilitator of the Liberian peace process touched a raw nerve last Saturday when he called for a new national orientation in the country that would discourage the syndrome of Strongman or "Iron Lady." He went on to notice that the syndrome of an all-powerful president has over the years "weakened Liberian institutions and created power-greedy leaders." Need we say more? If this is truly the case, then the time is ripe for us to heed the admonition of General Abubakar and start to strengthen our government institutions by reconstructing the structures of national security and public safety, to borrow his words. For decades, especially since the Tubman era, and most especially through the Doe and Taylor administrations, we have seen and experienced what the General is talking about; how the security apparatus of the country felt that they were always there to protect one person, the President. The situation became so bad that when these 'persons', meaning heads of state Tolbert, Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor were removed, government institutions become a free for all elephant meat. The result of this chaotic state of affairs leaves a nation stripped of all its important records, to the point of starting almost from scratch. Looking back at where we are coming from, the syndrome of Strongman has become a part of our psyche. It started way back in the sixties under Tubman, when so many security agencies were mushroomed, turning the country into a police state. These agencies were said to be necessary to "protect" our 'democratic' institutions; but democracy itself was gradually being eroded and replaced by one dictatorship after another, all of them in the name of democracy and liberation. The security and integrity of the state was compromised for the protection of one man. Today, the President-elect is being called "The Iron Lady", suggesting that she must be tough to survive (if she is not already tough). A democracy is strong when all the institutions that go together to form that entity are structured in such a way as to form a check and balance. With each institution respecting the function of the other and upholding its rights and responsibilities, this becomes the bedrock of the nation's own security and durability. It was Albert Porte, the legendary political analyst and constitutional crusader, who often said the best security any nation can boast of is more freedom, more democracy and a more independent and impartial judicial system. Secondly, African leaders have always considered it disrespectful and an affront to their leadership when they are called into question for acts not in keeping with their mandate. For them, security escort is a trapping of power. The bigger the escort, the bigger they feel; but what a drain on the nation's resource! In an age of enlightenment, where democratic values are becoming the norm in society, leaders must climb down from the lofty height of imperial power and wrestle with Jacob. Ellen realizes this because politically and philosophically she is of a far more liberal bent. More importantly, she has, over many years, been a victim of the imperial presidency, from the 1970s until just a few years ago. She chose exile, came back and went to jail, then returned to exile. Fortunately for her, some of her most productive years were in exile. Like Moses laboring over many decades in the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro, Ellen used her exile as a time of preparation, never losing sight of the prospect that God had yet something to thrust upon her shoulders. During these years, through her various high-powered jobs, she had to deal with even more of Africa's dictators, from north to south, from east to west. She has, therefore, learned and will hopefully never forget her own experiences and those of hundreds of millions of her fellow Africans who have suffered and continue to suffer under the scorching, dehumanizing syndrome of imperial or dictatorial rulers. Accordingly, Madam Sirleaf, our President-elect, has made it clear that she eschews the "imperial presidency." We hope sycophants with their mealy tongues will not cajole or prompt her into changing her mind by soothing her with their proverbial Temple of Heaven Essential Balm. Lawmakers, law enforcers and heads of government institutions need to study carefully the speech of the peace facilitator and see how we can discourage this syndrome of an all-powerful president without challenging or minimizing the authority of the presidency. We have to be careful because respect for constituted authority in the society today is at its lowest ebb. In that case, there are those who would defend the need for an "Iron Lady." But, we must ask ourselves: What good is our democracy if we have to be soldiered along? The General observed that Africa's Western partners have been promoting this negative syndrome. This is also true. An African leader who becomes a "darling" of the West is showered with everything asked for, so long as he is seen to 'protect' their interests. This is how the "imperial" element goes to his head. They shower an African or Third World leader with arms; they praise him for his economic record so long as it falls in line with their plans for global economic domination. If democracy really means a government for the people, by the people and of the people, then policies of a government should reflect the interest and welfare of the people by satisfying their needs and not simply the will of outside investors. In this new era, we ignore the advice and concern of our peace facilitator at our own peril. May God grant that the President-elect, the moment she takes that oath of office, will remain constantly reminded of her experiences, and of her own pledge to be a servant, not a master of the people. Even so, she must be prepared to exert the authority of her office to promote peace, reconciliation, good, democratic and accountable governance, and to work relentlessly for the common good: economic and social development for all the people, in all parts of Liberia.   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2005 Liberian Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================