By Nyekeh Forkpa/A Liberian Journalist in the USA
USA/4014774993
I was really disappointed to read the news of Speaker Snowe’s resignation. While I am not a fan of the Speaker, I admired his decision to test the strength of the judicial system. That the Speaker took his case to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court subsequently ruled in his favor against the “majority,” on the basis of the law, it signaled a new beginning for Liberia , and a very proud moment for me, having contributed my little effort in the struggle to secure the dawn of such a day.
As the Speaker indicated many times over, he has the capacity to put “men on the street,” but he wisely chose to travel the path of the law. I must salute the Speaker for not using the alternative because while I know that any such move would have been quelled in due time, the attending consequences on the innocent would have been unimaginable.
The former Speaker must also be commented for controlling the “assembled mob” that threatened to cause chaos. He must have been clearly intoned with their understanding to keep them quiet. Perhaps the speaker can be of help in areas of such conflict resolution/manageme nt should it arise in the future.
Having said that, I was really disappointed that the Speaker did not challenge the understanding and conscience of his colleagues, many of whom had assumed their cause was just. I wished he had joined his colleagues at the appropriate venue and forced them to pursue the legal and lawful means of removing him, by showing cause and finding him liable, assuming they were still adamant on doing so.
In the absence of such challenged, the “majority” will go on believing that their cause was not only just, but their means was as well. Such a notion is still debatable, considering the diverse opinion expressed on this listserve about the issue and the ruling of the Supreme Court. Certainly, we have been robbed of a golden opportunity – an opportunity to test the strength of the ideas and arguments of those who purport to represent us. We might never know whether these lawmakers are worth their salt.
On a more serious note, I particularly wish the bribery allegation could have been pursued by the Speaker to the logical conclusion; because such is a drawback to the efforts of everyone interested in seeing genuine democracy at work in Liberia . Even with his resignation, I hope the Speaker or President Sirleaf, whom the speaker accused, will setup a special independent body to investigate the matter and issue appropriate sanctions were necessary. An allegation of “executive long arm” should never be swept under the rug, not even by an Executive that claims innocence.
Again, I like to applaud Speaker Snowe for walking the path of the law in this matter and testing the strength and independence of our judicial system. Maybe, just maybe, his action has provided us a glimpse of things to come from a judiciary that will adhere straightly to the law and not become and extension of the executive as in times past.
As the Speaker peers into the future, with rumors of coming challenges, some much more difficult than this, I hope he will continue to “remain on the side of the law” not only when it favors him, but also when it doesn’t.
I wish the speaker good luck as he now focuses solely on representing the interest of his people and perhaps fighting mounting corruption allegations. Having demonstrated his burning desire to respect the will of his people, when he reportedly refused to go to the UCC at their urging, he now has enough time to perhaps hold regular community and town hall meetings in order strategize with the people he serve, on how to bring home the beacon to the district.
We have certainly missed an opportunity – a great one. But the replacement battle has already begun, I am told. So we are on to the next round of argument.
Nyekeh Forkpa is a Liberian Journalist in the US
401 477 4993
Cranston RI
USA/4014774993
I was really disappointed to read the news of Speaker Snowe’s resignation. While I am not a fan of the Speaker, I admired his decision to test the strength of the judicial system. That the Speaker took his case to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court subsequently ruled in his favor against the “majority,” on the basis of the law, it signaled a new beginning for Liberia , and a very proud moment for me, having contributed my little effort in the struggle to secure the dawn of such a day.
As the Speaker indicated many times over, he has the capacity to put “men on the street,” but he wisely chose to travel the path of the law. I must salute the Speaker for not using the alternative because while I know that any such move would have been quelled in due time, the attending consequences on the innocent would have been unimaginable.
The former Speaker must also be commented for controlling the “assembled mob” that threatened to cause chaos. He must have been clearly intoned with their understanding to keep them quiet. Perhaps the speaker can be of help in areas of such conflict resolution/manageme nt should it arise in the future.
Having said that, I was really disappointed that the Speaker did not challenge the understanding and conscience of his colleagues, many of whom had assumed their cause was just. I wished he had joined his colleagues at the appropriate venue and forced them to pursue the legal and lawful means of removing him, by showing cause and finding him liable, assuming they were still adamant on doing so.
In the absence of such challenged, the “majority” will go on believing that their cause was not only just, but their means was as well. Such a notion is still debatable, considering the diverse opinion expressed on this listserve about the issue and the ruling of the Supreme Court. Certainly, we have been robbed of a golden opportunity – an opportunity to test the strength of the ideas and arguments of those who purport to represent us. We might never know whether these lawmakers are worth their salt.
On a more serious note, I particularly wish the bribery allegation could have been pursued by the Speaker to the logical conclusion; because such is a drawback to the efforts of everyone interested in seeing genuine democracy at work in Liberia . Even with his resignation, I hope the Speaker or President Sirleaf, whom the speaker accused, will setup a special independent body to investigate the matter and issue appropriate sanctions were necessary. An allegation of “executive long arm” should never be swept under the rug, not even by an Executive that claims innocence.
Again, I like to applaud Speaker Snowe for walking the path of the law in this matter and testing the strength and independence of our judicial system. Maybe, just maybe, his action has provided us a glimpse of things to come from a judiciary that will adhere straightly to the law and not become and extension of the executive as in times past.
As the Speaker peers into the future, with rumors of coming challenges, some much more difficult than this, I hope he will continue to “remain on the side of the law” not only when it favors him, but also when it doesn’t.
I wish the speaker good luck as he now focuses solely on representing the interest of his people and perhaps fighting mounting corruption allegations. Having demonstrated his burning desire to respect the will of his people, when he reportedly refused to go to the UCC at their urging, he now has enough time to perhaps hold regular community and town hall meetings in order strategize with the people he serve, on how to bring home the beacon to the district.
We have certainly missed an opportunity – a great one. But the replacement battle has already begun, I am told. So we are on to the next round of argument.
Nyekeh Forkpa is a Liberian Journalist in the US
401 477 4993
Cranston RI
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