Learning from History: Unity Party’s TWP-like Excesses

The Unity Party’s recent purchase and dedication of a new party headquarters is a stark reminder of the party’s misplaced priorities. The lavish display of power and opulence last Saturday is not only untimely but also unnecessary, and has been widely criticized by politicians and independent voices.

Just three years ago, the Unity Party was struggling to pay rent for the same facility, and now it has managed to raise nearly $2 million to purchase it outright. This has raised suspicions that public funds were used to acquire the property, a charge that is difficult to ignore given the party’s history.

The move is reminiscent of the True Whig Party’s excesses during its 133-year rule, which ultimately led to its downfall. The TWP’s construction of the E.J. Roye building, once the party’s headquarters, is a case in point. The building was seized by the People’s Redemption Council (PRC) government after the 1980 coup, and successive governments have refused to return it, citing the principle of eminent domain. This is widely seen as an acknowledgement that the building was constructed using public funds, and therefore belongs to the state.

The Unity Party seems to be ignoring the lessons of history, and is instead using public money to purchase a party headquarters at a time when the country is struggling to meet its basic needs. What is more, traditional chiefs, clan and paramount chiefs, and district officials are being pressured and bullied into raising funds for the party’s headquarters, despite the Minister of Internal Affairs’ denunciation of such practices.

News from leeward counties, such as Sinoe, speak of heavy-handed tactics for the chiefs to comply, threatening reprisal for refusal. This is a clear abuse of power and a repeat of the Pool Tax scenario that led to the brutal suppression of Liberian villagers during the TWP regime, when the Frontier Force was used to collect taxes from poor villagers who had no representation in the central government.

The people of Liberia are suffering, and the Unity Party’s actions are a slap in the face. While the party is busy amassing wealth and power, the country’s roads are in disrepair, electricity is scarce, and education and healthcare are woefully underfunded. It’s a travesty, and it’s time for the party to change its ways.

The young people of the Unity Party need to take a stand against this archaic and harmful policy, which will only serve to compromise their future in politics. The older generation may be willing to sacrifice the party’s long-term prospects for short-term gain, but the youth must demand better.

As the Unity Party approaches its third anniversary in power, it is time for the party to prioritize the felt needs of the people. Paving community roads, increasing electricity supplies, and investing in education, health, and social services should be the party’s focus, not amassing public funds to acquire party headquarters.

The CDC, while in power, managed to build community pavements and consummate major road concessions by this same time in its term. It is time for the Unity Party to follow suit, rather than displaying its wealth and arrogance in the streets while the people suffer.

The people of Liberia are watching, and they will not forget. The Unity Party’s actions will be judged by history, and it’s time for the party to start acting like it cares. For us, the dedication of the party headquarters is a clear example of the party’s priorities, but it’s not too late for change. The party can still choose to listen to the people and prioritize their needs. But if it continues down this path, it will be the people who suffer, and the party will be left to pick up the pieces.

It is time for the Unity Party to wake up and smell the coffee. The people of Liberia deserve better, and it’s time for the party to deliver.