MONROVIA: While some lackeys of President Boakai’s Unity Party are still taciturn and perhaps chuckling in their corners over statements by the National Day Orator that took aim at the United States of America—casting doubt and contempt on US support to Liberia since Independence, and calling US-Liberia ties “imaginary” and unhelpful—others think otherwise. No doubt, reactions to the 2024 Independence Anniversary oration are mixed particularly regarding verbal attacks rained on the United States. However, there are some Liberians who are closely aware of the historic, economic and political relationship between the US and Liberia and therefore know how much the US has done for Liberia. Thus, this segment of Liberians thinks the keynote speaker was out of her place, unnecessarily cynical and uninformed to take such a venture. One Liberian who is overly critical of and repulsive to the National Orator’s comments is ex-auditor general of Liberia, John Sembe Morlu, II. He dropped a punitive note for both Dr. Rodtel Pailey, the 2024 National Orator, and President Boakai, as The Analyst reports.
Since the officials at the United States’ embassy near Monrovia walked out the Centennial Memorial Pavilion where celebratory ceremonies marking the 2024 July 26 Independence Day were taking place, and the main orator was in speech, Liberians’ reactions to the weird, rare scene have been mixed.
The orator, who is a young Liberian activist and author, also used her national day speech to convey her evaluation and understanding of the relationship between her country, Liberia, and the United States, and she called for a rethink of it.
Dr. Rodtel Pailey said: “We must forge new strategic partnerships based on mutual benefit and disabuse ourselves of the notion that we have a ‘special relationship’ with America. Truth be told, this so-called ‘special relationship’ only exists in our imagination. Lest we forget, the United States was one of the last countries to recognize our independence. Lest we forget, the United States has taken more from us than it has given. Lest we forget, the United States will always serve its own interests above all else. Once we accept these truths, we will appreciate that a re-imagined Liberia can never be anyone’s ‘stepchild.’”
The comments prompted the walk out of the US diplomats from the program hall, later issuing a statement indicating their measured response to the “divisive statements” from the national orator.
“The United States and Liberia share a unique history and democratic values. Unfortunately, the national orator introduced divisive rhetoric and unfounded accusations,” the Embassy asserted. “The United States has a long history of providing foreign assistance, amounting to at least $163 million annually.”
Morlu’s Grilling Censures
Many Liberians have since come to the rescue of the United States which was targeted by President Boakai’s pick of a national orator. Amongst them is one of Liberia’s integrity icons and internationally revered public servants, ex-Auditor General John Sembe Morlu, II.
In a statement released almost immediately following the dramatic National Day celebration event, Morlu descended on the keynote speaker but not first by blaming the President of Liberia who took “an inexperienced and unskilled PhD from an unknown school to say America has taken more from Liberia than it has given” as a national orator.
Morlu opined that Dr. Pailey’s statement is the most ignorant and uninformed assertion about US-Liberia relations.
He quipped: “Does this inexperienced academic understand the geopolitical and economic benefits of being allied with America? No, she does not. Sadly, she provided no math, economic, or financial analysis to show what Liberia has given America versus what America has taken.
“She has no data to back up anything she said. She has no clue about geopolitical and political economy considerations. No real work experience, much less a livable skill set.”
Morlu reflected on what Ellen Sirleaf did during her term when she rightfully advocated for America to put its Africa military command in Liberia because of the stability, credibility, and investor confidence such facilities would bring.
“Because of VOA, the CIA outpost, and Liberia being labeled America’s ‘stepchild,’ millions in investor money flowed into Liberia in the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s,” Morlu said, adding: “But again, some would call this free speech. While we accept free speech, it allows me to call her statements bullshit, incompetent, and foolish.”
He continued: “Say what you may say about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; her quest for the African Command was the right thing because she understood the bigger geopolitical and political economy benefits to Liberia. Sirleaf saw the bigger picture, but is Boakai seeing it, or is he being myopic and surrounding himself with the most limited minds in Liberia?”
According to him, “this same Robtel woman hates anyone who is making a good living in America. She despises Diaspora Liberians living in America, as per her utterances”.
The former Auditor General noted that America’s visible presence in any country adds at least 25% to that nation’s GDP, referencing Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, and Djibouti are classic examples.
“Liberia wasted all the VOA and spy post opportunities,” he said.
“Today, Ghana leads Liberia in the US tourism market. Liberian leaders’ failure to capitalize on America’s presence is not America’s fault. It’s the Liberian leaders’ gross incompetence, neglect, and corrupt-minded appetite that are to be blamed.”
“Robtel is blaming America for Liberian leaders stealing and mismanaging foreign aid,” Morlu further contended. “Since 1946, America has given Liberia $20.8 billion, but it has all been mismanaged by Liberian officials. These officials are incompetent, corrupt, and have no love for their fellow citizens.”
He said: “Facts: America built your military and police. America provided you with water and electricity. America gave you VOA, a CIA spy post, and $4.9 billion in debt relief. America finances 75% of your healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure. America ended Ebola, gave you free COVID-19 drugs, ended your civil war, and takes in 90% of your refugees who are now working in America and sending hundreds of millions back to Liberia.”
Mail for President Boakai
Morlu did not stop at the national orator but also zoomed in on President Boakai who gave her the revered platform of a National Orator.
He said his surprise is that the “JNB administration has been characterized by crisis after crisis and allegations of corruption, illegal acts, and backdoor dealings. Is this really a Rescue Mission or another scheme to defraud Liberia and its people, yet again?”
He called the President to rise to the occasion, lamenting, “Is this the real JNB Costa and Urey spoke about, or the real one I know? Rise up, Uncle Joe. You made another wrong decision on this inexperienced orator,” he asked in emphasis to his expressed surprise.”
Morlu said Liberians appreciate America. “We will rise and fall with America,” the former AG who played a lead part in the election of Boakai further said, adding: “Only Robtel and her handful of supporters around Joe Boakai do not appreciate America but 99.999% of Liberia appreciates America and agrees that America has given Liberia more than it has received, but as Joe Boakai himself said in 2017, Liberian leaders have ‘wasted opportunities.’”
Morlu recalled the bringing into the country in 1987 PLO 480 worth millions of US Dollars, and the waste of America’s taxpayers’ money, an incident Boakai’s critics have said time with number happened under his direct managerial leadership.
The President, who was head of the public parastatal that took delivery of the management of project, has concurrently denied wrongdoing.
“Boakai, rise up and stand up,” Morlu said, thanking the Minister of Information, “who is a decent guy, for distancing the Boakai government from this nonsense oratory”.
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