Genuine & Enduring Patriot -CB Wesseh Pays Sonly, Comradely Tribute to Tipo at 83

MONROVIA: That contemporary Liberians are unreservedly swimming in the seas of political freedom is acutely an understatement. Evidence? Here is one. Not only is there an undisputed proliferation of political parties, media outlets and civil society organizations, the national discourse is fiery, wilder and irrepressible, and often abused with impunity. What many people don’t know is that the state of affairs—the freedom, liberty and civic consciousness prevailing in the country nowadays—are not inborn tendencies of this Africa’s oldest republic that Liberia is called. The rights, opportunities and privileges enjoyed lavishly today did not come on silver platter. They were not freely bequeathed unto this generation of Liberians who are so utterly bathing in them. They were earned, fought for and attained at the price of the sweat, tears and blood of a group of audacious citizens, fondly called the “progressives”. While some have already answered to the call of Heaven, a few survivors, others call them “endangered species”, are still around. One of such is Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh, who is celebrating his 83rd birth anniversary. But not many Liberians can accurately tell the story of the progressive icons like Tipoteh. A few, who the “progressives” discipled and groomed, do. Thus, as the Liberian patriarch and patriot celebrates, one of his devotees, former Senator Conmany B. Wesseh, has some memorable adorations to make about his longtime mentor and “comrade in arms”. The Analyst reports.

The 83rd celebration of the birth anniversary of one of Liberia’s revered peace architects and promoters of political consciousness, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh, has got reinforcement and additional clarity from the testament of someone who stood side-by-side with him as the country’s “Mass Enlightenment Crusade” was taking place.

Tipoteh and others, such as legendary Gabriel Baccus Matthews, Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson, Henry Boamah Fahnbulleh, Jr, burned their youthful ages to the cause and struggle of rescuing Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, from oligarchic one-party rule. The major shrines that these agents of change and consciousness used as fulcrums for the advocacy and agitation included university and high school campuses where the likes of Conmany Wesseh got “ideologically baptized”, groomed, and mainstreamed in the progressive struggle.

There is therefore no gainsaying about the fact that the early converts of the Great Enlightenment Crusade in the country would know more about their tutors, and particularly for the former River Gee County Senator who sprang out to become a noted student leader, doing the John the Baptist chores for senior progressives.

He joined many voices of Liberians testifying to what they know and learn from the works of Dr. Tipoteh in his four decades of fight for “rice and rights” in the country.

In a short but moving tribute to his political priest, Wesseh wrote: “July 17 is the birthday of TOGBA NAH TIPOTEH, the tested, unquestionable and undebatable leader of the progressive movement in Liberia”.

Turning 83 in sound mind and good health, the former national student leader said of Dr. Tipoteh, “the great man is certainly a blessing for which we must all be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Wesseh continued: “Called lovingly, admiringly and respectfully as Tipo, Doc, DG (Director General of Susukuu), the President (MOJA), Prof, Teacher, Father and Comrade, Dr. Tipoteh has deservedly earned the reference of an iconic figure, not only in Liberia, but Africa as a whole.

“Like all great people, Tipo is at once loved and feared. He is loved by the vast majority of our people who appreciate his enduring sacrificial and dedicated services; and feared for his honesty, patriotism and unmatched love for his people.”

In concluding his Birth Anniversary Message to Dr. Tipoteh, the former Senator said: “On this day, Medina, our children, grandchildren and his godchildren join me and our people in wishing the GREAT TIPO HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY. May God Almighty continue to bless him with good health and long peaceful life.  I thank Fatu Ruth Tipoteh and their children for the loving care they are taking of the OLD/Young man, still on the GROUND! AMEN!”

Down Memory Lane

Looking back the memory lane, many would admit that the 1941 born has paid his due for Mother Liberia, being an educator, a fighter for democracy and pluralism and for working out for peace in the bleakest of times.

As someone wrote, the ace economist, in the last five decades has been in the forefront of struggles, actively involved with democratic activities in promotion of human rights, liberties, constitutional rule and growth with development in Liberia and throughout Africa.

He is President of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA); was founding Chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), an alliance of Liberian political parties; was founder and Director-General of Susukuu Incorporated, Liberia’s oldest non-governmental development organization.

Tipoteh’s Susukuu played an important role in bringing peace to Liberia, for it is credited by the West Africa Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) as helping to disarm over 10,000 combatants and child soldiers in Liberia during the 1997 disarmament program through a school for gun program.

Along with a horde of other compatriots, in his capacity as Chairman of the Interest Groups of Liberia, a consortium of 32 national organizations with a collective membership of well over one million persons, Dr. Tipoteh was a leading voice for peace and national renewal.

Togba-Nah Tipoteh was born in Monrovia in 1941 to Reverend and Mrs Samuel Togba Roberts of Grand Kru County. He was educated at the College of West Africa (high school) and at the University of Liberia.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Ohio University (Athens) and Ohio State University in Columbus, US, in June 1963 and 1964 respectively.

In 1969, he earned a doctorate degree in economics while studying as a Harvard University/United Nations Special Fund Fellow in Economic Development at the University of Nebraska. In the early 1970s, Tipoteh was associate professor of economics, chair of the Economics Department and director of the Management Research Institute at the University of Liberia (1971-1974).

He was Liberia’s national tennis champion for 30 unbroken years (1964-1994)

In 1973, Tipoteh founded the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), a pan-African political organization which played a pivotal role in the struggle for social justice and democracy in Liberia in the 1970s.

He served as a Budget Advisor to Liberian President William R. Tolbert, in which position he expressed concerns about government waste and advocated public management reforms.

He was the first Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs (1980-1981) under the regime of Samuel K. Doe which overthrew President Tolbert, but resigned after 15 months in office, citing human rights abuses by the government as his reason for leaving.

In 1983 the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) was formed as the electoral wing of MOJA. In Liberia’s 1997 elections Tipoteh ran as the presidential candidate of the LPP. In Liberia’s 2005 elections, Tipoteh was the candidate for the Alliance for Peace and Democracy, an alliance of the LPP and another veteran opposition movement, the United People’s Party (UPP).

In Liberia’s 2011 elections, he was the candidate of the Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia (FAPL). After being knocked out in the first round, he endorsed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the second round, saying in a statement that his party’s decision followed observation and evaluation of the two parties in the run-off, based on the issue of societal transparency.

Tipoteh is also a businessman, and serves as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Kukatornon Reconstruction Corporation.

Through his scholarship program, he mentors and sends hundreds of students (mainly children) from all counties of Liberia to schools and colleges in Liberia.

He has worked in international development in the United States, the Netherlands, Mozambique, Ghana, South Africa and other countries, as well as for the United Nations system: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), African Economic Community (ECA) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), among others.

His Personal Birthday Post

In a short statement he shared with The Analyst, the veteran politician wrote: “Making me 83 years of age. Graduated from St. Patrick’s Elementary School in 1955 with Kenneth Yarkawolo Best, Stephen Dunbar and Lionel Keller as some of my Classmates.

“Graduated from CWA in 1959 with Carney Johnson. Esli Holder. Grace Worjloh. Rose Mendscole. Wokie Tubman and Baldwin Banks as some of my Classmates. Earned a PhD in Economics under a Harvard-United Nations Special Fellowship at the age of 27. Lectured in Universities in Asia. Europe, America and Africa.

“Served as Professor of Economics. Head of the Economics Department and Head of the Economic and Management Research Institute at the University of Liberia. Served as Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs. Budget Advisor to President Tolbert. Chairperson of the African Group of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and Senior United Nations Advisor.

“Married to Fatu Ruth Tipoteh. Head the Procurement department at the University of Liberia for over 27 years with hundreds of Children being supported to go to school In Liberia and abroad. Several siblings’ blood and non-blood. Only blood Sister with PhD in Health Science at the age of 65.

“In the Christian religion and Member of the First United Methodist Church in Liberia. Musician/Composer of Liberian songs. Retired Undefeated Tennis Champion of Liberia from 19964 to 1994.

Founder of Susukuu the fifty three years old poverty alleviation NGO. Founding Leader of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), Founder of the Liberian People Party (LPP).

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