Solution, Not Just Criticism -Tipoteh Laments: ‘They Say One Thing When Out of Power But Do Another Thing when In Power’

MONROVIA – Liberia’s “political chameleons” have just got mail from one of Liberia’s iconic politicians and economists, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh – people who are known for criticizing leaders when they are in opposition politics but do differently and even worse when placed in political power; and those who criticize without proffering solutions. In pointing out some of these oxymoronic tendencies, he noted in a short opinion piece BELOW that “Persons who have been elected to serve the people have now become masters of the people. People who should be lawmakers have now become lawbreakers.”  

COMMENTARY

SOLUTION NOT JUST CRITICISM

By Togba-Nah Tipoteh

After the SONA 2025 has been delivered, many persons and institutions continue to criticize the SONA but not giving any solution. What a shame! To be credible, one has to present a solution not just a criticism. A national ruler once said that any person who criticizes him is the devil in human form. An Archbishop backed him up. Imagine! Although criticism is important but mere criticism without any solution is not credible.

To be credible, one must have a solution to the problem presented. Some persons and institutions criticize militarism but promote militarism. Look at what they wear. Read what they write. Hear what they say. Look at what they do. They say one thing and do another thing. When they are out of State power, they say one thing but when they get into State power, they do another thing. What a shame!

They say one thing when they are out of State power, promising to correct the mistakes when they get State power and then they will be on the ground running. The on the ground running talk is their technique of convincing voters. But the people who love Liberia are correcting this technique by raising awareness through the Rule of Law. The evidence shows that there is the rule of outlaw because the powers that be do not want to follow the Rule of Law. This is why the Supreme Court of Liberia is correct and law abiding by not attending the SONA 2025. 

Persons who have been elected to serve the people have now become masters of the people. People who should be lawmakers have now become lawbreakers. This information is being widely shared and appreciated. This is seen in the results of the Election of October 10, 2023 where almost all of the National Legislators who wanted to be re-elected were not re-elected.  This trend is highly likely to continue in the ensuing elections. A young Liberian told me today that the reaction to the SONA shows that Liberians are not only listening but are engaged in correcting the wrong things.

The wrong things are being corrected by exposing the corruption of the electoral system. Through this exposure, the unfair prevailing electoral system gets transformed into the fair enduring electoral system. It is only through this transformation that persons with good records can get elected to bring in the system of Justice, the indispensable ingredient for Peace and Progress in Liberia and in any other country.