Encouraging Constructive Criticism in Our National Politics

For almost eleven years now, there’s a general insinuation in quarters of the Liberian society that the current Government of Liberia has done ‘nothing’ in terms of national development. Notably, such insinuation continues to emanate mostly from some of the opposition political institutions and their associates, as well as civil society groupings.

While naming these institutions may be needless, even though they may be well known by their public utterances through the media, it also important to note that a few members of the opposition may also be cognizant of the practical realities as they relate to the government’s positive endeavors since its incumbency.

As responsible opposition political institutions, these few continue to balance all criticisms of the current administration more constructively – outlining the positives, negatives, as well as the challenges, with the necessary recommendations as to the way forward, those who only believe that being an opposition entails an ‘all bad image’ of the power that be.

Interestingly, even some of those in the Legislature who are at the fore-front of “bad-mouthing” the administration, are so entrenched in the highest degree of naivety to be that they are not part the government – and that’s why they most often referred to the Executive Branch as the government in their public utterances, not being cognizant of the fact that the they (the Legislature), Executive and Judiciary, make up the Government of Liberia.

Realistically, when criticisms are made – whether by the opposition or elsewhere, they must be from the perspective of success/achievement, failure or unachievable and what may be the attributing factors, as well as the way forward; but to denigrate the administration for the negatives may just be out of selfishness, unnecessary political ego and an attempt to win mere sentiments from Liberia’s gullible public.

Understandably, they are challenges that have and continue to characterize the execution of the functions and operations of the government – inability to actualize development plans on time, as well as corruption, among others, but the achievements are very visible – the streets of Monrovia and outside Monrovia once very deplorable to vehicular traffic, the country’s major high away – Monrovia-Buchanan and Monrovia-Ganta, just to put us on tract in naming others.

It is an agreeable fact that criticism may be an attribute of democratic governance, but not in the context it is done by some Liberian opposition politicians and parties so much so that they only thrive on the path of sentiments and not improvements in the current governance system.

While some Legislators, opposition politicians and parties, as well as civil society organizations engage the administration they ways the feel and think, it is important to seek inquiry to their respective roles as governments-in-waiting and stakeholders in the country’s governance process. Unless they are free from challenges, including corruption internally, then – of course, they are in a better position to engage the administration on some of these issues.

In essence, the government, opposition politicians and parties and civil society must see themselves as partners in the process of national development and growth not on the basis of political power, but the brightest future of the nation; and what we as a people, do here in togetherness; and how we do what we here, will go a long way in determining the kind of Liberia we envisage for ourselves and future generation.

Encouraging constructive criticisms in our national politics will do us far better than the path on which we are thriving as opposition politicians and parties.