Open Letter To Senatot-Elect Brownie Samukai

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
December 6, 2021

Article 45 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia guarantees every political subdivision visa-a-vis two senatorial representation.  Lofa County's constitutional rights to exercise Article 45 has been hijacked by the Weah government and the senate elect- Samukai for 366 days.  Sadly, Lofa County has no one to negotiate (not even the former vice president, the highest government official who hails from Lofa County, and the standard-bearer of the political party of which Samukai is a member) for the release of the one vacant senatorial seat.  The ultimate resolution to this political and legal standoff falls upon the senate elect- Samukai. 

In the interest of Lofa County and for the common good for the PEOPLE of Lofa County, I call on you for the ultimate political sacrifice.

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness
Napoleon Hill

Today, Wednesday, December 8, 2021, marks 366 days since the midterm elections, and Lofa County has only one senator instead of two senators in the Liberian Legislature. This violates Article 45 of the 1986 Constitution that guarantees each political subdivision, vis-à-vis, county to have two senators.  This act of denying Lofa County full senatorial representation is the worst political marginalization and disenfranchisement of the people of Lofa County since 1964.  The Weah government nullified the choice of the people of Lofa County in the 2020 midterm elections and has done nothing to resolve the senatorial disenfranchisement of Lofa County over a year. This is an act of governmental political malfeasance of unprecedented proportion against Lofa County.

The supreme responsibility of any democratically instituted government is to uphold and defend the Constitution and to ensure that the constitutional rights of every citizen are preserved and protected.   The Weah government has abrogated its primary responsibility (uphold and defend the Constitution) to ensure Lofa County’s constitutional rights to full senatorial representation.  Instead, the government has gone to war with the senate elect- Samukai (after giving him the green light to stand for election).  However, after one year of a legal battle for confirmation, I do not think that this is a battle that you can win because we, the people, have created a supreme Executive and subjected the Judiciary to an inferior and inept institution.    “Sometimes the prize is not worth the costs. The means by which we achieve victory are as important as the victory itself,” Brandon Sanderso.

 

Lofa County’s full senatorial representation is at a stalemate, and a resolution is very murky and hopelessly uncertain. It has been more than a year since the 2020 midterm elections.  You, the senate-elect, have been legally challenged by the awesome power of the Government of Liberia not to be confirmed. This legal battle has persisted for more than a year and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel.  As the battle waged on, Lofa County suffers politically. 

The challenge to your senate confirmation is a momentous and unprecedented political action in the history of Liberia.  I cannot recall any period in the history of Liberia when a county was denied full senatorial representation.  I believe such action calls for an unprecedented reaction never seen in the history of the Republic. 

There is an old African proverb that states, “when two elephants fight, the grass suffers” —meaning that the weak get hurt in the conflict between the powerful.  In this political battle between you and the government, the PEOPLE of Lofa County are the “grass” upon whom the greatest wrath of this battle falls.  To deny a county its constitutional rights to full representation is the greatest anthesis to constitutional democracy, which principle is rooted in the apriorism that taxation without representation is tyranny.

In the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people or an individual to react to an event that is detrimental to the full exercise of their constitutional rights to life and liberty and participation in the political institution of the Republic.  In this political battle, the ultimate political sacrifice is required.    This ultimate sacrifice is falling unto you.   This sacrifice calls upon you to do the unthinkable — sacrifice your senatorial ambition for the sake of Lofa County and the PEOPLE of Lofa County.   Such a personal and political sacrifice will cause a seismic political eruption in Liberia, and no one knows how far the molten lava will run.

Sacrifice will make you martyr; victories will make you a hero.
Amit Kalantri

As a former military man, I take it that you still revere the military code of honor: “Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage in everything you do.”  Lucius Annaeus Seneca said of sacrifice, “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”  You are today the gem of Lofa County, and if such an unthinkable sacrifice was to materialize, it would be the first in the history of the Republic and the first in many political arenas throughout the political history of humanity.  The history of Liberia shall erect a political pantheon unto you.  I equate this sacrifice to one that was made some three thousand years ago for the Christian faith, with one difference — your life.

If you withdraw from seeking your senatorial confirmation (the ultimate sacrifice), the government of Liberia will be forced to exercise a special election.  If she does not, she would cause the greatest constitutional crisis ever in the history of the Republic.   You could force the government to do something no one has ever done in Liberia.  This action will cost the government money and time. 

I do not know you, nor have I ever met you.  If I did know you, this letter would have been personal.  However, I am nobody to start off with self-introduction.  I am a Liberian first and foremost and a son of Lofa County.  I have lived outside of Liberia for over four decades and yet carry a Liberian passport as my patriotic duty to the Republic.  I do so because I love Liberia and love Lofa County more.  Providence has given you and me the opportunity and privilege to serve the PEOPLE of Lofa County and the Republic of Liberia with all the gifts endowed upon us by nature.  This is your moment to make a difference in the rotten politics of Liberia.  History will look upon you with the greatest favor.  In the best interest of the PEOPLE of Lofa County, I implore you to heed this call.  

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
Mark 10:45