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Beware of QUAGBODUSA’s Divisive
Agenda! By: Nvasekie N. Konneh August 05, 2009  The
recent FELMAUSA elections did not only generate excitement here in
America, there was lot of excitement among our folks in Monrovia as
well. Not only were some groups excited in Monrovia, those groups also
invested time and energies to demonstrate their interests in the future
of FELMAUSA. Among the groups that showed great interests in the
elections were Progressive Youths for Transparency and progress and the
Quardu Gboni District University Student Association. These two groups
went to the extent of endorsing the candidacy of Mohammed Dukuly.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ENDORSEMENT LETTER!! Not only did these two Monrovia based groups endorse candidate Mohammed Dukuly, they also urged FELMAUSA’s members to vote for him against his opponents. This clearly shows that FELMAUSA’s election was so important that these groups based in Liberia wanted to influence the outcome so badly. Well, since FELMAUSA is there to serve the interests of the Mandingo community not only in the United States of America, but particularly so in Liberia, one may find it justifiable for groups based in Liberia to want to influence the outcome of FELMAUSA’s elections. This is made clear in the following words from the endorsement of QUAGBODUSA, “realizing that if we Liberian Mandingoes are ever going to succeed in our collective endeavor to mitigate the impacts of the many odds confronting us as a people and yea the Liberian state, then it is only fair, prudent and advisable that we collaborate and amalgamate our forces-strengths, knowledge, talents, experience, etc. with those of our brothers in the Diaspora so that together we can overcome life’s obstacles and herald the dawning of new era of peace, tranquility, equality, tolerance, unity, reconciliation and development in both our community and country.” This is a statement that is in line with our efforts here in the United States. The group advised us the members of FELMAUSA to “be conscious enough to know what can lead to progress and also what could possibly lead to failure and thus undermine our collective struggle for positive and progressive change.”
Further in its endorsement of candidate Dukuly, the group went on to extol the “gallantry and leadership of some of our kinsmen” through whose struggle we were able “to return to our God-given abode not in shame as some would have love, but with our heads held high with immense pride as the original offspring of the great Sundiata Keita, Mansa Kankan Musa, Alimamy Samory Toure, Gbangunor Saji amongst several others.”
We agree with QAGBODUSA about all said above. On these issues, we are on the same page. But then it goes on to say “there are some among us who have chosen out of malice and other human frailties to desecrate and assassinate the characters of some of our heroes by attempting to dwarf their monumental sacrifices as if what they did was a child’s play that can be repeated by just anybody and so in their mind, we should not honor these people even while they are in our midst.” This statement shows that QUAGBODUSA is fighting on behalf of someone in Monrovia to influence the direction and future of FELMAUSA. There is a speculation that QUAGBODUSA is closely linked with a prominent political figure and that whatever battle QUAGBODUSA is waging is been done as a front for that political boss. Perhaps where QUAGBODUSA sounded more divisive is in the following statement: calling on all Liberian Mandingoes, especially those brothers and sisters who were once members of QUAGBODUSA to overwhelmingly give their support to Brother Mohammed Dukuly who happens to be a former affiliate member of this organization during the short period he attended this University.” Here in FELMAUSA, we don’t identify ourselves as Konyaka, Mandinka or Gbonika, we are all just Mandingoes. That is our common identity and that’s what we celebrate. It seems as if to say that this sense of common Mandingo heritage is not what QUAGBODUSA subscribe to.
In its endorsement of candidate Dukuly, QUAGBODUSA gives the faulty impression that the National Mandingo Caucus Educational Project is financed by FELMAUSA. Here is what QUAGBODUSA says: the National Mandingo Caucus educational project may perhaps now reflect your own name-FELMAUSA-instead of the Caucus which currently is the case. We challenge you to send a fact finding team to Liberia to ascertain whether the scholarship fund launched last year is in FELMAUSA’s name or that of the National Mandingo Caucus of Liberia (NAMCL). As far as Liberian Mandingo youths are concerned, the much talked about scholarship fund drive, is a caucus project and nothing more and nothing less. Except for very few in our midst who have access to the internet and know about your website, are aware that the educational project is owned by FELMUSA and not NAMCL This is the kind of deceit, treachery and illusion that your out-going leadership has been operating under.
QUAGBODUSA goes on to say, “Perhaps, this may sound like a propaganda for Mohammed Dukuly, but you as Felmausians can set the record straight by sending down here an independent fact finding team to assess the impact your hard earned cash has been making since the launch of your educational fund drive.” The truth is, this is a mere propaganda that has no truth in it. This only shows that QUAGBODUSA is either grossly misinformed about the difference between the National Mandingo Caucus’ own scholarship initiative and that of FELMAUSA or it just wants to spread misinformation in the interest of its endorsed candidate and political boss in Monrovia. The fact of the matter is that FELMAUSA has not contributed a cent to the Mandingo Caucus’ scholarship project. The Mandingo Caucus has its own scholarship project that is different from that of FELMAUSA. We understand that some members of QUAGBODUSA are beneficiaries of the Mandingo Caucus’ scholarships. How can they be benefiting from the Caucus’ scholarship initiative and be attacking the organization at the same time?
QUAGBODUSA charged that Richmond Konneh did not have “broad based” meeting with major stick holders in Liberia because QUAGBODUSA was not represented. The group says, “What we gathered after Mr. Konneh had already left these shores was that he met with Musa Bility of the Mandingo Caucus and few others.” The truth is, Richmond Konneh’s visit to Monrovia was intended to identify Mandingo students attending the University of Liberia and other universities and colleges. He had two meetings with those students at the main campus of the University of Liberia and Salafiya School. It is during the second meeting at Salafiya the president of Mandingo Caucus Musa Bility made the announcement of the Caucus’ own $20,000.00 scholarship initiative. Beside this, Musa Bility and Richmond Konneh’s relationship goes beyond FELMAUSA and Caucus. Musa’s big brother Lasana Bility and Richmond Konneh were childhood friends. Richmond and Musa are from the same place, Saclepea, Nimba County. So even if Richmond is not FELMAUSA’s president, it should not surprise anyone to see Richmond Konneh visiting Musa Bility during his trip to Monrovia. It is also interesting to know that during the same visit, Richmond Konneh also met with the Concerned Mandingo Society Organization of Liberia (COMASL).
His junior brother, Vakaba Konneh is a member of COMASL. So QUAGBODUSA’s assertion that if Richmond’s “claims of perpetual presidency are being supported by the ‘Good job he has done’ then what stopped him from working with a genuine broad-based organization that COMASL is instead of settling down for the elitist-driven Caucus that is careless about our people?” FELMAUSA under the Richmond Konneh’s leadership maintains relationship with both the Mandingo Caucus and COMASL. When he returned, he paid out of his own pocket to build a website for COMASL. Both organizations are relevant to the cause of our people. We agree and respect the fact that COMASL is a grassroots organization; we also recognize and respect the fact that the Mandingo Caucus commits $20,000.00 to educating our brothers and sisters. This financial commitment to educating our brothers and sisters is something we appreciate about the Caucus. Even if QUAGBODUSA disagrees with the Caucus, it can’t deny that this initiative of the Caucus is a step in the right direction in the cause of our people. So we harbor no ill feeling towards Musa Bility and the Mandingo Caucus. Musa and other people in the Mandingo Caucus are our own relatives and friends. It’s the same with COMASL and any other organization representing our interests in Liberia or in the Diaspora. All of us goal is the advancement and betterment of the Liberian Mandingo community. How to achieve that goal is where we defer but that should not be the reason for us to be denigrating each other.
Amusingly, QUAGBODUSA asks “how sure are we that petrol dollars did not change hands and could be changing hands right now at the height of this campaign?” Every time I see people saying something or asking questions referencing Musa Bility and “Petrol Dollars” I see a sign of envy and jealousy. Yes, Musa is successful just like many people before him in our community. If he is one of the successful young men of our time in our community shouldn’t we celebrate that success instead of trying to tear down the brother? Even before the announcement of the Caucus’ $20,000.00 scholarship project, Musa has been sponsoring many students at LU and other institutions of higher learning. Think about the Mandingo program “Jekaniko” and the sermons from the mosque broadcast on his radio station, Truth FM on Fridays. These are all contributions Musa should be applauded for instead of trying to denigrate the brother. It is not of any interest to Musa to want to spend money to influence the outcome of FELMAUSA elections in the US. The truth may be that QUAGBODUSA and its political boss in Monrovia want to control FELMAUSA. We hope not. The fact of the matter is that FELMAUSA’s future will be determined by FELMAUSA’s members here in the US and not any political boss or supporters in Monrovia.
Another line of attack on Musa Bility and the Mandingo Caucus is that they are an appendage of the Unity Party led government. True, Musa enjoys great relation with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf but since when it becomes negative to have good relation with president of your country? Back in the day, it was said that Alhaji Sekou Bility had excellent relation with President Tolbert. We were proud of him. Prof. Alhaji Kromah was a closed confidant of President Doe and served in his government as a cabinet minister. We were proud of him. How is these any difference from Musa Bility being a confidant of President Sirleaf?
Our president-elect should beware of the divisive agendas of these groups that endorsed him during the campaign. These Monrovia based groups and their political boss cannot and should not influence his decision as he carries out his duty as president of FELMAUSA. . |
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