On 26, July, 2024, the Liberian Nation celebrated its 177th Independence Day with one of the country’s world-class scholars, authors and rights activists serving as a National Orator.
Orator Robtel Neajai Pailey, (PhD), a Professor of Economics and Political Science at the London School of Economics, in her Oratory, which had as its official Theme: “Building a New Liberia for All Liberians” pinpointed the causes, factors and antecedents of Liberia’s Independence, its essence, gains and challenges.
“When I think of Liberia’s birth as a nation, I often picture fists of all shapes and sizes raised in the air. Because our declaration of independence on July 26, 1847 was a revolutionary act of defiance,” she added.
According to the Orator, “Back then, when blackness was synonymous with bondage, we Liberians dared to be free.
“ Inspired by our Haitian sisters and brothers, who had led the first successful slave revolt in history, we dared to reclaim black personhood. Decades later, when our beloved continent was being carved up in the European ‘scramble for Africa’, swallowed whole by colonialism, we dared to be sovereign.
“In fact, our very existence as Africa’s first black republic inspired a “race benighted”. Lest we forget, our declaration of defiance happened nearly a century before independence movements began in earnest across this continent,” she told the Nation.
Another key point stressed by Orator Pailey is that “dignity must define Liberians” by prioritizing both nation-building and state-building.
According to her, “For the last two decades, Liberia has focused almost exclusively on state-building at the expense of nation-building.”
However, she added that “one cannot succeed without the other. Whereas state-building concerns strengthening government institutions—such as policies, laws, courts and legislatures—nation-building is about improving the relationships that govern our lives.
While nation-building is ‘people centric’ and internally driven, requiring national agency, ownership, and resources, state- building is ‘institution centric’ and often externally-supported with international resources,” she elucidated.
As if these cogent analyses were not enough, she indicated that state-building focuses on building physical infrastructure—roads, bridges, ports, etc—nation-building focuses on building human infrastructure, that is, the psychosocial, emotional, mental and communal wellbeing of citizens.
“State-building lifts Liberia by improving the government’s ability to provide privileges and protections; nation-building lifts Liberians by enabling citizens to demand representation, rights and resources while also fulfilling responsibilities,” the renowned scholar emphasized.
In indeed, we at The INDEPENDENT Newspaper fully concur with this world-class and respected Liberian professor.
This is why we are also encouraging us all, as Liberians, to focus more on the development of the country at all of its strata and place premium on the socio-economic empowerment of all and sundry.
Dr. Pailey also advanced a number of key recommendations including the need for Liberians to embrace the true values of freedom and work together to provide opportunities for every Liberian to live a dignified life in the country.
“We are at a crucial moment in our nation’s history. We have a rare opportunity to come together and truly embody the meaning of freedom, and to build a nation that reflects the diversity of Liberia. Let’s work towards creating a country we can be proud to pass on to future generations,” she stressed.
Orator Pailey: “As we celebrate the 177th anniversary of our independence, we honor and remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, including the founding fathers who envisioned a land of freedom, liberty, and justice. We also pay tribute to the champions of democracy who followed.”
“By their sweat, tears, and blood, we were bequeathed a new culture of democracy that is holding its own and celebrated by the world,” Dr. Pailey indicated.
However, the Orator told the Nation that “As we look around, we see that not everyone can enjoy the freedom and sovereignty that our independence promises. Many people still suffer from hunger, homelessness, illness, poverty, and injustice.”
She asked rhetorically: “What good is our freedom and independence when so many of our fellow citizens are struggling?”
She added that “History has placed us at the confluence of a turbulent past and a hopeful and prosperous future.”
“We either look back and do business the way we have done it for decades and fail our people, or look forward, setting our face like a flint in an onward march to transform our country despite our historical challenges and other foundational problems,” she narrated.
According to her, “Liberia is a country with a rich history, but it has been slow to progress. We have the chance to change the direction of our country and move away from the self-imposed struggles we have faced since gaining independence 177 years ago.”
“Liberia has great potential, and it’s our responsibility as the current generation to take advantage of this opportunity and improve our country so that everyone has a better chance at a good life,” the Orator further asserted.
She asserted that now is the time for us to come together and use our collective strengths to propel Liberia towards an inclusive future and that the decisions we make today will leave a lasting impact for generations to come.
For too long, Liberia has faced challenges that have divided us. Historical structural barriers have not only made it difficult for a large segment of our population, especially those in the interior of the country to access services; they have curtailed their ability to earn and sustain respectable livelihoods.
The structure of our economy has led to significant inequality, which has fueled social tensions and conflicts. Furthermore, a small group of people have exploited the government for their personal gain.
She spoke of many other factors that have contributed to tensions, creating divisions in society based on wealth, class, ethnicity, and other factors that lead to conflicts.
Indeed, we must strive to show a unified vision and a strong commitment to building a new Liberia that includes all Liberians, regardless of ethnic group, religion, or circumstances.
The new Liberia must be a society where every citizen has equal educational opportunities, ensuring that every child has access to quality education regardless of their location in the country.
It also means providing healthcare that reaches every corner of our nation, preventing unnecessary suffering and deaths from preventable diseases.
With our resolve to build a Liberia for all, this should not be a problem. Additionally, it entails creating employment opportunities with fair wages, lifting families out of poverty, and empowering Liberian entrepreneurs to innovate and grow.
Together, let us seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a new Liberia for all Liberians, where every citizen can have the opportunity to flourish. We cannot ask for more or less, and we must not fail our people and generations to come.
The path ahead may not be easy, but with determination and solidarity, we can leap into a future where Liberia shines brightly on the global stage.
Indeed, just as Dr. Pailey, we too want to encourage Liberians at home and abroad to ensure that nothing less than dignity define us, a sovereign and Independent Nation, whether rain or shine.
