Opinions
By Mansfield G.M.Duopu,Minneapolis,Minnesota
I have never been a fan of Martha Sinoe’s leadership style, but I have been appalled in recent time by some posting by Edmond Remi Gray and Kirkpatrick Weah that I think are reprehensible.
I will be the first to admit that Martha is not the most politically astute, and many times has been callow in the many policy debates that the community has struggled with since her ascendancy to the helm of the organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM).
But this does not give Edmond, Kirkpatrick or anyone the right to disparage her by spreading calumnies and spewing venomous invectives at her for narrow political gains.
Those who bent on this lunacy are only alienating themselves from the very community they intend to lead. For a classic example, Edmond wants to be elected on the OLM Board in the forthcoming elections, but he has portrayed himself not as a policy wonk, but as a activist with no political acumen, like Kirkpatrick.
He should be informed that the OLM Board is the policy arm of the organization, and as such, it is charged with setting the policy direction/agenda of the organization. It must reflect independent-minded men and women who will not fall victims to the whims of autocratic leaders.
People should be reminded that the OLM Board elections are not base on a system of proportional representation (remember the political fiasco of 1997 in Liberia?)or bloc interest, but rather, individuals will be vetted on the basis of their competence and gallantry.
I am confused and disheartened to read about people poking fun at Martha and by extension, the OLM.
It is a shame that the likes of Edmond and Kirkpatrick are been used by invisible hands as soldiers of fortune by this malicious adventure. I know it is common knowledge that Kirkpatrick is known for his pedestrian thoughts.
Let it be made clear that it seeks no paeans for bringing to public attention this ugly behavior on the part of our brothers.
They should accept this elementary leadership theory: Leaders are entitled to a certain amount of autonomy, discretion and slack.
I am intellectually prepared to debate the rubrics of these conceptual frameworks in the any public arena/forum.
Talking about conceptual frameworks, there are just a few I would like to discuss in this public setting: In electing a leader, be it political, social, community or religious, there are delegation costs that the electors must at some point in time incur. It is a principal-agent relation. In game theory, it might be a zero-sum game (win-lose) or a variable-sum game (win-win).
The electors in this context are the principals, while the elected are the agents. They act on our behalves, like what a lawyer, doctor or a real estate agent does, like Edmond. I don’t know what Kirkpatrick does, but I heard that he’s into breast cancer research nowadays.
In order to mitigate this delegation cost, we the principal in a democratic community must seek out the best and brightest among us. I am not trying to be an apologist for Martha supposedly uninspiring leadership skills, but I am duty-bound to defend the office of the president of the OLM if it is brought in disrepute. Leadership is for the enlightened and humble. It is not for those who wear mascara and write diatribes fraught with verbosities.
It is then theatrical at best and laughable at worst to entertain the notion that Martha can not take credit for the granting of DED. How dare you tell a CEO that he/she can not take the credit when his/her company stock value increases and the company is experiencing profitability and only attribute that to the employees?
The granting of DED was a policy decision within the domain of the federal government, but it took a concerted effort by our leaders (OLM, LAP, ULAA, EJS, etc), partners, civic and religious leaders and the entire Liberian people in and outside the U.S. to put that issue in the policy realm of states and federal political processes.
I can remember Keith Ellison (D-MN) thanking Martha and all the leaders in our community for working tirelessly and making personal sacrifices on this very important issue. OLM can be proud to report that Minnesota congressional delegates voted 100 percent for the actualization of this historic feat. Thank You
“Power Corrupts, But Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely” - Lord Acton
Mansfield Duopu is a former President of the University of Liberia Students Union(ULSU) and currently a Graduate Student and President of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota’s Prestigious Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Editor @ November 24, 2007
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