My attention was drawn to the 1847 and 1986 versions of the Constitution of Liberia, both of which call for “two senators from each county, which may be hereafter incorporated into this Republic.” Both versions of the Liberian Constitution contain no reference to or stipulation for how new counties come into being.

And therein lies the proverbial “Pandora’s Box.” Anyone can create a new county by fiat, begin receiving a humongous lawmaker’s paycheck without any rationale, and life goes on, or so it seems, for the neediest of those among us.

However, it is necessary to note that too many smaller counties are unnecessary and downright burdensome. The constant mushrooming of tiny breakaway counties in an undeveloped nation like Liberia increases the national budget without creating resources from which to sustain an ever-growing budget.

In the absence of constitutional restraints – which would make it more difficult to create new counties at the wishes and whims of politicians – Liberia could soon have an overwhelming number of counties equivalent to the number of language groups in the land: now 39 total, according to the most recent report by the U.S.-based Joshua Project, which researches and identifies ethnic groups in nations of the world.

If, for no other reason, Liberia today desperately needs constitutional restraints – moderation, prudence, and self-discipline – to save the nation and its people from a political subculture which was the subject of a no-holds-barred book over 41 years ago.

The author noted: “In Liberia, as in most other developing nations, government employment is the principal source of income for the elites. The costs of running the government impose heavy financial burdens on the rest of the country.”

In other words, every time you unreasonably create a new county in Liberia, you “impose heavy financial burdens on the rest of the country.”

Remember these timeless words by America’s 31^st president, Herbert Clark Hoover: “Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.”

He was being sarcastic. The heavy debt we leave behind is never a blessing to our children, but a bane and a burden. Besides, by increasing government payroll – paying officials salaries and wages not even earned by most skilled people in the Western world – one thing is clear: “The costs of running the government impose heavy financial burdens on the rest of the country.”

But this would not be the first time a proposal has been floated to create smaller counties from a larger county in Liberia. In fact, it has been successfully accomplished in the past. The number of breakaway teeny-weeny counties in Liberia today has become a prototype and point of reference for Nimba to split itself up into two or more counties. No one in the room seems to be asking the adult question: Are they better off since they broke away? Or do they still feel neglected and forgotten by central government?

Think about it.

A National Treasure Trove

Nimba is historically unique to Liberia and has helped contribute to our homeland becoming the Land of Liberty, the Gem of West Africa, and the Lone Star which championed the cause of continental African freedom for over a century. Historic Nimbaland (now Nimba) has nothing to gain by breaking up; rather much to protect: its multiple pristine glory, wrapped up in the following accolades:

• Birthplace of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) – where the founding principles of the OAU were crafted in mid-1959 by three distinguished West African Leaders:  William V.S. Tubman (Liberia); Ahmed Sekou Toure (Guinea); and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) evidenced by the “OAU Monument” still standing in Sanniquellie City (Nimba County) today.
• Springboard of Tubman’s National Unification Policy (1959-1971) – as a result of President Tubman unveiling his National Integration and Unification Policy during the Second Unification Council held in Sanniquellie (Nimba County) early 1959; thus linking coastal and leeward Liberia for years that followed.
• Liberia’s Economic Stronghold (for over 50 years) – due to extensive iron ore mining operations in Mount Nimba since the mid-1960s; although Nimba still waits on the circumference of Liberian society to enjoy some benefits of its God-given resources. The county remains “potentially” rich.
• National Brain Gain – Blessed with some of Liberia’s best, boldest and brightest minds (past and present): men and women whom you would normally turn to and engage in the search for national reconciliation, reconstruction, and renewal; rather than work behind the scenes to disintegrate.

An undivided Nimba is a national treasure trove for the Republic of Liberia to meaningfully recognize, preserve, promote, and celebrate instead of breaking it up for political gains.

Natural Resources: Bane or Blessing
For purposes of regional and national security, Nimbaians cannot afford to divide their county, where Mount Nimba stands exclusively in the northeast section; and nowhere else in the rest of the county. Creating new splinter counties could mean internecine conflict (equally destructive to all sides) in the event that one small county is left with Mount Nimba and all the riches in its territory. You don’t need a rocket scientist, not even a soothsayer, to underscore the unpredictable fallout.

Finally, here is a parting word to the various echelons of Liberian leadership. If your government appeals to your conscience to rethink your relatively high salaries – in one of the “poorest” nations on Planet Earth today – just do what other “pro-poor governments” do: collectively reduce your salaries across the board, based on percentages and job categories.

Meet behind closed doors and discuss national issues to present a common agenda to the world, and stop doing your laundry in the public square. Remember the saying, “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.” The average ordinary citizen or resident suffers every time big shots disagree and delay tackling national issues collectively and responsibly.

Other nations are NOT better than Liberia; they just approach their problems better. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” (Psalm 33:12, NIV).

Featured photo by Jefferson Krua