A few days ago, there was a posting on the internet captioned "Eminent Council Endorses Kesseley." It immediately created pandemonium and led to more and more chaos, as several people were flabbergasted. They began to wonder, what is going on? What eminent council? But yes, ala, for the foolish ways of schemers soon exposed them, as they claimed to have voted to make a supposedly wise decision!

What is it to be "eminent?" The word comes from a Latin word, eminens, which means stand out - standing out so as to be readily perceived or noted.

When you consider the term with reference to a person, it means a person of high rank, station or quality; noteworthy; outstanding, as in character or performance; distinguished. He/she is illustrious and conservative and towering or standing out above others.

As founders, former Board Chairmen and Presidents, one would expect that they would have distinguished themselves accordingly with reference to their self-professed "eminence," by elevating their deeds and actions to a prudent scale of such magnitude.

They are supposed to be wise people that use wisdom to make decision. But in this case, everyone is still wondering about the basis of their motivation. The aftermath of their ill-fated, malnourished and miserable decision has proven to be predicated on prejudice, vengeance, and irrational self-seeking vendetta.

In the traditional African setting, they would otherwise be considered like the "elders" of the town or village. In the customary village setting, when there is a conflict in the community, the elders do not make decisions in the absence of meeting the people involved. They would call the parties concerned and give them a day in court. Yes, indeed, they would give them an opportunity to be heard, to explain their side and then, they would use their wisdom of many years of leadership, participation and experience to make a decision, which would save the village from the chaos, the shame or danger hovering above the people.

They do not merely act by vote for the sake of counting the number of ballots, but they make wise decision not by creating more division and fueling additional chaos; They build consensus for an understanding as a way out of a problem; They must appreciate that while knowledge may come by breaking up and taking things apart, wisdom, on the other hand, comes by putting things, the broken pieces, together.

They do not make decision in the vacuum, they investigate, they consider the input and opinions of all parties, they listen, they consult, they analyze, and they unite; they do not take side based on emotion or prejudice only to attend a bogus ball or a fake inauguration. They act like parents to all, they act on principles and when they listen and speak, all must listen. Have these so-called eminent council ever listened at all? Never! No way!

The model of forming an eminent council came out of a 2003 effort led by Gus Major, Leslie N. Cole, Sr, Al B. Toe and other founders and former leaders of ULAA.

The Board had a major problem and there was a slip. As distinguished and eminent men, they first listened to all the parties, then they analyzed, consulted amongst themselves, investigated, and they drew a logical conclusion. They were honored in restoring sanity to the union. They put the Union first, and not a selfish ego to attend a fake ball. There were evidently transgressions and injustice, and the people need to be heard. As proof of their wisdom, their eminence, their decision was the final verdict that was accepted and honored by all the parties. However, with today’s so-called "Eminent Persons," they have failed to demonstrate common sense; They refused to listen and, so, they have only helped to create more confusion and division in our various communities and leaderships. Shame be unto them for failing such a grand opportunity to right the wrongs and help spare ULAA from the unending crisis of selfishness and vain self-pride.

In this case, members of the so-called eminent council are only political "cheering squads." By their action, they disgraced themselves, they undermined their own integrity. Do these people - Tom Jucontee Woewiyu, Bai Gbala, Arthur K. Watson, Siahyonkron Nyanseor, Jesse Cooper, and Mydea Reeves- Karpeh, have any integrity and the very purpose and essence of the eminent council? This was a betrayal of ULAA in a classic sellout, a tradeoff of principle, the ultimate interest of ULAA, in exchange for friendship, emotion and vengeance! These people have not helped but harmed the union greatly. There is now no one of integrity and wisdom to intervene in case of any future conflict. This is a travesty and a miscarriage of justice! This is just outrageously ridiculous!

"In light of the prevailing disagreements, conflicts and factionalism within the membership of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Inc., leading to the organization of a parallel administration, this public statement is made to "clear the air" in respect of the position of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP).

The question is if the so-called eminent council is aware that there are prevailing disagreements, conflicts and factionalism within the membership of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Inc., leading to the organization of a parallel administration, what did they do or what have they done to right the wrong? Did they at any time invite the respective parties to hear them out? Has their vote to attend Kesseley’s bogus ball or fake inauguration changed any thing? Do they know that they have hurt the Union by their selfish design and self-serving ego?

Even the elders in the village will not make a decision in a matter without according the parties the due process. At least, our parents and forbearers do demonstrate an appreciation for the doctrine of due process. What about this so-called "Eminent Council?" Why did they blow it up big, big time? Are the self-styled and so-called "ULAA Eminent Council Persons" wise or foolish? Are they wise or foolish? Indeed, by their senseless decision, they have proven the saying that, "Many people might have attained wisdom had they not assumed that they already had it." The shameful situation of the self-professed "ULAA Eminent Council Persons" is a classic case in point. They have failed ULAA! They have Liberia! They have failed history!

For example, the so-called eminent council claimed that, "...The UCEP is not only disturbed but also quite concerned by the growing controversies and vicious conflicts surrounding the last ULAA National Elections (the electoral process), in regards to interpretations, misinterpretations, transparency and accountability involving the ULAA Presidential and General Elections held in Pittsburgh October 2008." Can anyone believe that they are not only disturbed but also quite concerned by the growing controversies and vicious conflicts surrounding the last ULAA National Elections, when they have done nothing, but take sides and undermine their creditability? Everyone is disappointed at the negligent manner they have conducted themselves so recklessly with reference to this matter.

The General Assembly
"While we may not agree on all of the issues that caused the current division in the Union, we feel that the General Assembly is the highest decision making body in the Union, and for any decision to be binding, it has to come out of the General Assembly…." Who can believe such a statement? This is a fallacy! The disgraced so-called "Eminent Council" could not fail any more in exposing their hidden agenda that is based on friendship, emotion and vengeance. Shame be unto them for failing ULAA so miserably!

The Union constitution clearly states according to CHAPTER VI, Article 37 that "The National General Assembly ("The Assembly") shall be the highest institution of the Union and the forum for the mass participation of member-organizations and foreign friends of Liberia (Institutions) in the policy and decision-making processes of the Union…

However, Article 38 states that, "The National General Assembly shall have the power and authority to formulate new policies and make new decisions for the Union, which shall be reviewed, and if deemed fair and feasible, enacted into laws, rules and regulations by the elected representatives of member-organizations seated on the National Board of Directors. According to this provision, technically and legally, the Board is the highest decision making body of ULAA. The board has to "review, and if deemed fair and feasible, enact into laws, rules and regulations.’

Granted that there were even any legitimate General Assembly convened in Pittsburgh, can the General Assembly usurp or take on the function and responsibility of any organ, commission, committee or branch of this union? No! Never!

Just about every chapter or section of the ULAA Elections Law was violated, especially, deliberately, with a calculated agenda to enthrone a pre-arranged and pre-ordained self-chosen winner. What transpired during the process, culminating to the Pittsburgh scandal is nothing more than a profoundly corrupt enterprise, erected on various constitutional violations, countless acts of embezzlement and a grand scheme of subordinating the Union, the greater good to that of a self-serving and hidden agenda.

That the self-styled and so-called "ULAA Eminent Council" made a dejected and crestfallen decision, that will forever be remembered in the annals of history, as the ill-fated blunder that failed ULAA, Liberia and history. Shame be unto the ostensibly so-called and failed politicians mistakenly calling themselves "Eminent." They are unwise and foolish!

Benoni Tarr Grimes (BPA, MA) is the Managing Editor of the People-to-People Media Network. He is also former member of ULAA Board of Directors (2003-2005) and Chairman of ULAA Election Commission (2005-2008). Contact: E-mail: grimesbenoni@msn.com and Tel: 612-703-2963