From all indications I can tell that Ms. Fahnbulleh does not really know me; equally so I can vouch say that she does/did not know Dr. Edward Bianyah Kesselly, based on my knowledge of that man. For the man Dr. Kesselly whom I knew was never a plagiarist or one who indulged in the use of other people’s ideas and/or thoughts without giving the latter due credit; for he was a scholar and an honorable, gentle man. Indeed, I may have been in the second tier of those he recruited to help build and organize Unity Party; luckily for me, I ended up being his “Peter”. We worked very closely in creating and developing the Party’s manifesto.  But as close as we were, I was never told by Dr. Edward B. Kesselly of the late Amb. Henry Boima Fahnbulleh’s involvement with the founding of Unity Party, as is now being claimed by Ms. Miatta Fahnbulleh; nor did I ever see the honorable Ambassador at ANY of the organizing meetings of that Party, during one of which I was elected its first Chairman. And this was back in 1984. So as far as I am concerned, THE ONLY, TRULY FOUNDING FATHER of Unity Party was/is the man Edward Binyah Kesselly; it is only under his cloak and in his footsteps that even I can dare claim Founding Fatherhood. Now, let me make one thing clear here:  I say all this abundantly cognizant of the fact that it is a cardinal sin in traditional culture for the living to tell a lie on the dead. It is therefore a solemn oath for all who are imbued in the traditional culture not to tell a lie when speaking of those who have past.   

Meanwhile, it may be instructive for Ms. Fahnbulleh and all others who hold her claim that I only attended a meeting with the Ambassador and Dr. Kesselly (at the latter’s behest) once in Caldwell; at this time the Ambassador was pitifully in his latter days. And as Ms. Fahnbulleh would agree, this was no founding fathers’ meeting time. It was such a  heartrending moment for me to have to interpret English for a man (the Ambassador) who had been so eloquent and downrightly fluent in that language. It brought tears to my eyes!  But that’s what I became that day of our meeting (an interpreter between two scholars), and it was the first and last time the three of us ever met! I was so overwhelmed by the phenomenon of one losing one’s ability to speak a language in this way.   I wonder where Ms. Fahnbulleh (the Ambassador’s oldest child) was at this time.  But then, I guess that’s not my business, huh?    

Ms. Fahnbulleh in her write-up speaks of two of her cousins (“Ruth Sando Perry and Gayah Fahnbulleh, niece and nephew of Amb. Fahnbulleh, Sr. and interim custodians of this party [Unity Party]…”) selling that Party to the present Standard Bearer, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in 1997.  I have no clue of such transaction. One thing I can definitely say about these two fine persons of Unity Party is that I, S. Jabaru Carlon, recruited them into the Party, NOT their uncle or anyone else! Ruth, I recruited to run in the 1985 elections as one of UP’s senatorial candidates from Cape Mount County; and Gayah, much later on after these elections, because I saw in him a youthful exuberance that I thought could be useful for UP’s future. I must say that I’ve not been disappointed in these two recruits of mine.  Gayah’s late father, “Tonieh Gayah” (as he was popularly known), had asked me to become a father surrogate to his son and I promised  him I would, as he (Tonie) and I were good friends; a relationship (with the younger Gayah) that continues to this day.  

Furthermore, I want to emphasize that as far as I know, Dr. Edward Binyah Kesselly was and still is the only Founding Father of Unity Party. And I declare so without fear of or favor from/for anyone. Even I, would be most dishonest to claim such an honor, in spite of my close association and arduous work with him during those incipient, turbulent years and beyond. In this vein also, I would be most disdained of and disgusted with anyone who would denigrate him by attempting to disrobe him of the singular honor as UP’s Founder. And I would challenge any soul on earth or in heaven to come forth with any genuine document that would substantiate Ms. Miatta Fahnbulleh’s disclaimer. As my memory serves me well, most major documents of UP in those early days were produced by Dr. Edward Binyah Kesselly and me, over club beer [when available] and patched peanuts in our little nuke on Buchanan Street. I can still recall his expression of joy and satisfaction whenever we put out a good one, he’d say: “Herr Professor, book sweet, but it’s hard!” He never missed a moment to call me “Herr Professor” and I’d respond with, “That’s right, Herr Doctor” and we’d proffer a toast of club beer. At this juncture I would like to educate Miatta on the “for those of us” referred to in my little write-up recently at the Unity Party Convention in Gbarnga.  That phrase refers to those of us who dared found an opposition party in the face of a hawkish, dictatorial military regime such as we had in 1985; I refer to those of us who chose to have patched peanuts and cold water or club beer (when affordable) for lunch, while others of our compatriots dined in the most dainty restaurants; I refer to those of us who were locked up in the dingy, dark cells of the Barclay Training Center (BTC), while others castigated us as “street corner” politicians; others of us were even sent to the jungle dungeons of Belle Yallah; I refer to those of us who were denied jobs because we refused to join the Almighty NDPL of the military coup makers and  their henchmen; I refer to those of us who dared challenge those who threatened our lives; indeed, I refer to those of us whose families (nucleus and extended) suffered all manner of human indignity on account of our choices and actions; yea, I refer to those of us who lay our necks on the chopping log for LAP, LUP and UP. Incidentally, for those who may wish to know, the idea of a merger of those three parties (LAP, LUP and UP) started some twenty-four years ago - in 1986.  I don’t think Ms. Fahnbulleh’s claim can see the light of day in any of these categories. Or am I lying again, Ms. Fahnbulleh?

It is my recollection back in 1997, when I was invited to attend a canvassing meeting with Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her entourage from Liberia.  I left Philadelphia very early that morning in order to make the 10 o’clock meeting of UP in Silver Spring, Maryland.  Following all the rallying and pep talks the visiting group from Liberia and a few of us drove to Chairman Charles Clarke’s home for light refreshments.  It was here that I decided to raise (very respectfully) the point of her joining Unity Party, with the woman who had now become the Standard Bearer and Presidential Candidate of the Party, as follows:  “I have a bone to pick with you, Ellen; how dare you leave me here [in the U.S.A.], go to Liberia and hijack my Party [UP] without a word to me?”  Being the kind of suave politician I knew her to be, she quickly apologized in the most traditional manner, and for me I was finished with that: as in the words of our Lord long ago to the harlot, “Your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more.”  This should tell Miatta and those who think like she, that those of us who founded UP were and are prepared to defend and protect it to the death.  Also, that Ellen’s  response to my query at that time was based in the truth she knew only too well; as she remembers vividly the hell-water we all waded in to found our various parties – she in LAP and I in UP.  Accordingly, Ms. Fahnbulleh, I am telling “the Liberian people”  the “fact truth” as I know it, without fear “to bite the hands that feed you [me].”  So as I see it, your “father is [not or may not be] turning in his grave to see the parade of actors straddling the stage of the Unity Party”.  Instead, did you ever wonder if such “turning in his grave” could be due to the neglect you may have shown over the years for the “legacy” he left you  and others in the claim you now lay on his founding Unity Party?  Or did it ever cross your mind that Unity Party could have been anything but an association of “carpet-begging”, (as some had perceived) though brave men and women?  And did it ever touch your soul that it was worth your while to join UP so as to contribute your quota to  that legacy, if indeed it ever was, as you now claim it is?  Think of these things, Miatta; for I am sure the Ambassador is lying comfortably in his grave, given the visionary he was and the fine life he lived.  He belonged to all of us (i.e., all of us academicians, Cape Mountainians, Liberians), you know?  May his soul rest in perfect peace and may light perpetual shine on him. 

Finally, Ms. Miatta Fahnbulleh, I figure you are aware that like your late father, whom I had high regard for, I, too, came from humble village beginnings. Thank God we were both fortunate to learn as much as we did, me without a father; supported from childhood only by a single mother who was never schooled like him (your father) and me. Albeit, I am proud of my achievements; so much so that I do not lie to anyone for anything. Indeed, I must agree with you in part that we [Liberians] “live [today] in a society built on falsehood and deception…” To me, this is a sermon that’s being preached to the converted and not the sinner. The interesting irony in all this, though, is the fact that you have (wittingly or unwittingly) contributed to that societal ill (of falsehood and deception), instead of sharing “the truth and [truly setting] the records straight…”, as you purport to be engaged in. Clearly, this is a sermon many of us have been grappling with and continue to do so all our lives. I wish I had the time to take you to task, Ms. Fahnbulleh, to have you prove your accusation of me as a liar; but I am not interested in such a diatribe any further. Suffice it to say that it was a long time ago when I deliberately told a lie - since the death of my sainted mother, some 33 years ago. For like all good people who love and respect their mothers, I found myself lying to her only out of great respect. But at this point in my life, there is no constraint over me to tell a lie. And so, as far as I am concerned, this case is considered effectively CLOSED! In response to a friend who recently asked me, “Why did Miatta wait all these years pass to raise a dead case?” I have no idea, and don’t care to know. Let those who believe in beating a dead horse, continue to do so, for what ever reason.  

Please click here for Miatta's claim

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