At a packed induction ceremony for new leaders of the Reformers National Congress (RNC) in Sinkor’s Tarr Town district on Friday afternoon, former legislator and veteran public servant Tiawan Saye Gongloe delivered a keynote address urging Liberian politicians to embrace selflessness over personal luxury.
Speaking before an audience of party stalwarts, civic advocates and community members, Tiawon S. Gongloe—who has built a reputation as a nonpartisan crusader for governance reform—opened by tackling rumors about his cross-party engagements. He reminded listeners that in recent years he has appeared at conventions of multiple parties, from the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) to the All-Liberia Party (ALP).
“Party membership should not prevent Liberians from consulting, conferring, communicating, cooperating and coordinating their efforts for clear, constructive and concrete solutions to our problems,” Gongloe declared. “We must be guided by the fact that we belong to one nation with one destiny.”
That theme—to rise above partisan labels in pursuit of national progress—served as the foundation for his principal message: selflessness is the key to good leadership.
“Leadership Must Be About Service, Not Self‑Service”
In a speech replete with vivid contrasts, Gongloe painted a stark picture of wasteful extravagance among some public officials. He noted the spectacle of glittering motorcades and private jets set against classrooms with broken benches, clinics without basic medicines and families struggling under extreme poverty.
“True leaders do not measure success by the size of their motorcades, the cost of their convoys or the comfort of their private jets. True leaders measure success by the lives they uplift, the schools they build and the clinics they stock,” he said.
Gongloe pointed to government-issued vehicles that cost upwards of $1.2 million as emblematic of a broader moral failure—public officials disregarding the urgent needs of citizens they are meant to serve. “How can any official in a poor country like Liberia justify earning more than an American holding the same office in the United States?” he asked, his voice rising.
He called on leaders to ask themselves a single question before making any decision: “How will this benefit the people I serve? If it does not serve them, it must not serve you.”
A Call for Practical Sacrifice
Moving from principle to prescription, Gongloe offered concrete examples of the sacrifices he believes Liberia’s leaders must make: Downsizing Motorcades: He urged officials to consolidate their fleets into a single, fuel-efficient vehicle, freeing funds for school desks and textbooks.
Eschewing Private Jets: He implored would‑be officeholders to forgo the luxury of chartered flights in favor of economy‑class seats, redirecting savings toward youth job‑training programs and maternal health supplies.
Redistributing Resources: He asked that budget line items for official travel and accommodation be reallocated to expand rural clinics and purchase essential medicines. “Leadership must be about sacrifice, not self‑indulgence. When a leader puts self above country, the nation suffers. When a leader puts people above position, the nation prospers,” Gongloe asserted.
Beyond the RNC: A National Imperative
Although his remarks were delivered to the RNC—a smaller opposition party—Gongloe emphasized that the ethos of selflessness transcends party lines. He described himself as part of a “beyond‑party movement for Liberia’s progress and prosperity,” one that seeks to mend the deep political fissures that have hampered development since the end of the civil war.
He reminded attendees of Liberia’s collective responsibility to safeguard democracy by defending fundamental freedoms. “Every Liberian citizen is guaranteed the rights to freedom of movement and speech under the Liberian Constitution,” he said, warning that intimidation or attempted coercion by any group or individual threatens national stability.
Gongloe minced no words in condemning those who would resort to fear tactics. His comments echoed recent admonitions from civil society and religious groups that have decried the resurgence of wartime mentalities among former combatants turned political influencers.
Cementing a Legacy of Compassion
As the induction ceremony neared its conclusion, Gongloe called on the newly sworn‑in RNC leaders to mark the occasion not merely as a ceremonial rite but as the birth of “your collective consciousness as a political party.” He urged them to codify selflessness into their party platform and internal code of conduct.
“May your tenure be defined not by the size of your personal accumulation, but by the depth of your compassion for the people,” he said, concluding to sustained applause.
His final exhortation resonated with a broader plea for ethical leadership at a time when Liberia prepares for crucial elections in the coming year. By championing the maxim that “government is a place to serve, not to steal,” Tiawan Saye Gongloe’s address underscored a message that both established and aspiring politicians will find hard to ignore in Liberia’s ongoing quest for peace and development, selflessness remains the greatest currency of leadership.
