Why cautious optimism? Because African Petroleum, the prospecting company that found the oil in their Narina-1 exploratory well, said they had made a “potentially significant” oil discovery. But the company quickly emphasized that development of that discovery would take several years.
Because the discovery is not yet definitive (absolutely certain, especially in terms of quantity), we should be cautiously optimistic (hopeful but not foolish) that the oil is there, in commercial quantities.
This means we should not go about boasting that we have struck oil and should soon start enjoying life. That is precisely what we should NOT do.
Nor should we start counting our chickens before they are hatched. We should wait until we are sure that the oil is present in significant commercial quantities. And while we wait, we must start planning how it should be exploited, how we keep ourselves from being exploited, and how it would benefit the country. We must begin now to accelerate the preparation of trained man and woman power to work in all aspects of the petroleum industry, so that we don’t find ourselves importing experts that take the money right back out of the country.
Let us pray to the good Lord that the discovery is authentic and true, and in substantial quantities, that will help us to accelerate our national development efforts.
By sobriety of spirit we mean that we Liberians should, at long last, practice abstinence, temperance, moderation and clear-headedness. This means that neither the government, nor the agency and people responsible for managing the oil, should go on a spending spree. Rather, every cent of the money should be very carefully planned, prudently spent as needed, and the rest saved, so that it is used in the “maximum” (to quote Dr. McClain) interest of the Liberian nation and people.
By the same token, those working in the oil sector will undoubtedly be well paid. Use your money wisely and refrain from going on drinking binges and living ‘the good life.’ Let it be said, for once, that “These Liberians are spending their money wisely”— investing in education , agriculture, infrastructure and industry.
Finally, by seriousness of purpose we mean the government and the people of Liberia should begin to think strategically about what we will do with our oil wealth. The first thing you DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT DO is to build a new capital. That could come later, yes, but not until every town and village has well equipped, staffed and internet-connected schools that offer vocational and technical education. Not until each village and town has decent housing, safe drinking water, reliable electricity and health facilities to ensure effective and comprehensive prenatal, postnatal and pediatric care. Not until farm-to-market roads are in place all over Liberia and every Liberian farmer is lifted up, at long last, from subsistence farming and into the market economy.
Not until we achieve 100% adult literacy and have first class institutions of higher learning.
The money should also be used to empower Liberians in business and help them develop their entrepreneurial capacity, the only means by which we will begin to have a greater stake in our economy. We should not sit here, as we have done in the past 70 years, since the advent of the Tubman administration, and allow others to benefit from our wealth, while we wallow in poverty, squalor and serfdom.
May God grant that we will get it right this time and move our people and country up the ladder of development, equity and prosperity.
Singapore did it without gold, diamond, iron ore, forests and oil. We have all these and more. There is no need to wait.
Now is the time for Liberians to take the great leap forward! Let us make oil and all other resources with which the God of nations has endowed us, not a curse, but a bountiful blessing!
