The new entrant to the presidential race in 2023, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe has vowed to stop stealing in government if given the opportunity to serve the country as President come 2023, saying besides adhering to the rule of law, it is in conformity to the 8th commandment in the Holy Bible which states, “Thou Shall Not Steal”, as he and others were taught in Sunday schools..
The renowned human rights activist made the assertion during a mass meeting held on Sunday, December 5, 2021, in Ganta, Nimba County when he met with religious groups, mainly from the Christian community, to inform them of his intent of contesting the Presidency in 2023.
Cllr. Gongloe who has not told anyone on which political party he will be contesting the presidency is aware that those who are in such habit of stealing are in public offices and will want to fight back to protect their syndicate but said he will rely on the rule of law or the 8th Commandment “Thou Shall Not Steal”, which he made simple “Thou Shall Not Steal Government’s Money”
Those in attendance came from the United Liberian Inland Church, Trumpet Baptist Central Church, Evangelical Free Church of West Africa, Christian Bible Church, among others
He believes the only way to achieve this is to elect a person who has served the people without stealing their money. Therefore, the election of a person who does not steal the government’s money is important.
“Because if the president does not steal his or her cabinet ministers and those who serve under them will not steal thereby promoting strict adherence to the rule of law,” Gongloe said.
He went further that he wanted to stop stealing by applying count#8 of the Ten commandments.
“Thou shall not steal. I have held this in my life and I want to continue with it because of one thing we learned in Sunday’s school: “Thou Shall Not Steal.”
“Indeed, I don’t have money but I have integrity given me by Bong and Nimba Counties. There is no record in my public life be it the private or public sector that my hand ever found in the cookie jar,” he boasted.
Responding to him, however, the religious community, mainly the Christian welcomed Gongloe’s desire but cautioned him to be careful of the “deceit” in Liberia’s contemporary body politics. They said Liberians always hail “crooks or bad” people and not those who are “honest” or “have integrity” by being corruption free as one of the public servants like him to serve them.
The group sounded the warning Sunday, 05 December, when Gongloe and entourage met with the Christian community of Nimba County in Ganta, central Liberia, informing them of his desires.
Pastor Arthur Gboewehyee, of the Trumpet Central Baptist Church on behalf of the community in a strong comment urged Gongloe to be careful of those around him as not everybody or anybody may like his style of leadership. He said Liberians don’t like “honest or too strict” forward kind of people like he (Gongloe) who always discipline his own or those close to him first before reaching out or in the distance.
Gboewehyee said there are many other vices such that are keeping Liberia from not making progress following years of civil war but other countries who have had the same experience like Liberia.
“Liberians prefer to defend or protect the interests of those who are stealing from them and are living fabulous lifestyles but mouth-bath those who are striving by wanting to make the country a better place for everyone to live,” he noted.
Gongloe is a founding member of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), current Chairman of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), lecturer Louise Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia, and outgoing President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA)
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