MONROVIA: Former Foreign Affairs Minister Olubanke King-Akerele has called on former President George Manneh Weah to speak against the behavior of his Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), which he said was promoting hate messages and engaging in provocation.
Madam King-Akerele observed that there is simply too much hate speech, violence, and hatred all over the country, which she noted is something provocative and uncalled for, expressing belief that these factors have the propensity of taking the country down the road it doesn’t want to go.
The Liberian Stateswoman spoke recently at the 95th birthday anniversary celebration of the late Madam Mary Brownell in Monrovia. The program was organized by the “Liberia Institute of Growing Patriotism” and was held Tuesday, March 12, 2024 in Monrovia.
Former Foreign Minister Akerele pointed out, all political parties, especially the opposition, should be mindful of the respect and recognition that the world and Africa is giving to former President George M. Weah for how he acknowledged the Victory of President Boakai.
At the backdrop of this, the Stateswoman therefore, admonished former President Weah to not lose the respect being awarded him and Liberia.
“His party, the CDC people,” she said, “are advocating and promoting hate messages, and engaging in provocation. We urged him to speak, to discourage their party from inciting their members, she added.
She said she went to Uganda and Rwanda three times to the United Nations and so she knows what she is alluding to. “We can’t afford hate speeches and messages that are provocative to destroy our country again “she indicated.
The security assessment of Liberia by ECOWAS and the United Nations Mission in Ivory Coast (UNM), she said, would deter eventualities that could take Liberia down the road of conflict and violence again.
She told the gathering that her request is due to the security and threats facing the nation and the Sub-region, and the recent imperative surrounding the country.
“Giving the security threat in the Sub-region, and that which is also facing our nation and neighbor and the imperative surrounding Liberia, we strongly believe and urge the new administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to seriously consider and make a request to UN Mission in Ivory Coast, and the ECOWAS to come and undertake a security assessment and evaluation facing Liberia” King-Akerele said.
According to the founder and Executive Director of Liberia Institute for Growing Patriotism, the organizer of the occasion, indeed there is simply too much hate speeches, violence and hatred all over the country, something she described as provocative and uncalled for.
She believes that these factors have the propensity to will or may take the country down the road it doesn’t want to go.
The former Liberian Foreign Minister, therefore proposed that ECOWAS and UN assess Liberia for what she believes is a security threat facing the country, in consideration of security threats at home and in the region.
She said all parties, especially the opposition, must bear in mind the respect and recognition that the world and Africa is giving former President George M. Weah for how he acknowledged the victory of President Boakai, pointing out that former President Weah himself should not lose the respect awarded to him and Liberia for his stance during the 2023 democratic elections in the country.
Although she did not cite a specific case, Madam King-Akerele noted that former President Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is promoting hate messages and engaging in provocation, urging the former President to speak on the behavior of his party.
“I went to Uganda and Rwanda three times to the United Nations, so I know what I’m talking about. We can’t afford hate speeches and messages that are provocative to destroy our country again,” she asserted.
The program was attended by dozens of Citizens gathered at the residence of the late Madam Mary Brownell in celebration of her 95th birthday anniversary.
The gathering which brought together prominent past and present statesmen and women including Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe, Dr. H. Boimah Fahnbulleh, Aunty Mitta Fahnbulleh current Dr. Emmanuel Urey-Yarkpawolo among others to reflect on the role of Ma. Mary Brownell in the promotion and sustainability of peace, democracy and security.
During the occasion, more than twelve individuals were awarded the Judge Emma Shannon Walser Medal of Good Governance, the Rule of Law and Patriotism. The honors were in light of their valuable services to humanity, society, and country.
They included Dr. Florence Alletta Chenoweth, Dr. Israel D. Nah, Dr. Ayele Ajavon-Cox, Dr. Robert Gbatlae Tikpor, Dr. Hannah Adeodu Bowen-Jones, Scholastica Yvonne Gheh Doe, and Othello Coleman. Others are Robertha M. Fawaz, Dr. Augustus F. Tah, Joanna Emerson, Dr. Flavius Jide Akerele, and Sir Knight Sam J. Gebeh.