General News
“Liberians Unhappy With Pres. Sirleaf”
/ 0
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 04 December 2012 08:03
- Written by The News
…Gongloe Claims
Former Solicitor General Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe has predicted a reversal of peace and progress in Liberia under the administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Cllr. Gongloe claimed the reversal of peace and progress will be triggered by the unhappiness of Liberians about the President's disregard for the Constitution of Liberia.
“Liberians are becoming increasingly unhappy about the President's blatant disregard for our constitution and the longer she stays in power the more angry they will become. This could lead to a reversal of peace and progress in Liberia”, the Human Rights Lawyer told a group of University students at the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Student Unification Party recently.
He called on the international community, whose material and human resources helped to find peace in Liberia, to re-examine its position on President Sirleaf in “light of the risk she presents by her blatant violation of the Constitution of Liberia with impunity”.
The former Labor Minister in the Sirleaf-led government, who was sent on administrative leave, stressed that President Sirleaf has violated Article 5(c) of the Liberian Constitution by employing her sons in government.
Articles 5(c) of the Liberian Constitution states: “The Republic shall take steps, by appropriate legislation and executive orders, to eliminate sectionalism and tribalism, and such abuses of power as the misuse of government resources, nepotism and all other corrupt practices”.
He noted that his prediction is a serious early warning sign that should not be ignored.
“This is a very serious early warning sign of the eventual erosion of peace in Liberia. Some of us have seen such signs before and are aware of the consequences of ignoring such signs,” Gongloe said.
He maintained that President Sirleaf is engaged into nepotism which he said is violation of the Constitution of Liberia, adding that the President must resign or the House of Representatives will be petitioned for the impeachment of President Sirleaf.
The statement by Cllr. Gongloe has since been rejected by Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs Isaac Jackson.
Minister Jackson told this paper recently that if Cllr. Gongloe believes that President Sirleaf has violated the Constitution of Liberia, he should take recourse to the Supreme Court.
He said Cllr. Gongloe's argument on nepotism is redundant and political and is not supported by law.
“When did Cllr. Gongloe know that there was nepotism in this government? He was minister when the President's sons were in government; his argument is based on flimsy political argument and has no evidence in law,” Jackson rubbished Gongloe's claims.
Cllr. Gongloe served as Solicitor General and Labor Minister in the first term of the Unity Party-led government but he and other senior officials were sent on what President Sirleaf called “Administrative Leave”.
He did not return to government until now but has been critical of President Sirleaf and her government.
