Editorial: The fracas between onlookers believed to be supporters of opposition leader Mr. Alexander B. Cummings of the Alternative National Congress and security forces that left at least three officers wounded last Thursday, 06 January 2022 at the Monrovia City Court, Temple of Justice in Monrovia was unfortunate and unwarranted. There was no need to have engaged in violence in what is supposedly a legal matter.
Mr. Cummings’ buddy from the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Benoni W. Urey of the All Liberia Party (ALP) has dragged him to court for allegedly altering the Constitution of the CPP. But he has denied it, and it is only the court that can adjudge who is right or wrong.
Therefore, onlookers, supporters and security forces had no reason to clash on the grounds of the Temple of Justice, resulting in injuries.  No matter how zealous supporters may be, it does not give them the right to resort to violence.
Paradoxically, the violence came on the eve of the Bicentennial Celebration
that marked Liberia 200 years since it was founded as a nation by the American Colonization Society (ACS) in 1822. With 200 years of existence, maturity demands that we learn to handle our differences or disagreements with a high degree of tolerance and allow the law to take its course.
It spells a bad omen for us to kick off the celebration of 200 years by shedding blood for whatever reason. The Bicentennial Celebration should unite all Liberians towards a common goal – building a more prosperous nation that posterity will enjoy.
Gashing one another for political or whatever reason is counterproductive to the survival of the Motherland that binds us as a people. Hence, we shame and condemn all those behind last week’s violence at the Monrovia City Court. It was not necessary at all.
After 200 years, we Liberians ought to do better by now, rather than continue to live like beasts and salvages. Lest we forget, we have already caused much embarrassment for the sub-region and the rest of the world from our 14-year bloody civil war.
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It’s time to heal and build, instead of returning to the ugly past. In this era of the novel Coronavirus that is characterized by various strains, we should be ashamed of ourselves for self-destructing and believing that other countries will abandon their most important problems to come to address the mess we create for ourselves.
Liberians! Can’t we learn from our mistakes? How has violence helped the country and better our lives? How has it improved our education and health systems or the economy? Let’s take a look: from April 14, 1979, Rice Riot to April 12, 1980, Military Coup and December 24, 1989, Rebel Invasion, are we better off now than before? Surely not!
Mr. Urey did the most honorable thing by going to court to support his claims, likewise, Mr. Cummings has in person, appeared twice in court to answer to charges brought against him and, has personally expressed confidence in the judiciary to dispense justice. It is but prudent that all sides exercise restraint by avoiding violence to allow the law to take its course.https://thenewdawnliberia.com/editorial-boakai-has-failed-to-demonstrate-leadership/
