Govt. critics are not enemies

Opposition party Movement for Progressive Change (MPC) leader Simeon Freeman says strong critics of government are often branded as enemies of the State.”Those of us from various political parties who are there to question the Ellen-led government are considered enemies of the State”, Mr. Freeman said on Monday, 5 December immediately upon arrival at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County from exile.

The businessman-turned politician fled the country in February after police called him to provide clarity on claims he made that the government had listed several high profile politicians for elimination.

The Liberia National Police subsequently issued a ‘wanted’ order for the MPC leader, but subsequently dropped the order and declared Simeon ‘a free man.’  Speaking yesterday at the airport, he said critics of the government are not enemies of the State, but those who used state power to enrich themselves at the detriment of the majority.

The runaway MPC leader noted that he left Liberia under difficult circumstances and has returned under different conditions, bragging that he remains a stern politician on the conscious of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf because he speaks against ills in the society.

Mr. Freeman underscored the need for a new generation of conscious-minded politicians to steer the affairs of the country, saying it is time that the old brand of politicians give way to the new brand of politicians to take over power and move the country forward.

He said emphasized that it was time Liberians elect a President who has never served in government before and stolen public money to become president.  “It is time to elect a person that is corruption free and creating employment opportunities for Liberians.”

Freeman arrived at the Roberts International Airport on Monday via Air Ivoire at 2 p.m. It is still unclear how he fled the country and who assisted him out.

By Bridgett Milton-Editing by Jonathan Browne