LFA boss welcomes Muslim bill

The President of the Liberia Football Association Mr. Musa Bility has welcomed the bill introduced recently in the Liberian Senate by Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson, seeking two national holidays for Muslims in the country.

Senator Johnson, a Christian and preacher, wants Ramada and Ibrahim Day, two major events celebrated by Muslims in Liberia and across the globe legislated as public holidays.
The bill has received sharp criticisms both from Senator Johnson’s kinsmen in Nimba County and several church pastors in Monrovia with the recent coming from a prelate of the Bethel World Outreach Ministry, who termed it as ‘harmful’, arguing that legislating such law will violate the Constitution of Liberia.

Pastor David Benitoe told a news conference at the Winner’s Chapel-Liberia edifice in Monrovia that the acceptance of the bill by the senate is worrisome, noting it is, in totality, a gross violation of the organic law of the land.

But according Mr. Bility, the bill is intended to provide equal right for all citizens of Liberia, adding that it is in the best interest of all Liberians. A Muslim and also a businessman, Mr. Bility spoke over the weekend, Saturday, September 10, during the induction of Nimba university students in Ganta, Nimba County.

He called on the students to do away with violence and promote peace in Liberia and pledged US$25,000 to the Nimba University Students Association or NUSA. The president of NUSA, Francis J. Messah, called on his officials to help promote peace in the country.

Commenting on disunity among university students from Nimba, Mr. Messah said some of them are refusing to come under one umbrella with the sole motive of getting money from politicians seeking state power.

He underscored the need for young people uphold unity rather than violence, saying “We all need to join national government to support peace rather than violence.” 

By Franklin Doloquee, Nimba