MPC leader urges Muslims to get political power

Liberian businessman and presidential hopeful, Simeon Freeman, has called on Muslims in the country to unite and in order to elect more Muslims in the House of Representatives, House of Senate and even to produce the next Vice President for Liberia.

Mr. Freeman, who is political leader of the opposition party Movement for Progressive Change or MPC, also urged Liberian Muslims to use their powers, integrity to gain political influence. He made the call Thursday, 12 November during a consultative meeting with leaders of the Muslim community at the Alhaji Varfee Sheriff Mosque in Chocolate City along the Somalia Drive, ElectoralDistrict #13 in Montserrado County.

Mr. Freeman presented two cows to the community, which includes Soni and Sarfia Muslims. He stressed the need for bigger bond of unity among Muslims that could enlarge their space at the political table, and perhaps secure them the Vice Presidential seat on the ticket for the Movement for Progressive Change in the 2017 general and presidential election.

The MPC leader said for too long Muslims in Liberia have been quiet, saying “How can a county (Grand Cape Mount) that is dominant by Muslims produce two Christians as Senators; it entails that Muslims in Liberia accept Christians. No matter what religious [group] you come from, whether Soni, or Sarfia, when it is time for politics you should remain Muslims under one umbrella”, Freeman further urged.

He said Islam is not about cows, but kind of image members of the Muslim community portray out there, saying “The number of Muslim individuals that are in positions today have not stood up to build the image of the Muslims community in this country, especially to put the interest of this community first when the debate shakeup as to whether Liberia should be a Christian or a Muslim State or did not even think about building Mosques for you people”.

Freeman stressed the need for Muslims to rise up, because as long as they remained divided, they would not achieve the unity they deserve, adding the survival of your religion depends on how you improve yourself politically.

Meanwhile, the MPC leader has said the problems of Liberia should not be attributed to religious diversity or citizenship, but rather poverty and hopelessness. He said people looking at Liberia from the outside don’t see the country on the bases of Christianity or Islam; instead what they see is the nation itself that has over three million people.

“I believe Liberia has many issues, but religion is not the problem in this country.”

By Lewis S. Teh-Edited by Jonathan Browne