Rebury Tolbert, Doe

-Urey urges Ellen

The political leader of the opposition All Liberian Party or ALP has called on the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led administration to rebury slain Presidents William Richard Tolbert and Samuel Kanyon Doe, befittingly as former Presidents.

The ALP political leader Mr. Benoni Urey, emphasized that the two ex-presidents contributed immensely to the development of Liberia, and reconciled Liberians. Mr. Urey, an ex-official of the Taylor regime, said the late presidents had great vision for the country, but they never had enough time to go thru with their developmental agenda.

Speaking at the 66th birthday anniversary of former President Doe in the home of William K. Klay, along the Robertsfield highway outside Monrovia over the weekend, he said it’s unfortunate and regrettable that since the death of Doe in 1990s, and that body cannot still get a befitting burial as in case of other past presidents.

According to him, the Liberian government should bring professional pathologists into the country to conduct an autopsy on the remains of the slain heroes,“whose contributions cannot be overlooked in the history of the country.”

He further stated that from his personal interaction with the late President Doe prior to the civil crisis, it was clear that Doe was a good man that deserves more than putting bullets in his brain.

Mr. Urey called on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to complete all earmarked projects by the Doe administration. He accused the Sirleaf administration for economically, politically and socially marginalizing the people of Grand Gedeh County, a charge the administration has persistently denied. 

“You’re marginalized by this regime economically, politically and socially, but the time will come your sons that were thrown behind bars will be a freemen again. Even if this regime failed to do so, work with us for the Presidency; we ensure that they are granted presidential clemency in our administration,” he said.

He recommended that government legislate Presidents’ Day to be observed as a national holiday. He noted that the purpose for the national Presidents’ Day is for the country to recognize that all presidents’ contributed to the growth and maintenance of the freedom of liberty.  He frowns at few presidents’ birthdays being observed as national holidays, while the rest are left out. 

Also speaking at the occasion, Liberia’s Vice President Joseph NyumahBoakai thanked the people of Grand Gedeh County for always remembering and observing the fallen president’s birth anniversary.
VP Boakai, who served as both Agriculture Minister and Managing Director of the Liberia Produce and Marketing Cooperation under the Doe regime, praised the slain president for his contributions to society and fast progress achieved in terms of infrastructure.

Vice President Boakai noted that due to the introduction of ‘Doe Coin’, monies were not leaving the country; instead, ministers and officials of government invested their earnings here.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne