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Whapoe condemns Farmington Declaration

By Lincoln G. Peters

Opposition Vision for Liberia Transformation Party (VOLT) political leader Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe has described the Farmington River Declaration signed by twenty-seven political parties as completely ludicrous and a waste of time.  

Addressing a press conference Thursday, 6 April 2023 at his party head office on the Old Road, he said the Government of Liberia has every right to defend and protect the state.

He argued that it includes providing a fair, transparent, and peaceful election. Whapoe believes that bringing opposition political parties to sign commitment for a peaceful, and transparent election is ludicrous.

“I don’t know why political parties have to sign declaration for peace and transparent election. I think that is [completely] ludicrous and waste of time,” he said. 

“It’s a waste of time because the opposition political parties that signed are not the ones that [are] in control of the security of the state, guns, police and the military in the country,” he added.

The opposition leader stated that it sounded foolish to say that opposition parties should sign commitment for peaceful and transparent election.

He indicated that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should hold the government responsible. He stated that the government has all it takes constitutionally to protect the country and provide free, fair, and transparent election.

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Dr. Whapoe accused the government of violating the Election Law, saying it has engaged in pre-campaign activities.

He further accused the government of conducting voter registration without demarcating constituencies as the Constitution requires after conducting a national census.

“It’s not the future aggrieved opposition that should be signing peace agreement, rather it should be the government alone because they control the military, police and election.”

“The peace [is] in their hands, if they decide to do the right thing, we will have a peaceful society. Nigeria had election and did not sign that. It’s the individual rights of people to express their dissatisfaction,’’ Dr. Whapoe contended.

He indicated that Liberians, including Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kulbah have complained about the election breaches by the President and the National Election Commission did not do anything about it. He added that ECOWAS did not step in.

“Now, they are not holding the government responsible, but they want to hold the opposition responsible for what they are not envisaging,” he added. 

“They want us to accept any result that’s why they are doing that so we can say for the sake of peace. I am not preaching violence, but I am preaching the protection of the Constitution and the Elections Law,” the VOLT political leader lamented.

He claimed that there is no history in Liberia that the opposition political parties have ever instigated and created mayhem in the country.

Whapoe noted that over the past time, they have witnessed opposition political parties taking government to court, using the judiciary as a point to address their grievances.

“Election matter was taken to court by opposition political parties and it was manhandled by the judiciary. We saw it in 2017, Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine and many more,” he said. 

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2 Comments

  1. This is something that I just don’t understand… what’s the real reason of that commitment to that deal by the government? will we keep making commitment in all the election is that part of the constitution?

  2. ABSOLUTELY, the leader of VOLT has said it ALL. You cannot protect what you don’t have. ECOWAS and its leadership are a total joke in West Africa.

    The ECOWAS sat there and stayed MUTE when the 82 years President of Guinea changed the statutory laws and the Constitution of Guinea and imposed himself on Guinea and its sovereign people and the ECOWAS did absolutely nothing. This same approach was adopted by the 83 years old President of the Ivory and again, the ECOWAS sat and stayed speechless. These same and unlawful actions and insecurity, the Crime of Property Theft, Financial Crimes and MURDER are today common to Liberia and everywhere in Liberia and the ECOWAS has said and done nothing and now the ECOWAS is pleading with Liberia’s opposition Community to commit to free, fair and transparent ELECTIONS on Oct 10, 2023; though Liberia has no safety and security anywhere?

    Frankly speaking, the ECOWAS has out-lived its value, credibility and trustworthiness. The West African people in the 16 countries of West Africa need to come together and toss out the ECOWAS and replace her with something else and more meaningful to their lives, safety, security and good governance.

    Liberians must know that ECOWAS is not on your side. God, please secure and protect our people.

    Frederick A.B. Jayweh, Esq.
    Counsellor-At-Law & Chairman
    Liberia First Campaign
    United States of America
    fjayweh.criss@outlook.Com
    Mobile: 720-731-7994

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