…Lawyer Challenges Politicians, Others
By Frank P. Martin
MONROVIA: Few days ago, leaders of twenty-six (26) registered political parties in Liberia affixed their signatures to a declaration to ensure non-violence, free and fair 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in the country, comes 10, October, this year.
The Declaration, styled: “The 2023 Farmington River Declaration,” is a concern to some Liberians over its full implementation by political parties and their supporters, considering previous elections which were, to a large extent, characterized by acts of violence and lawlessness.
With this, a Liberian lawyer, Henry Wokolo, has urged politicians in the country to be responsible in ensuring that the purpose for affixing their signatures to the Farmington Declaration is respected via a peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections.
“All those who signed the document owe certain responsibility to this country, and us, Liberians. Therefore, their signatures should go beyond mere paper signing and plenty talking,” he stressed.
According to him, “disagreements over political ideologies are welcoming in any democracy but holding to a pact in political maneuvering for the protection of citizens’ rights, and respecting the rule of law, remains cardinal in any democracy.
“Those Political parties that signed the Farmington Declaration are on the right trajectory of democracy. But their commitment to the document is our concern as citizens of this country,” Atty. Wokolo expressed.
He underscored the need for political parties and individuals to take electoral matters before the law when there are electoral disputes before, during or after the elections in order to avoid violence as was seen recently during the first phase of the Voter registrations exercise.
“Everyone who is going to this process must be respecter of the law. If anyone has issues with the elections, they must first consider that there are laws governing the state. Therefore, the best thing should be taking the matter to the court, where we have some of the country’s best and brightest legal minds.
The Liberian Lawyer said the country went through a lot during the fourteen years of civil conflict; therefore no politician should remind the country about the past after signing the Farmington Declaration.
“We all remember that our people suffered for several years during the civil war. We destroyed infrastructures and thousands of our families died during those dark days; our people were even exiled in other countries as refugees. This should not be repeated after the elections. I think it will be better for our politicians to commit themselves to the Farmington Declaration that calls for peace over violence.”
The former Liberian Journalist now Lawyer also called on supporters of the 26 political parties to respect the proclamation signed by their political leaders for the sustenance of national peace and democracy.
“Political institutions across the nation have a responsibility to the state by educating citizens and their supporters for the national peace and security. While it is true those political institutions have signed the framework document, supporters of those political parties should be aware of their responsibility to the state and its people. They should inform their supporters about decisions made during the Farmington Declaration for our country to be save from electoral violence during these political events”, he told Journalists on Monday, April 10, 2023, in Monrovia
