Liberia: Opposition Parties Issue Ultimatum to President Boakai Over Supreme Court Ruling - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia – Four opposition political parties—the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the Alternative National Congress (ANC), the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), and the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC)—along with Mulbah Morlu, Chairman of the political advocacy group STAND, have issued an ultimatum to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh, websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

They demand the President retract his statement that downplays the Supreme Court’s ruling, which declared the actions of Representative Richard Koon’s group illegal, by next Tuesday.
Despite the absence of the parties’ political leaders, prominent figures such as former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and former Montserrado County District #8 Representative Acarous Moses Gray attended the press conference.

President Boakai, in a national address last Thursday evening, stated his intention to work with the group led by Representative Koon, citing the need for a functioning quorum.
Atty. Janga Kowo, Acting Chairman of the CDC, addressed the gathering, urging President Boakai to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling or face legal consequences. “We have come to tell you today that you still have the opportunity to go back and respect the Supreme Court ruling,” Atty. Kowo stated.

He emphasized that the issue transcends Speaker Koffa’s position and is about preserving Liberia’s democracy. “We can assure President Boakai and his team that they have gotten the Liberian people to deal with. From now to Tuesday, there will be no sleep; we will mobilize the people,” he declared.

Atty. Kowo further warned, “What is keeping you in power is not the police, not the army; it is the Liberian people. It is not that the opposition is weak; we are documenting the excesses. We call on the religious community, our development partners, do not sit and let the country derail.” He also demanded the reinstatement of Speaker Koffa’s security detail. “Mr. President, you have from now to Tuesday to go back and correct yourself.”

Lafayette Horatio Gould, acting chairman of the ANC, stated that the opposition is meticulously documenting all alleged illegal activities of the Boakai administration and will respond accordingly. “There is no other means to govern the country besides the rule of law. People said the man does not have a quorum, but the other people do not have the numbers to remove the man,” Gould asserted.

He also announced that the political leaders of the opposition parties will attend the next gathering, signaling their united front in this matter.