Monrovia – Concerned diaspora Liberians based in the United States under the banner “Liberians in Defense of Article 27 (LIDA27” has launched a campaign to oppose the amendment of Article 27 of the Liberian Constitution, which bars people of non-negro descent from attaining Liberian citizenship.
The Chairman of the LIDA27, Jerome Z. Gayman, said the campaign is in response to President George Weah’s Annual Message to the 54th National Legislature where he described the Liberian Constitution as racist and called for the amendment of Article 27 of the Liberian Constitution to grant citizenship to non-negro descent.
Article 27 of the Constitution states: “In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, values and character, only persons who are negroes or of negro’s descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia.”
President Weah during in his Annual Message contended that “It is my view that keeping with such a clause in our constitution is unnecessary, racist, and inappropriate for the place that Liberia occupies today in the comity of nations.”
In a statement, the Chairman of LIDA27 disclosed that the group has begun consultation with the U.S and Liberian governments to form alliances and build coalition with like-minded people to ensure proponents calling for the amendment of Article 27 are defeated in their selfish quest to enslave the Liberian populace.
He also noted that LIDA27 takes serious exception to the mentality that the Liberian Constitution as ‘racist’, emphasizing that any attempt to change the negro and property rights clauses by invisible hands will be vehemently resisted.
“LIDA27 has taken serious exception to the mentality that the Liberian Constitution is racist and note that the constitution is not and has never been racist, and any attempt to change the negro clause and property rights by politicians and powerful invisible hands; and circumvent the will of the Liberian people for political gain and economic advantage will be vehemently resisted in all shape and forms, including legal means,” the statement noted.
The diaspora Liberians group said the CDC-led government should be cognizant that its pro-poor agenda must be aligned with the universal philosophy that poor people’s empowerment is influenced by their individual assets including their land.
“LIDA27 is calling on every Liberian to join the mass movement to ensure that we maintain the heritage of our forefathers and prevent this ulterior motive to amend Article 27 based primarily on the premise to enrich those who are already depriving our people of economic opportunities and take away their land, which is the as economic power they possess,” the LIDA27 noted.
The group, Liberians in Defense of Article 27 is a non-profitable organization, non-religious and non-ethic and comprises of Liberians from diverse background with the purpose of mobilizing and concertizing majority of the people to vehemently defend Article 27 of the Liberian Constitution.