Monrovia – Opposition political parties have opposed the reports from the 2022 National Housing and Population Census, noting that it contradicts reality and is bent on manipulating the pending general and presidential elections.
By: Willie N. Tokpah/0777039231
The opposition parties include the Unity Party, the All Liberin Party, Movement for Progressive Change, Movement for Democratic Reconstruction and the Rainbow Alliance.
Presenting their resistance on Thursday, March 9th, at the grounds of the Capitol in
Monrovia, Unity Party Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh noted that the George Manneh Weah-led government chose to conduct a fraudulent census after slews of allegations popped out about wanton corruption and uncontrollable mismanagement of census funds, causing distrust, postponements, and pointless delays to the original start date. As such, they cannot accept its result.
Following its preliminary report, the opposition blocks are further calling on the National Elections Commission not to use the results of the census for any elections-related activities.
“Fellow Liberians, following a careful review and analysis of the released preliminary report, we hereby categorically reject the same and have clearly stated this position in a resolution to be presented to Liberia’s international partners and both Houses of the Legislature. We have also requested the National Elections Commission and the National Legislature not to use the said result for any elections-related decisions,” Rev. Tarpeh quoted the resolution.
They believe a constitutionally flawed census proceeded against the advice of experts and that documentary evidence saw the transfer of census funds into private accounts and disbursements made to individuals who made no justification to the census process.
The opposition political leaders further noted that they listened firsthand to the revelations of expats pointing accusing fingers at top managers conniving to share census money among themselves.
Accordingly, the abuse and mismanagement of the census process, coupled with public outcries, pressured forced President Weah to dismiss Wilmot Smith, the man who was in the center of all the allegations, with no prosecutorial action.
This, they noted, testifies to the fact that top government officials were also prime beneficiaries of the massive fraud at the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services.
At the same time, the contending parties said census workers instituted strike actions across several counties because their stipends were deliberately eaten by the usual suspects, while at the same time, a number of them returned to their various homes, with others who were stranded, selling the census tablets that were brought into the country to collect data.
Even as they explained that the government aced what it calls a preliminary result, the opposition political parties asserted in their resolution that various homes and communities in the metropolitan areas of the country, as well as in some rural parts of the country, were not counted.
They are furious that practically, deployments at enumeration sites were not done as planned.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, members of the Fourth Estate, the processes that led to the conduct of the 2022 census in Liberia were a flop, judging by the available facts,” Rev. Tarpeh averred.
“The exercise was marred not only by technical irregularities but also corruption, negligence, and lack of leadership. The Preliminary Census Report, considering the actions and inactions that attended the Census, we can conclude that the preliminary report issued is a reflection of the grand corruption that characterized it.”
The resolution declared that what is being paraded by a few people at LISGIS and supported by their benefactors is nothing more than a “conspiracy hatched” against the will of the Liberian people.
Nevertheless, they rambled about unmasking said ploy long before the government embarked on its implementation.
They said as part of their posture, a few months ago, an announcement was made to Liberians that the CDC government was hatching a devilish plan to tamper with the report, which further unveils that veil on that plan has been removed, and every Liberian can now see for themselves.
They are calling on Liberians to do the requisite service by submerging personal interest and focus on the greater goal which is lifting Liberia to a higher standard.
Going forward, the opposition political parties said they are troubled by previous acts of violence, especially when the nation is bracing itself for elections.
Rev. Tarpeh said: “Coincidentally, as the world marks International Women’s Day, we wish to state resoundingly to the world, that women in Liberia are under furious attacks by the CDC-led Government who pays lips service to protect the rights of women and children in our society.”
This, they said is unacceptable, and have charged President George Weah to ensure that these acts, which are reminiscent of stone age brutality, are brought to a complete halt.
The opposition political parties at the same time want an investigation to be conducted into all murder cases, inclusive of Miss Odell Sherman, Princess Cooper, and the investigation about the daughter of Cllr. Scott, be brought to a logical conclusion.
“In particular, we implore the Liberia National Police to put on the face of a state police force, and proceed with investigations into these matters void of protecting any particular interest,” the resolution maintained.
“As we highlight the wave of insecurity, placing emphasis on the women of Liberia, we wish also to draw attention to others that continue to cripple the socio-economic and political environment.”
They also place suspicion on the government of Liberia’s announcement to the world that it had seized about 450 arms at the Freeport of Monrovia, mostly silencers with the capability to be used by snipers.
Their fear is that the LNP chief, Patrick Sudue elucidated that the guns have the capacity to destroy the entire country due to their sophistication.
Rev. Tarpeh expressed concerns about the status of the investigation and whether the arms are being kept by the government to be used against political opponents during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
Therefore, the opposition political parties have demanded full disclosure of information regarding the arms cache.