Monrovia – The Center for Peace Education (CPE) joined the rest of the world on Thursday to observe the International Day of Peace.
During the occasion, CPE Executive Director, Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm, called on Liberians not to vote for dishonest political aspirants in the October 10, 2017 elections.
Mr. Vonhm stressed that most of the political aspirants are using “stolen cash” from the government coffers to persuade voters to vote for them.
“For those who are using your stolen cash from the government to campaign, they will never be audited, let alone face persecution. They will live with impunity, even though they stole your cash to manipulate you. Very sad!!”
He encouraged Liberians to get what they can get from dishonest political aspirants to help pay their children school fees and put food on their table, but shouldn’t vote them in to office.
“When you get into the voting booth, vote for someone of integrity and character. When you walk out of that voting booth, be happy with yourself knowing very well that you have made the right decision not only for your children and the future of Liberia, but even more important for the quarter of millions of our innocent brothers and sisters who lost their lives so that we can have the freedom to elect the right people, not those cruel masters of your stolen cash who are deceptive and evil minded.”
He said International Day of Peace means taking a break from the busy election schedule by the people of this country to reflect on the good that peaceful elections can do for them as Liberians.
“This day is also a time of sober reflection about our future and what we want as a nation as we go to the polls to elect our next leaders. In other places, like Kenya in 2007 and Venezuela in 2017, we have witnessed what contested elections can do if people are not willing to accept the results. \We need to be careful. Even though, the elections have not been held, we have some political parties claiming that they will be in the position to give the results of the elections immediately after the polls have closed.”
“Such statements are reckless and a recipe for post-election violence.
It is impossible for a political party, as we know in Liberia, which is centered on individuals rather than institutions, to efficiently and effectively proclaim the results of the elections when they do not have functioning offices in all of the major cities, towns and villages of Liberia.”
The Center for Peace Education Executive Director said detailed explanations from political leaders on strategies they will put in place to hold their relatives (including their sons and daughters), partisans, and friends accountable for corruption would gain them more votes than circulating fear about the election results, which have not been held.
He said a pre-speculation of the elections results that is based on mere anxiety rather than empirical evidence is completely ignorant and lacks the basic tenets of good leadership.
Report by Alfred Gezaye, FPA Contributor
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
