Monrovia – The appointment of Tarplah Z. Davis as Deputy Minister-designate of the Ministry of National Defense for Operations, the man who threatened to “kill” would-be protestors of the ‘Weah Step Down Campaign’ and critics of Pres. George Weah has received backlashes from Liberians, who want his nomination withdrawn.
Some say the appointment of Tarplah will take the country back to its dark days while others say it’s going to undermind the fragile democracy.
FrontPageAfrica was out talking with some Liberians and this was what they had to say:
Abraham Rahim Sheriff, UL Student
“The appointment of the Deputy Minister of Defense is very wrong for the fact that the brother made a threatening remark regarding his position on how he is going to serve the Liberians people. It poses a serious threat to the national security of this country.
We are calling on the President to withdraw his appointment because of any attempt for him to be confirmed it will pose a serious threat to our national security.
Prior to the June 7th protest, an Army personnel posted a threatening remark on the social media page that he was going to use his weapon and injure peaceful citizens and the AFL took serious action against the officer. So I think the President should learn a lesson from that and withdraw his appointment on the ground that the brother has already compromised the office that he is going to serve.
“The appointment of the Deputy Minister of Defense is very wrong for the fact that the brother made a threatening remark regarding his position on how he is going to serve the Liberians people. It poses a serious threat to the national security of this country.”
Abraham Rahim Sheriff, UL Student
Mary Kerkula, SUP Member
“I think the appointment of Tarplah Davis is a treat to Liberians. Having a supporter from the ruling party that threatened the already angry masses of our people is very dangerous. Anything could sparks up and the people gather to protest and what will you think about the brother. So, for now, the state of Liberians lies in the hand of the Senate.
Although he may have some experiences; looking critically at our political atmosphere right now I think it is very dangerous because any attempt for anyone to counter react to the already angry people I think we will surely get back to the dark days.
If the President sees a need for someone to be appointed let that person be someone of an independent mind, not someone who will go there to protect an individual but the interest of the country.
You saw the incident of Justina Taylor issue and that of the closure of Roots FM; you saw the volume at which Liberians are angry so bringing someone who will provoke them is like increasing the situation.
“I think the appointment of Tarplah Davis is a treat to Liberians. Having a supporter from the ruling party that threatened the already angry masses of our people is very dangerous. Anything could sparks up and the people gather to protest and what will you think about the brother. So, for now, the state of Liberians lies in the hand of the Senate.”
Mary Kerkula, SUP Member
Romeo Fabulleh, Resident of Doe Community
“I think that the appointment was not timely because just few days to his appointment, Tarplah made that statement and the President had the guts to appoint him, so I feel that it is a conflict of interest.
The statement from the brother was reckless and harsh and I feel in such manner by now he should be called for questioning but out of settle only to know that he has been appointed as Deputy for Operation at the Minister of Defense, I think it’s being a slap in the face of Liberians
Besides, I think we should stop breaking the law and then we will be able to do the right thing. Yes, he comes with lots of experiences but our law says once you serve another army you cannot serve the Liberian army or take a position in Liberia.
“I think that the appointment was not timely because just few days to his appointment, Tarplah made that statement and the President had the guts to appoint him, so I feel that it is a conflict of interest.”
Romeo Fabulleh, Resident of Doe Community
George Kiadii, CDC Partisan
This man has a worth of experience, he has worked for his money and does not want for a few groups of people to come in the name of protest and damage it. In fact, this man makes the statement at the time when he was not a presidential nominee for Deputy Minister for Operations.
I strongly believe that if this man was in such a position he was not going to make a response like that. The man loves his country and he does not want any trouble. Mr. Tarplah was not wrong because he made the statement at the time he was living his private life.
If he was the Deputy Minister for Operations for Defense and made that statement then I think it was going to have the propensity of causing chaos and undermined our democracy.