Monrovia – Liberian politicians are resorting to using Ivory Coast as a transit route to reach the Southeastern part of Liberia and organize political rallies, as the ongoing rainy season has worsened the already deplorable road conditions in that region.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
With the Presidential and Legislative elections approaching, pre-campaigning activities are gaining momentum across the country, with the exception of the Southeastern part of Liberia, where the road conditions have made it challenging to hold political rallies.
Due to the deteriorating state of the roads, political rallies have been scarce in the region. As a result, most politicians who brave the adverse conditions to reach the Southeastern part of Liberia opt to pass through Ivory Coast.
Recently, several politicians , House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, and the Standard Bearer of the Collaboration Political Parties (CPP), Alexander Cummings, have chosen to travel to Maryland and Grand Kru Counties via Ivory Coast by way of the Nimba County border. It takes approximately two days of driving before reaching Maryland County.
Reports indicate that during House Speaker Chambers’ last visit to Maryland County, he faced a delay at the Ivorian border due to questioning by Ivorian authorities regarding his travel.
In contrast, CPP’s Cummings, with the assistance of Ivorian security officers, successfully passed through Ivory Coast to enter Maryland County. Although the journey was long, he did not experience any intimidation from the Ivorian security forces, as he was under their protection.
During the commencement of his week-long tour in the Southeast, Cummings expressed his humiliation at having to travel through Ivory Coast to reach his own county, Maryland. He attributed the detour to the deplorable road conditions and criticized the government, stating, “This Weah government promised to bring change and do better than the previous government, but unfortunately, they have failed the Liberian people.”
Cummings added, “No citizen deserves to go through the humiliation and stress of passing through a neighboring country to reach their own county. Liberians deserve better.”
LPP Standard Bearer Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe Expresses Disapproval of Politicians Utilizing Ivory Coast to Reach Southeastern Liberia
Contrary to Cummings’ perspective, Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe, the Standard Bearer of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP), expressed his disapproval of politicians who pass through Ivory Coast to reach the Southeastern part of Liberia.
Cllr. Gongloe believes that politicians who aspire to represent the people should experience the same hardships faced by the citizens. He stated, “They say the President is the remedy for bad roads, but the people from Sass Town don’t feel it, because I just came from Sass Town.”
He continued, “In the whole of Southeast, the worst road in Africa is located, and it is the same region where prominent figures from all three branches of government hail from. What kind of gross negligence is that? If they don’t care for the people, how will they treat their own people in a better manner?”
Cllr. Gongloe further declared, “I have visited 326 towns in Liberia to witness firsthand the hardships endured by the people due to the poor road conditions. As a presidential candidate, I refuse to pass through Ivory Coast or any neighboring country to reach any part of Liberia. To me, it is disgraceful and shameful. It tarnishes the reputation of our country.”