Monrovia – The split among members of Liberia’s Islamic community continues to deepen, amid a row of who to support for the presidency in October 2017.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah – [email protected]
One side is supporting the bid of Vice President Joe Boakai while the other is opting for the opposition.
The division is turning bitter and further spreading into wars of words since the pronouncement by the National Muslim Heritage Foundation, announcing a planned endorsement of Vice President Joseph Boakai.
The pronouncement has created two opposing blocs, one supporting the Boakai’s bid while the other opposes it.
On Thursday, the Pro-Boakai Islamic supporters were dealt a strong blow when two members of the Islamic Community under the banner of Concern Muslims of Liberia, Julius Dorley and Vasiki Konneh, disagreed with the group’s position.
The two argued that the planned statement of support by Mohammed Kamara and Jusufu Morris Keita, Chairman and Secretary General and Project Manager of the National Muslim Heritage Foundation endorsing VP Boakai on Sunday, July 2, 2017 is untrue.
They stated on a local radio talk-show in Monrovia that they are supporters of Cllr. Charles Brumskine’s bid.
Mr. Dorley and Konneh in separate statements noted that the Islamic faith ought not to be politicized and as such, members of the faith must not be subjected to political institution or individuals.
According to them, it would be unfair for certain members of the faith to speak on behalf of the country’s Muslim.
“Are they spokesperson for Islam in Liberia? Do they have the moral ground to speak for Muslims in Liberia? What have they done for Islam in Liberia—they and their sponsors?” Vasiki Konneh questioned.
According to him, the support of Keita and his cohort is based on financial gains and not in the interest of Muslims in Liberia.
However, one of those who is at the center of the debate, Jusufu Morris Keita, said the faith is global and doesn’t belong to any group of people.
“The Islamic faith, like any group, does not belong to a particular individual. It does not belong to an ethnicity or a particular race and it’s a global faith. Other people have got a problem because they are ashamed and embarrassed to identify with their faith,” Keita said.
“So rather than attacking us, they should be ashamed and irresponsible for not going out in support of their aspirant.”
“If they have decided that they don’t want to use Islamic name for their organization or they want to remain disorganized, that’s their business,” he intoned.
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