Monrovia – The family of the late slain former President William R. Tolbert announced Sunday, April 12, the day he was gruesomely murdered 40 years ago, that they have forgiven all those who assassinated him on that fateful night.

By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)-websterclayeh@frontpafricaonline.com

The slain President’s relatives braved the storm despite the ravaging deadly global Coronavirus pandemic to come out and commemorate the 40th death anniversary of their loved one.

The late President served as the 19th President of Liberia. He was assassinated at the Executive Mansion on April 12, 1980, by 17 non-commissioned Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers, who it is reported, were led by Master Sergeant Samuel K. Doe, who became President following the coup.

It has been 40 years since the demised of Pres. Tolbert; his relatives, including Dr. Richard Tolbert, daughter-in-law Mrs. Henrietta Tolbert, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rev. Dr. Charles McClain and former Commissioner of the then Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, Mr. John H. Smythe, came out, on the third day of President George Manneh Weah’s State of Emergency, to lay wreath on the grave that former President Tolbert’s remains are buried. Along with Pres. Tolbert are 17 senior government officials, who were murdered, too, during the period of the coup.

The 40th anniversary could have been celebrated in a more better way than what it was, but because of the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, the four family members, who gathered to commemorate the passing of their relatives, being fully aware of the present health crisis, were dressed in COVID-19 preventive gears on Sunday, April 12, at the Palm Grove Cemetery on Center Street in Monrovia. They sang quietly and gave praises to God for “the triumphs and achievements of former President Tolbert’s magnificent life.”

“But on this day, which this year happens to coincide with our Savior’s glorious resurrection, we must not merely mourn and reminisce but must also remember and rejoice for a life well lived as surely as we rejoice for our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of mankind,” Dr. Richard Tolbert, nephew of the former President, said.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Tolbert said the coup was followed by sectionalism, economic stagnation, national disintegration, tribalism, cultural breakdown, educational backwardness and so many societal ills that are hampering the forward march of Liberia. According to him, his uncle had worked assiduously to raid the nation of all those vices.

He added: “The disastrous consequences of that bloody night are not hidden. They are still living with us today.

“We know who the executioners of that dastardly act were but the real hidden hands behind that dark night is still to some extent a mystery.

“On this occasion on behalf of the Tolbert family, I say that we have forgiven all those who wronged or harmed us in any way. We pray nothing but peace, unity and prosperity for all the people of this our beloved homeland,” Dr. Tolbert said.

According to Dr. Tolbert, the society over which former President Tolbert presided before the coup was an ideal one.

Some Achievements of Pres. Tolbert

In his nine years as President of Liberia, Pres. Tolbert created AGRIMECO, the Liberian government’s first agricultural company. It spearheaded land clearance for agricultural cooperatives.

Former President Tolbert also established the National Housing Bank, the Agricultural Bank, and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI).

He constructed major infrastructure like the Hotel Africa, Roberts International Airport Terminal and many more.

He became President following the death of President William V. S. Tubman in the early 1970s.

Monrovia – Dr. Richard V. Tolbert, the latest indictee of the Presidential Task Force set up to probe allegations of bribery in the Global Witness report against several former and present officials of government, says his indictment is a sad day for the country.

Dr. Tolbert, a former chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC), has been indicted by the Presidential Task Force alongside two foreign nationals, Andrew Grooves and Klaus Piprek.

The two foreign nationals are out of the country but Cllr. Fonati Koffa, has said the taskforce will seek the help of Interpol to arrest the duo for prosecution in Liberia.

The Grand Jury of Montserrado County, sitting in its May 2016 Term of Court, has charged Dr. Tolbert with the crimes of economic sabotage, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, facilitation and solicitation.

The charges allege that during the period 2010-2011 received the amount of US $50,000 from Cllr. Varney Sherman while serving as chairman of the NIC. He received ‘consulting fees’ as his share for the role he reportedly played in the altering of the Public Procurement and Commission Act.

An additional US$20,000 was allegedly received by the Invincible Ellen (IE) Football Club when Tolbert served as President.

“The Grand Jury for Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia upon their oath do hereby find more probably than not that the defendant Richard Tolbert committed the crime of bribery, a felony of the second degree,” states the indictment.

On Thursday, June 9, 2016, Cllr. Fonati Koffa, head of the Presidential Task Force, announced the indictment of Dr. Tolbert. But the former head of the NIC has dismissed it as just a mere allegation which will be dealt with in court.

Cllr. Koffa said his appearance at the Friday court was to file a criminal appearance bond of $100,000 via the International Insurance of Africa.

“My indictment was prepared at 4 p.m. Thursday and there was (an) attempt last night to have me arrested and incarcerated, but since I was born I have never spent a single day in prison.”

“We will try to know what’s behind this whole thing,” said Tolbert. He claims that the indictment against him is intended to intimidate and embarrass him

The former NIC boss has been indicted alongside House Speaker Alex Tyler and Grand Cape-Mount Senator Varney Sherman by the Special Presidential Task Force set up by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to probe those accused of receiving bribes in the Global Witness 2016 Report on Liberia.

The report alleges that several current and former government officials, including lawmakers, received bribes to change the PPCC Act to award a concession agreement to the British mining company Sable.

Kennedy l. Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com