IPNews-Monrovia: An African Proverb says ” Cow dies so many times until they know they dead”.

Its been more than three weeks since the Supreme Court handed-down a unanimous decision on the pending Referendum Wednesday, November 18, granting the Collaborating Political Parties-( CPP), and the Grassroot Rianbow Coalition request for a writ of prohibition and mandated the National Elections Commission (NEC) to abandon the referendum, which was to be held alongside the Senatorial and Representative by-elections.

Since than, senior government memvers of the Weah’s government led by Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State have instituted a sustained debate calling for a all YES vote to all propositions for the Referendum.

Minister McGill argued that contrary to public perception promulgated by the Opposition to continued business as usual with long stayed in government positions, the Weah-led government is
Committed to ensuing a swift transfer of power in a shortest period for public service leadership.

He disproved public perception that the government insistence to go ahead with the December 8, 2020, Referendum is to see a George Weah third-term bid.

But contrary to Minister McGill’s statement, there are mixed perceptions
that President George Weah might just be playing into played book of current Presidents of Ivory Cost and Guinea who called for constitutional changes that allowed them to run for a third-term recently.

Days after Minister McGill’s statement, the National Elections Commission-NEC, immidiately announced that it will go ahead with the Referendum as stated by the Honorable Supreme Court.

Since than, all eyes have been on the Opposition block, particularly the CPP comprising the former ruling party, Unity Party, Alternative National Congress, the All Liberian Party and the Liberty, to decisively neutralized the decision by the government to go ahead with the pending Referendum expected to be held on December 8, 2020.

Regrettably, the Opposition block have not consolidated their arguments in tangible and decisive political actions through available legal means as provided for under the legal System.

Legal luminaries have advised the Opposition block led by the CPP to file a Bill Information seeking clarity into the intend of the Supreme Court’s recent writ issued.

Unimaginably, the unsophisticated Opposition block have lazily argued without action bringing to bare uncertainties of the a anticipated government YES vote just on the horizon.

At a joint press conference held on yesterday, December 2, 2020, at the CPP’s headquarters, the CPP, Grassroot Rainbow Coalition, and Civil Society Organizations, called for a boycott of the Referendum on grounds that going to such Referendum will legitimize the process.

The same Opposition block, have now shifted their argument to a blame game.

The Political Leader of the All Liberian Party(ALP) Benoni Urey blamed the five Justices of the Supreme Court Bench as the masterminder of the illegal steps of the Weah’s led Government.

Against this backdrop, Mr. Urey is rallying the support of Liberians to demand the immediate resignation of the full bench of the High Court Bench.

“ The Kporkor Bench is not in the interest of our Country, their decisions are about money and greeds, therefore, all Liberians need to get up and demand the resignation of all members of the Supreme Court Bench” ALP-Leader.

Urey cited instances where the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) petitioned the High Court to halt the National Referendum which is expected to be conducted on December 8, but sadly, he said the Court sided with the government to have the Referendum conducted in spite of the many resistance.

The Chairman of the CPP, and Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), also said the Opposition Collaborating Parties jointly demands the immediate resignation of the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC).

According to Mr. Alexander Cummings, the NEC under the leadership of Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah has failed to be impartial in conducting the affairs of the Commission.

Further, Mr. Cummings said, the Commission has refused to clean the 2017 Voter Roll, and has all excluded the Opposition parties from participating in the major processes leading to the conduct of the December 8 Special Senatorial Elections and the National Referendum.

He said there is already an attempt to rig and defraud the Liberian people of their votes, nothing “ We will standup to have our votes protected”.

With respect to the conduct of the Referendum, Cummings said, the CPP is not against the reduction of tenure, infect he said the CPP support a four year tenure for President, but want the Referendum postponed based on the illegal conduct of the process and lack of public awareness.

“ Just in case, the government refuses to adhere to our calls, we want to urged our people to boycott the Referendum and only vote for the Senatorial candidates” he stressed.

It may be called, Former Chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee, Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott, cautioned the National Elections Commission to go ahead to vigorously institute thorough education to the citizens of Liberia on various proposition of the Referendum.

The former Liberian Chief Justice wondered whether the National Elections Commission have sufficient Time to go out and educate voters on the new format of the referendum with the constitution prescribing not less than twelve months.

Cllr. Gloria Musu-Scott warns that the credibility of the outcome will be undermined if it go ahead with the pending December 8, 2020, Referendum.

The former Chief Justice of Liberia, Cllr Gloria Musu Scott, cautioned the National Elections Commission (NEC) to be bold to advise the government that if the referendum proceeds in the way it is currently being handled, it will undermine the credibility of the outcome.

“I expect NEC to be bold enough to say that if we proceed this way, it will undermine the credibility of the outcome of this process, and accordingly advise the government- it will be in the best interest of NEC, the President and the republic; as an old country, we need to do things rightly,” Cllr. Scott said.

The former Chief Justice’s statement comes days after the Supreme Court of Liberia ruled that it is unconstitutional to place eight resolutions prepared for a national referendum into five portions. Article 92 of the Constitution stipulates that each proposed amendment to the Constitution must be accompanied by a statement which states the reason for the amendment and must be published in the Government’s official gazette.

Immediately after the eye opener by former Chief Justice Gloria Scott, twenty-three Opposition Political Parties called for a halt into December 8, 2020, Referendum which is expected to be held,alongside the midterm senatorial and Representative elections.

http://www.independentprobe.com/liberia-referendum-controversy-deepens-23-opposition-political-parties-as-council-of-churches-other-prominent-liberians-wants-referendum-halte/