Liberia: NPP Secretary General Arrested - The Inquirer

The Secretary General of the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP), was on yesterday arrested by the Liberian National Police (LNP), for allegedly being in possession of a firearm.

Author: We are not Ignoranmus

What is happening here, Mr. Solicitor General of Liberia? Mr. John Whitfield voluntarily admitted to possessing firearm with the sole purpose of protecting himself against the banditry of reckless armed robbers freely moving around at night in Monrovia and the surrounding towns. These criminal armed bandits forcefully break in private homes, intimidate peaceful citizens and take away their properties with impunity. And all you have to do is to find solace in arresting Mr. Whitfield who is trying to help the police by protecting his life and those of his family. Two weeks ago I read an article which stated that the LNP is lacking the ability to quell the wave of armed robbery in Liberia because of budgetary inadequacy. This means that the police can not protect the citizens since it lacks the appropriate funding. Look, I know what it means to be armed robbed because I was victim of such barbaric act in May of 1994. My life and those of my family were spared only through the grace of God. I can not elaborate on the post traumatic effect (such as sleep deprivation, forceful awakening at 2Am every night etc) as a result of that robbery. Mr. Gongoloe is safe from armed robbers because he had people with guns protecting him at night. But what about the millions of Liberians who have no access to guns and are living in constant fear and humiliation? It is not unconstitutional for one to possess firearm because I remembered when I was still little or teenage or more, my parents had firearm in our home. We use it to protect ourselves and for hunting. In nearly all villages in rural Liberia, people carried guns and still do. The possessions of guns in homes had not been illegal and should not be turned illegal by Mr. Gongoloe. Look, if John had evil intention he would not have come on public radio to announce his possession of gun. He publicized his possession this issue, I believe, to call public attentions to this disturbing and life-threatening and violoent crime which is also an attack on our fragile democracy. If Mr. Whitfield is arrested, then Mr. Gongoloe should tell us that any armed robbery occurring further is by his condoning.And to far,in another article published on this noble website by the News on July 11 states that there was armed robbery occurring at 10:30 pm making one Abraham Craig and others victims. So my advice is to leave the young man (Mr. Whitfield) alone because he has the right to an inalienable right among which is the pursuit of happiness, possession of property and life. This right to all Liberians is an obligation that Mr. Gongoloe has sworn to undertake. So why bother Mr. Whitfield when he Mr. Gongoloe is failing to execute his constitutional requirement?



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