Monrovia — While President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her entourage were celebrating in Liberia's Western Region to commemorate the nation's 166 Independence anniversary, more than two dozen students of University of Liberia staged a demonstration before the main gate of the campus claiming that there was no reason to celebrate perhaps the most important day in the nation's history because they are hungry and the country has nothing to show for the many years of existence.

In their protest the students' mostly radical males slammed the Sirleaf-led government for not doing enough to address their plight and overseeing a dismal education system, keeping many from benefiting from the country's natural resources.

The students' protest quickly created traffic jam as the demonstrators blocked the primary road between the University of Liberia and the national Legislature. Drivers slowed down and pedestrians stopped for a couple of minutes to read the writings on the placards, as groups of people moved towards the action.

The students chanted: "We are hungry why should we celebrate independence?" "Nepotism, despotism and egocentrism are the order of the day" two of the posters read. Another banner questioned the celebration of Liberia's Independence Day in the face of a challenged educational sector: Our education is a mess! Why celebrate Independence?!

The protest's leader Alvin Wesseh told journalists that the boycott and protest of the celebration was necessary because Liberians are marginalized and living in a serious economic crisis." "Madam has impeded our rights and created a barricade for the advancement of human species in this country. Madame Sirleaf and her state Bureaucrats are doing more harm than good in this country. If you are celebrating Independence day there should be achievements to show but there is no peace in economic realities," Wesseh stressed.

A recent United Nations report rates a country with a gross domestic product (GDP) of less than $765 per month is defined as a low income or "poor" country. Liberia falls far below that line amidst high-level of corruption. Anti-Corruption watchdog, Transparency International in its recent report rated Liberia as the most corrupt country in the world.

Wesseh added: "She fought the regime of Tolbert because she said it was nepotistic, the Samuel Doe government because she said it was tribalistic, Charles Taylor because she said he did not create the condition for the improvement of the ordinary people. Today we declare that she is the worst president ever in the history of Liberia. Today we are celebrating Independence in darkness after she promised electricity."

As the students made their points clear, riot police officers descended on the demonstration scene and demanded that the group move away from the road. With a little hesitance the protesters moved back in front of their campus.

Views have been mixed regarding this year's celebration in the face of what some say is massive poverty, unemployment and lack of basic social services for the masses as Liberia turns 166.