Claim To Be Discriminated Against For Years
PHOTO: Alhaji Mohamed Sow being sworn in as Governor by Counselor Lusine Bility
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Fula Community in Liberia is demanding to be taken as one of the ethnic groups in Liberia, and want to be represented and appointed in all aspects of governance, as Augustine Octavius reports.
The National Fula Governor, Almamy Mohamed Sow said Fulanis have been discriminated against in almost aspect of lives especially in the educational sector and representation in government.
Alhaji Sow made the demand in a speech delivered on his behalf at the program marking his induction as the National Fula Governor by the Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Counselor Lusine Bility at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia
According to him, Fula people are not only business people but lot of them are also schooled as professionals in all fields of life and it is based on this background that they are paying their taxes in the country.
“While it is of importance to note that education is very pivotal for sustainable economic growth and development,” he said, adding that, “it is also imperative to note that this does not happen in the absence of peace and co-existence”
“This therefore reminds me further that the Fulani in this country have always demonstrated that despite of her meaningful contributions to the country economy , they have also maintained the stability of this country my fully participating into worthwhile developmental events such as adhering to the rule of law and by large contributing peace of this country.”
“Our long standing history in this country as a people has always reminded us that the indispensable assets that we have in this country thus we have deemed this very imperative to maintain the peace and stability of the state.”
“ This is as evidenced of the support, contributions and our participation into the activities of the state.”
“Unarguably, we are among some the few or perhaps the very few ones in this country that have hugely underscored the importance of paying taxes.”
“This is an indication that we too have long since understood that the surest way to maintain the peace of this country is to pay taxes.”
“But it seems to be troubling that our ceaseless form of national participation to the state is still being questioned and to a greater extent to ignore.”
“The Fulani should not be merchants of the state, the Fulani should not just be merely considered as strangers.”
“The Fulani should not also be viewed as ordinary spectators into the political and socio-economic of the state.”
“This therefore suggest that we too should be part of the decision making process of the state.”
“This squarely means that the Fulani are qualified and competent to serve the country through any position of confidence and integrity.”
“Historically, the Fulanis have had some of her kind into the decision making process of the state notably at the level of a deputy ministerial position, assistant ministerial positions, representative in the office of the presidency and as well as other level in government.”
“But this must be reflective of a broad based inclusion of all, but to date, we are yet to take a solace into a sheet that bears the names Barry, Jalloh, Sow, Bah, Baldi etc etc and as our people too are getting very concerned.
“We know that this is not yet late as we are bright of the days to come.”
“There are other challenges that the Fulani community have been faced with as obstacles to her participation or inclusion into the decision making process of the state.”
“Today, the Fulanis community is proud of many of her sons and daughters as professionals in different fields of study.”
“Our country is at a crossroads,” Governor Sow went on, “Liberia holds so much promise, but that promise, as envisaged originally by the founders, has faced many stumbling blocks over a century of statehood.”
Many of these outlined problems are foundational that we as Fulani can collectively work together to achieve.
“We the Fulani are good people, we are kind a people, we are a forgiving people, and God fearing people, so let us begin anew, moving forward in to the future that is failed with hope and promise”
In Union Strong, success is sure! Together we can make the difference!! We cannot fail.