By Augustine Octavius
As President-elect George Manneh Weah prepares to take office in less than three weeks, the Inter Religious Council of Liberia (IRCL) on Tuesday called on the leadership of his Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) to form a government of inclusion.
They want a government that is religiously, geographically and ethnically balance.
The Council, which comprises Christian and Muslim religious leaders in this post-conflict nation, served as one of the key peace brokers during Liberia’s many years of civil war which officially ended in 2003.
IRCL’s position was made known to Journalists in Monrovia by its Secretary General, Atty. Musa Bamba, when the Liberian religious leaders spoke on the outcome of the December 26, 2017 runoff presidential election in Monrovia.
The Council noted that the CDC, as a grassroot party, “should ensure that the spectrum of the society in represented in government in order not to relegate one segment of the Liberian populace.”
They said President-elect Weah should give equal rights to all Liberians regardless of religious and ethnic background, because this has contributed to the loss of popularity of some governments in the past.
The Inter Religious Council of Liberia Secretary General added that the election of Senator Weah as president must not be viewed as an effort of one segment of the Liberia people.
Bamba encouraged the president-elect to always seek the advice of religious and traditional leaders on issues of national concern and he should be independent and objective in taking decisions that will benefit the majority
At the same time, the religious leaders are cautioning the President-elect against religious and tribal discrimination, because this is one of the sources of conflict as the West African region is very fragile.
According to the Inter Religious Council’s Secretary General, the IRCL will be very watchful of this government so that some people won’t over step their bounds by giving too much power unto themselves.
Bamba made it clear that Council has achieved its objective of making sure that Liberia conducted an election free of violence, respect for the laws and freedom of speech.