I Was Quoted Out of Context - Cllr. Gongloe
By: Lewis Glay
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Cllr. Gongloe told a cross-section of the Executive Mansion Press Corps that his statements were self-explanatory pointing to the fact that the Executive Mansion’s release concerning former officials of the NTGL did not have any phrase that mentioned a “travel ban” on anyone.
He said the issue regarding the release came about when Nimba County Senator Adolphus Dolo asked him as to whether it was a travel ban imposed on former NTGL officials, adding, “I was quoted out of context.”
Responding to this question, he said the release only advised former NTGL officials to be aware of the pending audit so that if anyone of them intends to leave the country prior to the process, his or her contact number can be made available for consultation in case a particular clarification on the audit would need that person’s input.
The Solicitor-General designate further clarified that the issue of a travel ban being unconstitutional which he made reference to Article 17 of the Liberian constitution which the local daily attributed to his recent statements at the Capitol Building, was an indication that the government was aware of citizens’ rights of free movement that cannot in any way be violated.
Cllr. Gongloe also noted that the government cannot carry on any audit of the most recent government officials by surprise, as such, it was on said basis that all those concerned would have been informed in due course so that they could use the opportunity to exonerate themselves from the collective presumption that “everyone” in the NTGL was corrupt.
According to him, the current government came to power on “human rights agenda” and has the mandate to operate within the confine of the law least to mention human rights abuse or witch-hunt against its citizens as people would surmise.
Commenting on former Post & Telecommunications Minster Eugene Nagbe’s recent statement via phone from Sierra Leone that when he returns home he would leave the country aimed at testing the government’s strength, Cllr. Gongloe said Mr. Nagbe is “trying to be a hero unnecessarily,” but in his view this government will not give credence to people to seek popularity unduly.
He then called on the media to report the accounts of newsmakers in their truest context without insinuation or distortion.
