Apologize to Tolbert, Others - Says Bishop Innis
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
The Methodist prelate, who made the call during his Easter’s Sunday sermon, said the crucifixion of Tolbert and the execution of 13 former government officials in 1980 brought curse on the Liberian people.
He lamented that our national debacle started almost 27 years ago when people whom he described as “advocate for political greed and power” decided to bring confusion in the name of rice.
Bishop Innis said these so-called progressives agitated confusion, which eventually brought down the government of William Tolbert with several lives being lost. He said the crucifixion of Tolbert left a legacy that brought about the civil war, which killed several thousands of innocent lives.
The Methodist prelate said that during the regime of Tolbert, one could see that he stood for political, economic development of the country. According to him, during the late Tolbert’s regime one could see roads, technical and vocational institutions like Tubman College of Technology, Voinjama Multilateral School in Lofa, Kwendin in Nimba, among others.
He said under Tolbert administration he (Tolbert) brought about the philosophy of wholesome functioning society where people enjoyed basic social services and good housing facilities, adding, “Robertsfield highway was lighted; the city of Monrovia and surroundings benefited from constant electricity.”
But sadly, he noted, today our country has gone backward with no electricity
and safe drinking water while criminals move all around. He pointed out
that the rice for which Tolbert was killed for in 1980, has been sold for
almost US 45 dollars with many Liberians suffering from hunger and bad living
conditions.
Bishop Innis further noted that since the demise of Tolbert what we have
seen is nothing but ethnic struggle for political domination with attending
catastrophic consequences on innocent lives.
However, the prelate said that like the way the resurrection of Jesus Christ
brought blessings to mankind, Liberians can receive similar blessings from
God by turning away from their sins, adding, “they need to repent
and confess their sins.”
He said the signal which shows that God is ready to remove hurdles from the land is the coming of the United Nations peacekeepers to disarm all fighters and restore peace and sanity which will eventually pave the way for the holding of democratic elections this year.
The Methodist prelate then proposed for the Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) to declare a day of repentance and reconciliation before the general and presidential elections.
He also called on the heads of former warring factions to apologize to the Liberian people and reconcile among themselves.
