By Bill W. Cooper
“We have the right to protect ourselves because the President told us to do so,” these were the answers provided by the political leader of the Alternative National Congress yesterday when he addressed the media.
The presumptive head of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander B. Cummings who tried to be careful as not to out-rightly support his personal security who was found in possession of firearm stated that Liberia is not safe.
Cummings told the news conference at his CPP headquarters that every government’s responsibility is to provide security and ensure the safety of its citizenry, stressing, “But if the government fails on its obligation, you will definitely have people defending themselves and that’s what Liberia has turned into.”
The Alternative National Congress’ (ANC) political leader who seems to have come in strong defense on the possession of firearm by Justin Zigbuo told reporters at a news conference yesterday that this is so because Liberia is not safe.
He said though he is not in any way justifying the actions of his security guard, Liberia under the Weah led-administration is unsafe and as such, there is need that everyone protects and ensures his/her own safety.
“Unfortunately, we now lived in a country that is not safe anymore. Too many mysterious deaths have occurred without any justice being served. So, it is just the manifestation of the environment that we all now lived and needs to be our own security,” he reiterated.
However, his assertion followed after his bodyguard was arrested, charged and forwarded to court for prosecution by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for illegally possessing a firearm.
Zigbuo, according to police investigation, was arrested on December 17, with a black pistol marked Jericho 941 PSL, IWI (NSA), during the ‘We Taya Suffering’ rally organized by the CPP at the SKD Sports Complex.
The Police explained that Zigbuo was then charged with the crimes of possession and sale of physical objects for lethal use in violation of Chapter 17 section 17.11 of the revised Penal code of Liberia.
Chapter 17, Section 17.11 States: “A person not legally authorized to do so by the military or paramilitary nature of his service has committed a third-degree felony if he is found to be knowingly in possession of or has sold, transferred, given, or loaned to another any physical object possessed of lethal use, under circumstances not remotely appropriate to the lawful uses which such physical object may have.”
He was later released to his lawyers because the crimes for which he is charged qualified him for bail.
When asked if he was in the know about his arm, Cummings who could not definitely answer the question said, “Again, let us get the facts first because the Police have made any allegation and it is now before the court. So, once we get the facts and know exactly what happen, we will react.”
“But like I said earlier, I am remanding all Liberians that Liberia is not a save environment anymore and the President has already told us to be our own security. So it is incumbent upon you to protect yourself and ensure the safety of your love once as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cummings encouraged Liberians to remain hopeful and peaceful as they go about celebrating the festive season, adding, “As you celebrate this Christmas, I am once again assuring you of a better and prosperous Liberia.”
“So, as we end another year to begin a new and fateful election year, we must continue to believe that we can change our tears of suffering into tears of happiness. Hopelessness can become hopefulness again; privileges of partisanship will no longer undermine rights of citizenship,” he said.
