The Movement for Progressive Change (MPC) through its national chairperson has condemned a recent statement by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suggesting that government officials should be generous to ordinary citizens with stolen public funds.
The party said it views the president’s statement as deeply troubling and blatantly encouraging corruption by government officials as long as they direct their illicit wealth towards aiding the poor.
MPC Chairman Onell Passaway said such statement is not only an endorsement of corruption, but also a dangerous precedent that undermines the integrity of the government and institutions.
He said as a political party, MPC is appalled by the president’s remarks, which suggest that theft from the public purse is acceptable if it is purportedly used to bless the people, describing it is an “egregious misstep” from a leader who should be focused on strengthening transparency, accountability and ethical governance.
Passaway said instead of taking the necessary steps to eradicate corruption and address the root causes of poverty, President Boakai has chosen to implicitly validate it as a tool for redistribution.
“No serious leader, in Liberia or anywhere in the world, should tolerate or encourage corrupt practices under any circumstances. President Boakai’s statement reveals a disturbing lack of commitment to the fight against corruption, and it sends a dangerous message that stealing from the state is permissible as long as it is done with the intention of benefiting the poor,” he said.
The MPC chairman said such rhetoric directly contradicts the values of good governance, fairness and justice, and only serves to perpetuate a culture of impunity, thereby undermining the critical work that needs to be done to restore trust in the government and build a society based on fairness and transparency.
Passaway said it is precisely this kind of weak and irresponsible leadership that has allowed corruption to flourish in Liberia for decades, calling on President Boakai to retract his statement and take immediate steps to demonstrate a genuine commitment to ending corruption within the government.
“The MPC will continue to stand as a strong voice for justice, transparency, and change. President Boakai must be held accountable for his words and actions, and the MPC will ensure that the Liberian people are never again misled by such reckless and destructive rhetoric,” he said.
However, the Executive Mansion debunked the claims by MPC, saying that President Boakai’s remarks were not an endorsement of corruption, but a clear denunciation of the vice and a call for integrity in public service and judicious use of public resources.
“As a statesman known for his honesty and humility, President Boakai emphasized the need for public officials to reject corruption and use resources entrusted to them for the benefit of the Liberian people,” an Executive Mansion statement said, reaffirming the administration’s zero-tolerance for corruption and a firm commitment to good governance.
By Prince Saah
