CDC Protest ‘Proof’

…Only God They Are Afraid Of

By Al-gbor Toweh

The governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) says it is not afraid of protest because it’s immune to it. 

This statement was made on Tuesday October 27, 2020 at a press conference by the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill at his residence outside of Monrovia.

The CDC was in opposition for 12 years and was regarded as the ‘champion of protest’ by many people during the regime of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

At some of the protests they organized, members carried empty caskets on their heads symbolizing the death of the ruling party’s leader and officials at that time.

But now in power, the man seems as one of the movers and shakers in the government said “Mind you, we are not afraid of protest. When you are making noise for protest, you think we are afraid? The only thing we are afraid of is God. We are very strong. We want to do good for our country.”

Since the ascendency of this government, there have been a number of protests by various opposition and other interest groups. The key one was the June 7, 2019 protest which drew regional attention. And the January protest this year. There were plans to carry out protest in December this year by the Collaborating Political parties (CPP), but said protest has to be cancelled.

He said “The president is not going to be carried away by the noise. We were in opposition before. Sometimes the things our friends in the opposition do make us laugh; because we have been there before.  We understand the game. Sometimes, when they are making all these noise, we are laughing.”

Minister McGill said they will not be distracted by any form of protest which will take them away from their development agenda.

“The president wants to make sure that when you enter Monrovia, you will think of some of the countries in the western world. He wants to change that narrative,” he added.

He added: “We welcome criticisms, but should be constructive not destructive. We are very open to constructive criticisms; In fact, if you are criticizing us, it will make us perform strong. But if they want to engage into destructive lies, violent, we will not accept it.  The president has told them to come with any good ideas.  Two heads are better than one. He has told them- bring your ideas.”