A Patriot’s Diary with Ekena Wesley
So much has been said about Liberia’s 2022 national population and housing census that simply never was after the goalposts were shifted twice. Sadly, even Liberia’s international partners were hoodwinked into believing the census was possible. The ‘partners’ joined LISGIS at the Capitol before the leadership of the House and were co-opted to prevail on that August Body to issue a Joint Resolution.
The Legislature did issue a Joint resolution despite an expert’s opinion, which was dismissed. No one listened to G. Alex M. Williams. Later, the Deputy Speaker, Fonati Koffa regretted they were lied to after LIGIS and UNFPA had previously made them believe the census was feasible. For now, Liberians are not sure when the census would take especially ahead of a crucial election year.
The manner of young, eloquent, and brilliant – census expert, G. Alex M. Williams spilled the beans amid Liberia’s ill-preparedness to conduct a credible census on October 24, and November 7, 2022, respectively. Little known, G. Alex M. Williams used the census brouhaha to display wit, knowledge, and vast erudite acumen.
As a statistician, he profoundly demonstrated enormous brilliance in the science and art of numbers, and statistics; a firm grasp and inclined wisdom in permutations and probability, and a confident expert so detailed in the interpretation and understanding of the language, lexis, and structure of demography.
Firebrand intra-radical, G. Alex M. Williams will go down in history as one of the youngest reservoirs of vast knowledge with a witty articulation in his field of study; like P.L. Lumumba or Henry Boima Fahnbulleh addressing a thrilled audience extemporaneously. G. Alex M. Williams seized the moment in two successive days on a local media platform to historicize LISGIS’ challenging moments, a critical review of efforts made under his watch in concert with other Liberians, the probability and the lack of, to conduct the national population and housing census vis-a-vis administrative shenanigans that occasioned the Statistics House coupled with massive corruption unearthed that seemingly stalled any real progress.
Armed with documentary pieces of evidence totaling more than 500 exhibits in his possession, including bank statements, transactions, audio recordings, emails, memos, and associated documentation, G. Alex M. Williams unquestionably lectured and mesmerized the media platform’s panelists as grimaced countenance became visible as it were. Alex challenged and reckoned Mr. Weah’s decision to dismiss people who were not appointed him in violation of the LISGIS Act.
In spite of his entrenched and fanatical affinity to the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), G. Alex M. Williams seized the moment to embark on a journey of self-criticism in view of the wrongs in the administration, which he squarely laid at the doorsteps of Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah. Alex William described the Finance Minister as a certified pathological liar who is whimsically misleading and misguided development partners let alone President Weah. Alex Williams decried vehemently the interference by the Finance Minister and the dismissed head of LISGIS, Wilmot Smith et al who know absolutely nothing about census but have selected to diabolically preside over the process without hindsight to the detriment of the country.
While G. Alex M. Williams’ critics would choose to scold his doctrine of self-criticism as belated, it is imperative to note that, some struggles must be fought from within. More essentially, although Alex might have appeared silent as the wrongs continued unabated, his deliberations over the last 72 hours leave us with one memorable arsenal; systematic documentation of events, actions as well as sequences.
Lest we forget, fighting from within amid the survival question – is painstaking and cumbersome. Folks, the manner of a man in G. Alex M. Williams, we listened to so religiously in the last 72 hours, is fearless – and is always willing and determined to speak his conscience with valor unpretending.
During his radio appearances, he predicted this and a few hours earlier but later released so terrifying a statement via his Facebook page: “Dear Liberians and the International Community, – Please permit me to inform you all that my family and kids’ lives are at risk. Our people and the International Community must come in and save them. I did nothing wrong and my family must not be targeted.
They are forcing my kids’ mom to show my whereabouts and speak ills about me otherwise she and the kids will be harmed. My own friend Eriah Gbah is being used in this process as he placed a call to her this morning to do so. A few minutes ago she just sent me the text message as seen in the screenshot. Her number is +231775942881 – or 0886484861. Please reach out to her now and help save my innocent kids and family life.”
Alex M. Williams indeed has genuine concerns, particularly in the face of the fateful and brutish demise of Matthew Innis, Fanbutu, Gifty Lamah, Albert Peters, Emmanuel B. Nyenswa, and a host of others killed in cold blood. Today, the relatives of all those people continue to wail for justice that remains far-fetched.
We can only hope that Alex M. Williams’ family would not become the next victim in a crusading orgy of unexplained cold-blooded murders wrecking a country still reeling from a senseless self-destructive conflict. With the fate of the census clearly in limbo, it is anybody’s guess the hurdle ahead of the small West African nations as it braces for crucial elections in 2023. So help us, Lord. Where have we gone wrong? In all of this, President Weah is on a soul train characterized by pomp and pageantry.
