Sanniquellie, Nimba County – Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar has rejected the intervention of Chiefs and elders in resolving a conflict between him (Kogar) and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung in Monrovia.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
Instead, he insists that any settlement of the conflict should take place in Nimba County, emphasizing the importance of traditional customs and forums closer to home.
The origins of the conflict and details about who sponsored and funded the trip by the chiefs and elders from Nimba County to Monrovia remain unclear.
However, their involvement was intended to mediate between the Senator and the Vice President following public disagreements escalating over recent weeks.
At his residence in Monrovia, Senator Kogar openly apologized to the chiefs and traditional leaders not for the conflict with Vice President Koung, but for bringing the county’s issues to the radio airwaves.
He firmly rejected the idea of settling the matter in Monrovia, advocating instead for a traditional resolution seated in Nimba County, the heartland of their customs.
In a recent broadcast on BKS Radio from his home in Buutuo Town, District Five, Nimba county, Senator Kogar expressed profound dissatisfaction with how Vice President Koung has treated him personally and politically.
He accused Koung of disrespect and sidelining, stating that his multiple recommendations for local appointments have been unfairly turned down.
“I have been treated as a mere boy,” the Senator asserted.
Speaking directly to the chiefs and elders who traveled to Monrovia, Senator Kogar clarified his stance: “I did not apologize to Vice President Koung.’’
‘‘I apologized because taking county issues to the radio without consulting you was wrong. If there is to be a settlement, it must be done in Nimba County not in a distant land,” the Nimba Senator stated.
Community sources have expressed concerns about the impartiality of the traditional authorities involved as many chiefs and elders are reportedly on government payrolls, raising questions about their independence in mediating this politically sensitive dispute.
Traditional Beliefs and Political Dynamics
In rural Liberia, particularly in Nimba County, there is a prevalent belief that the elder or ‘big person’ is seldom wrong, while the younger or ‘small child’ is usually at fault. This cultural context shapes expectations around conflicts involving local leaders.
Vice President Koung is regarded as Senator Kogar’s nephew in traditional terms since Koung’s mother is from Nimba County, while his father hails from Sinoe County.
Koung was born in Yekepa, Nimba County, further intertwining family and political relations in the region.
This intertwining raises a critical question: Will the chiefs and elders of Nimba County rule against the country’s second highest official, Vice President Koung or align with Senator Kogar? The unprecedented nature of this dispute especially with Kogar’s public confrontations against the Vice President adds complexity to the traditional mediation.
Recent Political Tensions Among Chiefs and Elders
The role of Nimba County’s chiefs and elders has recently come under scrutiny. Earlier this year, several traditional leaders faced government reprimand after attending a program organized by the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), led by political figure Musa Hassan Bility in Sanniquellie. Although they were officially invited to grace the event, they were later admonished by county authorities under President Joseph Boakai’s administration, urged to reject their involvement.
This episode revealed the delicate balance chiefs and elders must maintain between upholding traditional roles and navigating government expectations, particularly when political affiliations come into play.
It also raises questions about the independence of traditional intermediaries in political disputes like the present conflict between Senator Kogar and Vice President Koung.
As the situation unfolds, the Nimba County chiefs and elders are expected to take up the challenge of resolving this high-profile conflict in a manner that honors both traditional customs and political realities.
The outcome of their mediation will be closely watched by local communities and political stakeholders alike.
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