Gbarnga, Bong County – Some residents of the central Liberian town of Gbarnga on Monday accused Bong County’s District Three lawmaker, who is a member of the ruling Coalition of Democratic Change, of politically witch-hunting opponents in the county.
Representative Marvin Josiah Cole appears to be on a mission to turn the entire county into an absolute CDC stronghold by compelling local officials to join the ruling party.
Cole’s actions come less than a week following open threats by Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who demanded local officials to either join the ruling party or get dismissed.
The Vice President, who is known for making controversial statements, said similar actions were taken during the Unity Party regime when people were made to join the ruling establishment at the time.
“Y’all will join because other people joined the Unity Party so I’m waiting for y’all to travel to your districts to and tell me you’re joining the ruling Coalition,” she said.
On Monday May 28, several natives of the county told FrontPage Africa that it was unfortunate that anyone who holds contrary position to that of the ruling CDC in the county had been subjected to intimidation and harassment with the use of coercive apparatus of power.
In recent months, people have been transferred from their positions through the influence of Rep. Cole – most of whom are either those from the former ruling Unity Party or other political parties.
Jackson Quianbian, a supporter of the former ruling Unity Party, who opposed Rep. Cole’s election during the 2017 presidential and legislative election, was replaced by the Secretary General of the CDC in Bong County, Sayblee Weyea as Labor Commissioner, while Quianbian’s Deputy, William Summorward, the chairman of the People’s Unification Party (PUP) in Bong County, was replaced by C. Tarwoe Walonfa, a fanatic of Rep. Cole.
Last week, with the recommendation of Rep. Cole, the County Education Officer, Samuel Koenig, was replaced by James Zuannah, a staunch supporter of the CDC in Bong County.
Koenig bemoaned his replacement when he posted on his Facebook page recently: “I am totally gutted by the action of Rep. Cole….Is it because I didn’t support the CDC?”
Urging the George Weah-led administration and Rep. Cole to reverse its steps in the interest of democratic rule, Koenig claimed that it is becoming obvious that the county is gradually drifting towards dictatorship and anarchy.
He noted: “I categorically and unequivocally condemn these acts in their entirety. These have apparently shown that the administration of President George Weah, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and Rep. Marvin Cole are on a vendetta mission of witch-hunt, molestation, blackmail and persecution of the opposition or any dissenting voice.
“I have viewed with great concern, the spate of unwarranted witch-hunt, bully and harassment of political opponents under the guise of the fight against corruption by the Weah administration.
It is quite unfortunate, worrisome and sad that since the advent of the current government, its stock-in-trade has been the intimidation and harassment of members of the opposition and anyone who holds contrary opinion to that of the government or the ruling party, Koenig said.
Former Sanoyea District Commissioner Cantos Bondo said the action by the CDC-led government is out of order and worrisome.
“I want to categorically and unequivocally condemn these acts in their entirety; these have apparently shown that the administration of President Weah and the ruling party are on a vendetta mission of witch-hunt, molestation, blackmail and persecution of the opposition or any dissenting voice.”
Responding to the barrage of criticism against him on Radio Gbarnga, Cole denied dismissing local officials.
“These are people who are civil servants; they have never been dismissed from their positions but instead transferred to different counties,” he said.
He added: “Some of those who have been appointed are members of the former ruling Unity Party. Take for instance, Tarwoe Walonfa, a member of the former ruling Unity Party who didn’t have time to work in the UP-led government, I have given the opportunity to work in the CDC-led government. Is that witch hunt? I say No!!!”
Rep. Cole said if giving jobs to the young people is viewed as witch hunt then he’s proud to be associated with that.