Monrovia – Presidential Press Secretary Smith Toby has blasted citizens for their public outcry against the appointment of Defense Minister-designate for operations, Tarplah David.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
David was recently appointed by President George Weah, but the announcement met stiff criticisms from some Liberians who accused him of making threatening comments via social media.
David, alias Zoely Zoe, stated in a Facebook live video posted just a day before his appointment, threatening to galvanize members of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change to stomp the office of the National Security Agency (NSA) until it directors of agency step down for not being in the interest of the government.
But Toby, who is an official spokesperson of President Weah, said he sees nothing wrong with the comments.
“I’m taken aback to see how Liberians want people to get prosecuted for statements made on social media when the same Liberians called people hero for saying they will bring guns, they will drag the president to the street, people will die under their instruction,” Toby said.
Toby told reporters on Tuesday, October 22, that citizens should not criticize Mr. David for the statement – threatening to ‘Kill anyone’ who will come out for the planned “Weah Step Down Campaign” in December, adding that the President will not withdraw the nomination.
“The President feels that Mr. David is competent and is qualified with all of the credentials to serve in such position and if Liberians do not want Mr. David to serve in the position, it should go through the Liberian Senate. The president will not withdraw that nomination,” the former radio talk show host said.
“Liberians do not go after those individuals to question their loyalty or sincerity to the state, so when Mr. David spoke, he spoke on his podcast as a citizen who was not appointed in government.
“If Mr. David is appointed and his qualification be questioned, then Mr. David will have to rethink. We are hearing all of the outcries, but if this outcry was about his qualification or potential, then the President will have a second thought.”
According to him, David’s comment was made when he was still an ordinary citizens and it should not reflect on his public service.
“When the minister-designate spoke, he spoke as a Liberian like others do on the social media and not appointed then by the President,” he stressed.
“I’m taken aback to see how Liberians want people to get prosecuted for statements made on social media when the same Liberians called people hero for saying they will bring guns, they will drag the president to the street, people will die under their instruction.”
– Smith Toby, Presidential Press Secretary
Meanwhile, the Deputy Press Secretary expressed President Weah’s concern about the numbers of protests in the country, particularly the situation involving students of the Monrovia Consolidated School System.
Toby attributed the series of protests to lack of proper coordination which recently led to the student’s protest.
He said the government is working on the payment of salaries, but the information surrounding such a process has not been communicated properly.
“There has been breach in communication that has resulted to students coming into the street because of the lack of communication. The president has been concerned about protests especially the ones relative to kids on the streets.”
The Presidential Press Secretary then voiced the President’s regrets over the situation and asks for investigation of the MCSS and the Ministry of Education.
“We also want to express regret on behalf of the president for the way some journalists were handled, equally so, we like to caution our media colleagues to do best practice and be identify when they are covering crisis events,” Toby stressed.
In a related development, Toby said clearing has begun at the Arm Forces of Liberia’s Schefflin facility, in Margibi County for the construction of 2,000 housing units. He said construction work for the first 500 units will begin early March.
Toby also noted that the 14 Military Hospital will be dedicated on the next Arm Forces Day celebration.
“It will be ready for operation and fully equipped for not only the army, but other Liberians who will seek medical attention there,” Toby said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Toby said the construction of a US$3.8 Million market building in Duala will begin at the end of this week.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
