MONROVIA – The man who once admitted to living on loan, but elected President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai has come under stern criticism from one of his strong supporters Representative Yekeh Kolubah for donating millions of Liberian dollars families of the victims of the gas tanker explosion in the country without disclosing the source of the funding.
By Obediah Johnson
Former Ambassador Boakai of the Unity Party (UP) was pronounced the winner of the presidential run-off elections held on November 14 by the National Elections Commission (NEC). He defeated incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
It can be recalled that on Tuesday, December 26, over 70 persons died while looting gasoline from a tanker which loss control and exploded in a ditch in Totota, Bong County.
Following the incident which compelled President George Manneh Weah to announce a week of national mourning, President-elect Boakai visited the scene along with some executives of the incoming governing Unity Party (UP) to regret the incident and sympathize with the bereaved families.
He called for an investigation to be conducted to unearth the root cause of the explosion and implement preventive measures to avoid similar incidents.
President-elect Boakai also provided 10 million Liberian dollars and 200 bags of rice as a way of identifying with the bereaved families.
But speaking to Reporters in Monrovia on Sunday, January 7, Representative Kolubah observed that the source of the money and rice provided was not made known to the public.
He expressed what he termed as “boastful” comments being made by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spoon Communications Network in Liberia Stanton Witherspoon towards the gesture from President-elect Boakai to the bereaved families.
According to him, President-elect Boakai remains answerable to Liberians as to where or who provided him the money and rice provided to the families of the victims.
Representative Kolubah wondered why President-elect Boakai who is on record for admitting to “living on loan” would generate and subsequently donate such a huge amount and rice without informing Liberians how and where he got it.
“Ambassador Boakai, it is a disgrace and shame to you to become Vice President for 12 years to have Stanton them bringing you to public ridicule. You shouldn’t have accepted that. I expected you to debunk what he said. But it’s true you don’t have money and you are living by begging and you acknowledge it.”
He further observed that many supporters of the incoming government have not done enough to reconcile with one another to form the government ahead of their appointments to various cabinet positions.
He said President-elect Boakai should bear in mind that it is wrong for diaspora Liberians, who are returning home to be appointed in his government, to make decisions for those who have been in the country for long.
Representative Kolubah further criticized the public display of photographs of President-elect Boakai and others taking their measurements for the sewing of new suits during his visit to the United States shortly after he was declared the winner of the elections.
He maintained that President-elect Boakai should be cognizant that he was elected to the Liberian presidency because of the high-esteem citizens continue to hold for him, and as such, he should not allow himself to be used or misled by few people in his circle, especially those from the diaspora that are returning.
“When Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai went to sympathize with the people of Totota, he said ‘on behalf of me and my family, we give our first initial contribution of L$10M with 200 bags of rice’. You need to tell the Liberian people who give you that money. Ambassador Boakai it is wrong. You told the Liberian people you never had money. Our laws are very clear. Why are you treating yourself like this? You need to be clear to the Liberian people who gave you that money. I know it has been more than seven days, but I give you additional three days to declare to the Liberian people who gave you that money.”
He reminded the former Liberian Vice President that Section 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials clearly forbids the act of bribery and gifts for rewards or benefits.
Representative Kolubah emphasized that the gesture to the incoming President may be a “bribe” to pave the way for the imposition of a monopoly over the importation of rice into the country.
Rice is Liberia staple food.
He said President-elect Boakai should also muster the courage to inform the Liberian people over the source that financed the secret trip of one of his sons out of the country.
Representative Kolubah, who is one of the fiercest critics of the outgoing government and infamous for his consistent use of disparaging comments against the Liberian presidency, vowed to inform Liberians about the source of the L$10million and 200 bags of rice to the bereaved families of the Totota tragedy and the travel of Boakai’s son to Lebanon if he fails to do so.
“If you think we brought you to power for those criminals to come behind you to be misguiding you-we don’t know you (Boakai) to be like that. You know very well that the Code of Conduct frowns on this. People may say that the people have not taken office-That’s lie, you people have started work.”
He said those appointed on the transitional team of President-elect Boakai are already visiting line government ministries, agencies and corporations requesting information and as such, it should not be perceived by the public that they are not working.
Representative Kolubah further frowned at comments being made by some executives and stalwarts of the UP encouraging Liberians to manage their expectations.
“We are not managing anything Joseph Boakai. Your think your can pick among the Liberian people? In the cause of the people, the struggle has started from today. Anything I see not correct, I will tell the Liberian people and I am under obligation to do that because, I was elected by the Liberian people.”
Meanwhile, the UP and the office of the President-elect are yet to comment on the issues raised by Representative Kolubah.
It remains unclear whether or not Representative Kolubah will disclose the source of the L$10million, rice and the sponsor of President-elect Boakai’s son to Lebanon if he (Boakai) fails to do so in the three days ultimatum given.
In Liberia, the offering of gifts to elected and appointed public officials while serving in governments or ahead of their ascendancies by owners of multi-million dollars companies and businesses operating in the country and owned by foreigners, is a normal routine.
At times, these gifts are covertly given or pass through others to pave the way or gain favor from these public officials. This runs contrary to the National Code of Conduct for Public Officials which was passed during the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
However, executives and supporters of the incoming UP led-government may see nothing wrong with the offering and acceptance of gifts by President-elect Boakai at this time on grounds that he has not been inaugurated as President of Liberia.
President-elect Boakai is expected to be inaugurated on January 22 this year.
The Code of Conduct law defines Public Official as any elected or appointed person holding a public office, and having duties relating to the sovereign powers of the government.