Monrovia – The stage was prepared on Monday, 5 February, for the confirmation hearing for Mr. Patrick Sudue, the Police Inspector-General-designate.
Report by Henry Karmo [email protected]
Other senior officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) had gathered in solidarity to cheer their incoming boss up as he was set to take the stand before the Senate Hearing Committee.
Their joy was short-lived when an announcement from one of the committee’s members disbursed the gathering.
“Go and settle the University of Liberia (UL) crisis if you want this confirmation,” was the direct message from Senator Steve Zargo, Co-chair on the Senate’s Defence and Security Committee.
The direct message, which is believed to have been a consensus of all the other senators on the committee, further instructed that the incoming police boss handles the crisis before appearing back in front of the committee for confirmation.
According to our Legislative reporter, despite the pronouncement being a consensus, some senators on the committee didn’t like the way it was expressed by their colleague.
Senators Oscar Cooper (UP Margibi County) and Conmany Wesseh (UP River Gee County) took exception to the manner in which their colleague called off the hearing.
Probably trying to be diplomatic in his approach, Senator Thomas Grupee (Nimba County) informed the nominee and the audience that there was misunderstanding in the schedule and that the right date for the hearing is Wednesday, February 7, 2018.
On Friday, February 2 and Monday, February 5, students of the University of Liberia have gone on the rampage, calling for the removal of the university’s president, Dr. Ophelia Weeks.
On Friday, the demonstrators burnt tires and held placards.
They charged that the administrators were preventing them from registering even though they had already paid their fees through the bank as required by the institution.
“How can students deposit their registration fees into the UL account and you stop them from registering? Student Mohammed Deybro lamented to a FrontPageAfrica reporter Friday.
Deybro further explained that the issue has been in the air for more than three months now, dating back to the previous administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
“This problem has gone for over three months now that even former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and members of the 53rd Legislature tried to intervene but didn’t yield any positive result.”
“So we are left with no other option but to find another way that would grasp the attention of the larger society,” said student Mohammed Deybro, who spoke on behalf of his demonstrating colleagues, said.
Chanting slogans, “We don’t want Weeks; Weeks Must Go;” the students also displayed placards, demanding, “Mamie Water Weeks Must Go; Jezebel Weeks Must Go” and “8,000 Students Must Be Registered!”