Gbarnga, BONG COUNTY – Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker could be dismissed for stating that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) lost the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial elections because the party threatened to dismiss local officials in the county if they didn’t support the party’s candidate.
“One of the main things that led to our defeat in the December 8 Special Senatorial elections was that the party hunted political opponents in the county. You had one man in the county who threatened to dismiss local officials if they didn’t support the ruling party’s candidate. If that doesn’t stop it would be difficult for us to win Bong County in the 2023 presidential elections”, Superintendent Walker said.
“You can’t be a ruling party and be threatening people to vote for your party. That is not democracy, ” she said.
Superintendent Walker said she advised local officials to ignore the threats from the party and vote the candidate they felt meant well for the county, and not party. “I told them to vote their choice and not to be moved by all the dismissal threats,” said Superintendent Walker.
Superintendent Walker made the statement in the presence of Bong County Senator Prince Moye (Unity Party, Collaborating Political Parties) at a program in Kokoyah Statutory District. At the program, Superintendent Walker’s statement was greeted with applause from the audience and Senator Moye, who appreciated her “for being farsighted” during last year’s senatorial elections.
While the superintendent is being lauded by Senator Moye, few top officials of the party are said to be at odds with Walker over her statement.
Rep. Marvin Cole, a CDC lawmaker in Bong County is among top officials of the party who are said to be fronting for Superintendent Walker’s dismissal.
He branded the superintendent, National Chairlady of the CDC, as a “spy” within the party being used by the opposition.
“The superintendent has been a bad apple among us and I think it’s about time she gets dismissed ahead of the 2023 presidential elections,” said Rep. Marvin Cole said.
“She hasn’t lived up to the expectations f many partisans in the county and I feel it’s the right time for the party to have her replaced.”
“This is not the first time the superintendent has brought us to public embarrassment by making derogatory statements against the government and I think this time around her actions warrant dismissal,” he said.
Another top party official who requested abnonmity claimed the search for Superintendent Walker’s replacement is already underway and that person will be announced in few weeks. “We are looking for a very young and vigilant partisan who will be a symbol for our party in the county ahead of the 2023 presidential elections,” the official said.
Superintendent Walker reign has been mired in controversy since her appointment by President George Mannah Weah in 2018. President Weah on February 15, 2019 suspended Superintendent Walker following allegations she made in a leaked audio which went viral.
The recording obtained by FrontPageAfrica this week, centers around President Weah’s reported displeasure over the bestowment of the nation’s highest traditional honor on his Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor – a ceremony that led to the dismissal of the county’s Dakpanah (heads of chiefs in the country).
Chief Moses Suakollie, the Dakpanah, and Arthur Kulah, native superintendent in Bong County (head of chiefs in Bong County) lost their jobs, following a high-level traditional meeting headed by Assistant Minister of Culture at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Joseph B. Jangar, and Chief Zanzar Karwor, chair of the chiefs and elders of the National Traditional Council of Liberia in the county.
On the audio, Madam Walker suggests that the President was likely to dismiss a few traditional leaders over the row.
The Bong County Superintendent is heard explaining to her aides that she had attended a party organized by First Lady Clar Weah after President Weah delivered his second Annual Message. According to her, it was at the President’s Jamaica Resort, along the Roberts International Airport highway, at least three of Pres. Weah’s trusted lieutenants – Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah and Minister of State Nathaniel McGill.