MONROVIA — Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh has launched a sharp verbal counterattack against Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Daniel Sando, describing him as an “unskilled sycophant riding on the back of an aging President”.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Senator Konneh’s response, posted on Facebook Tuesday, followed Sando’s Monday-night appearance on the Class Reloaded Show, a pro-government radio program, where the Deputy Minister strongly challenged the senator’s credibility as a critic of the Boakai administration and questioned his motives for speaking out about the country’s escalating narcotics problem.
At the center of Senator Konneh’s response was his rejection of Sando’s reference to his Muslim faith. The senator said he did not need a government official to instruct him to return to the mosque or question his religious commitment, stressing that he is a practicing Muslim who observes his religious obligations.
“I am a proud Liberian Muslim who prays five times a day, fasts, and donates charity to the poor,” Senator Konneh said, adding that although he does not consider himself perfect, he strives to practice his faith.
Senator Konneh also emphasized his respect for Christianity, pointing to his participation in daily Christian devotions at the Liberian Senate. He said he sits through Senate devotions and listens to messages delivered by Christian religious leaders, presenting this as evidence of his respect for Liberia’s religious diversity.
The senator’s comments came in direct response to what he regarded as Sando’s attempt to connect his religious identity to his political criticism of the Boakai administration.
“I don’t need an unskilled sycophant riding on the back of an aging President to tell me to go to the mosques and pray,” Senator Konneh declared.
The description of Sando as an “unskilled sycophant” represented the strongest portion of Senator Konneh’s response and underscored the depth of the disagreement between the two officials. By using the term, Senator Konneh accused the Deputy Minister of being more interested in defending the President politically than engaging the substance of concerns raised over the government’s handling of illicit drugs.
Senator Konneh’s response, however, was not limited to defending himself against Sando’s personal and religious remarks. He returned repeatedly to what he described as the central issue that country’s drug crisis and the responsibility of the Boakai administration to deliver on promises made to Liberians.
The senator said he supported the political effort that brought the Unity Party-led government to power because he believed the administration would take stronger action against illicit drugs. He argued that the scale of recent cocaine seizures and the continuing presence of narcotics in Liberian communities demonstrate that the country still faces a major challenge.
“I speak out against this cocaine scheme because I love my country and worked hard to bring in this UP government with the promise to rid our nation of drugs,” Senator Konneh said.
He added that the government was, in his assessment, struggling to fulfill that promise. “So far, we are struggling to fulfill that promise,” Senator Konneh stated.
Senator Konneh argued that his criticism should not be interpreted as opposition to President Boakai personally. Instead, he said his position represents an effort to hold the administration accountable for commitments made to the Liberian people.
As a senator and national leader, Senator Konneh said he has a responsibility to speak for citizens who may not have the political platform to raise concerns about the impact of drugs on their communities.
“I have earned the right to speak up, especially as a national leader and a voice for those affected by illicit drugs whose voices may not be heard,” he said.
The senator also rejected the idea that political loyalty should require silence. He maintained that national leaders must be willing to criticize their own political allies when they believe important national issues are not being adequately addressed.
“Silence would be complicity. I am doing my job,” Senator Konneh said. He then turned his challenge directly toward Sando, urging the Deputy Minister to concentrate on his own responsibilities and contribute to the national effort to combat drugs.
“You do your job, too, so we can make Liberia a drug-free country and a better country than it was two and a half years ago. Everybody wins!” Senator Konneh said.
Sando’s Attack That Sparked the Response
Senator Konneh’s remarks came less than 24 hours after Sando used the Class Reloaded Show to challenge the senator’s standing as a critical voice in Liberia.
Sando questioned why Senator Konneh should be considered a credible national critic, accusing him of bearing responsibility for reversing some of the gains Liberia had previously achieved.
“Who considers Senator Amara Konneh as a critical voice in Liberia when this man bears the greatest responsibility of reversing some of the gains this country achieved in the past,” Sando said.
The Deputy Minister then moved into a direct reference to Konneh’s religious identity, telling the senator that he should return to the mosque and seek forgiveness.
“Amara is a Muslim, and he needs to return to the mosque to ask Allah for forgiveness for his sins,” Sando said. Sando also accused Senator Konneh of having “connived and systemically rigged the election that made Weah president,” bringing the 2017 presidential election into the current political confrontation.
The controversy also drew the attention of Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who publicly advised Sando to reconsider the manner in which he responded to Senator Konneh.
Senator Dillon said Sando’s reference to Konneh’s religion was inappropriate and out of order. He acknowledged his own shortcomings but pointed to more than two decades of experience in public service as the basis for offering advice to the younger Deputy Minister.
Senator Dillon recalled advice from his mother when he was growing up, saying she frequently cautioned him to take his time because he had a long way to go in life. He said his experiences in public service had taught him the importance of patience and restraint.
Using that lesson, Senator Dillon urged Sando to be more careful about his public statements, particularly when responding to political criticism.
“Your recent comments directed at Sen. Konneh essentially referencing his religion and religious belief was inappropriate and out of order, from my viewpoint,” Senator Dillon said.
The Montserrado senator said political disagreements could be addressed in several ways without bringing a person’s religious beliefs into the argument.
He subsequently advised Sando to contact Senator Konneh and seek to repair the relationship. “You need to reach out to make amends!!” Dillon said.
Senator Dillon described Sando as a younger brother and said his advice was being offered from a good place, with the expectation that the Deputy Minister would take it in the spirit in which it was given.
The senator also warned Sando against becoming overly dependent on political applause, cautioning that those who cheer political figures today may not necessarily remain supportive when circumstances change. “Do not follow some of these political clapping and cheers … they may be temporary and can shift!!!” Senator Dillon warned.
