– Mr. Henry Costa, Leader, Council of Patriots
Monrovia – Mr. Henry Costa, leader of the December 30th Protest says he has been cautioned about plans to assassinate him on the day of the protest.
Mr. Costa, FrontPageAfrica has learned met with a number of international stakeholders Saturday, concerned about the security situation ahead of the December 30 protest.
During that meeting, FPA has been informed, Mr. Costa was reportedly informed of the plan to assassinate him on December 30th. The plan, FPA has learned, involves two to three men will try to get close to the head of the Council of Patriots in order to take him out.
Mr. Costa, FPA has learned was also informed that international stakeholders are concerned about recent comments made in a Facebook Live that he would defend himself if attacked.
Mr. Costa told FPA Saturday that he made the comments immediately after an attack on him at his station’s headquarters. “I said that I would defend myself next time if attacked, and that my bodyguards would fend off any future attacks, even if it means killing the attackers. Looking back, I regret those comments.”
During that meeting, FPA has been informed, Mr. Costa was reportedly informed of the plan to assassinate him on December 30th. The plan, FPA has learned, involves two to three men will try to get close to the head of the Council of Patriots in order to take him out.
Mr. Costa said he is now withdrawing those comments. “I informed them(stakeholders) that my comments were ill-advised. Considering that we are doing a mass protest and such comment could be misconstrued by some of our people and could lead to violence. I assured them of our peaceful intentions; as was demonstrated on June 7th, and my being a believer in the philosophy of nonviolence.”
Mr. Costa said he also informed the stakeholders that his comments were those of a man shaken by a horrible attack aimed at causing him bodily harm. “I informed them that one of my bodyguards was severely wounded. And is currently receiving treatment for injuries sustained on his head. They then cautioned good temperament going forward. They said absolutely nothing against the protest!”
Mr. Costa’s comments come as an intervention plan by a visiting delegation from ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) failed to break through.
The delegation had urged the George -led government and the Council of Patriots, organizers of the December 30 protest, to work toward calling off the imminent protest in the general interest of Liberia and the sub-region, the COP says its position has not changed.
The COP has insisted that it did everything, including urging the President to address the nation and the issues on the table, in a bid to avoid the protest but have been turned off by President Weah who has refused to heed to their demands.
FPA has learned that President Weah has refused to concede to the demands of the protesters, reportedly telling mediators that whatever he has to say to the nation would be said when he delivers his annual message in January.
The COP had urged the mediators to prevail on the government to end the cargo tracking note at the National Port Authority which was causing hardships for majority of Liberians. “Times are hard and things are difficult, it is not helping anyone, but only helping to increase prices. Let the government cancel or at least review the tracking note which is making it unbearable for Liberians,” Mo Ali, COP’s Secretary General told FPA Thursday.
The COP also prevailed on the mediators to push the government into reopening two radio stations – talk-show host Henry Costa’s Roots FM which was shut down and Patrick Honnah’s Punch FM whose license was revoked.
The COP has also taken issue with the handling of the mediation by ECOWAS, slamming what they believe is the UNOWAS’s one-sided approach to the mediation process, often toeing the line of the government and not pushing President Weah and his government into addressing the issues raised.
In its communiqué, the UNOWAS delegation noted with pleasure the interest of the government in addressing the relevant issues aimed at calming the tension and calling off the protest and further noted with satisfaction the ongoing efforts of the government and its partners towards this end and calls on the government to do more. The delegation, according to the communiqué says it takes seriously the assurances of the government of providing the details of these commitments during the state of the nation address.