Monrovia – Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah has vowed to continue his “constructive criticisms” against President George Weah and his government.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Rep. Kolubah reaffirmed his stance following the much-anticipated meeting with the Ministry of Justice on Monday, April 22.
He had gone to offer clarity over what his intentions and motivations were when he made a statement to supporters on Sunday, April 14, 2019, suggesting “change of government.”
Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean, in a communication to the lawmaker last week, noted that the lawmaker is on record to have said: “We will move and they will solve the problem; too much, enough is enough… when you need us tomorrow, we will be available to tell this president, this squatter, will soon be leaving in less than three months because he does not able this country anymore. If they want violence, we will give them violence.”
Speaking to reporters at his District Headquarters after the Monday meeting, Rep. Kolubah noted that he had a “constructive discussion” with Minister Dean and other top government officials including the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah and some of his colleagues including members of the Independent Legislative Caucus who had accompanied him.
When asked whether he will back off his staunch criticism against President Weah and his government, he responded: “I am part of this government and if this government goes wrong, I will go wrong. If it falls, I will fall. That’s why we will not sit and be quiet. We will talk about the ills in society. That’s part of my responsibilities.”
“One thing that was stated in the meeting was that sometimes I can be very harsh and insulting to the President. So I said if I can be insulting, then I need to change my tone but I am going to talk and be constructive in my criticisms.”
Deputy Minister Fahngon Thrown Out
One of the highlights during the meeting was the expulsion of Deputy Minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon.
According to Rep. Kolubah, he requested Minister Dean to “throw Minister Fahngon out of the meeting because I was not comfortable with his presence”.
According to him, Minister Fahngon is always seen and heard provoking and taunting critics of the government, and as such he could not allow him to be in a forum which was geared towards promoting peace and mutual understanding.
Commenting on the June 7 protest, the Montserrado County District #10 vowed that the demonstration will go on as planned but stressed that it will be “totally peaceful”.
Before the protest, he said organizers will embark on a nationwide awareness campaign to inform and educate citizens on why the protest should be held.
“I have already said that am not going to be a part of anything that will not be peaceful. But I will be part of the June 7 protest and we will go from county to county to educate our people why we want this protest to go on. We do not want it to be violent; we do not want war. It is about creating the environment for our people to exercise their rights.”
Constitution Removal of the President
Interpreting his comments for which he was invited by the Ministry of Justice, Rep. Kolubah repeated the statements he had earlier made to the VOA Daybreak Africa that his statement regarding the removal of the President in three months was in reference to an impeachment bill he has been proffering since last August.
“What I was referring to was my impeachment bill. I am the only person that can interpret what I said. I said within three months if the President can’t lead this country, he will be leaving constitutionally. And by that, I was referring to my impeachment bill. In two months’ time, this impeachment bill will be on the floor and the President will be impeached,” he stated while displaying the draft bill to reporters.
“The law provides that I can carve an impeachment bill and the bill has been carved. Hon Acarous Gray said Justice (impeached) Kabinah Ja’neh will be former Associate Justice and today he is former because he was impeached. Even though it was unconstitutional.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Kolubah says House Speaker Bhofal Chambers’ decision to silence him at the Legislature has contributed to his (Rep. Kolubah) sustained criticisms and strong stance against President Weah and the CDC-led government.
According to him, Speaker Chambers does not allow his communications expressing the concerns of his constituents on the agenda of the House’s plenary, something he said undermined his legislative functions of representation, lawmaking and oversight.
He called on President Weah and those calling on him to slow down his criticisms to advice the Speaker to change his “bad leadership style.”
He suggested that if the Speaker continues to silence him and his constituents, he will be left with no option but to speak out through the way he does.
Said Rep. Kolubah: “The Speaker has contributed toward the way I speak because he does not allow my communication to come on the floor. He provoked the situation. So, if the President means well, he will call the Speaker and tell him to change his leadership style. I was sent to the Capitol Building to represent my people.
“If my presence is not being felt then who am I? I was elected as Hon. Chambers and he must respect the people of District #10 and Liberia at large.
“Any attempt for Hon. Speaker to think that he can bring me down and not to speak in session, then he will not be doing well for this President. And I am asking the president to please prevail on the Speaker to let the people of District #10 presence be felt at the Legislature.”