Monrovia – Things seem to be going haywire in Bomi politics as the county officials ganged against a decision by some natives of the county to petition Representative Edwin M. Snowe to represent their interest in the 54th Legislature.
Report by Henry Karmo – [email protected]
Rep. Snowe, a sitting lawmaker for Montserrado County was recently petitioned in District #1 in Bomi County which is currently represented by Rep. Garyah Karmo.
Rep. Snowe was petitioned at colorful ceremony in the district, a move seen by many as an attempt to unseat Hon. Karmo. Amid the hullabaloo, Snowe has neither accepted nor turned down the petition but has come under fervent attack by his colleagues in the Legislature.
On a local radio talk show on Wednesday, Representative Snowe alleged that a meeting with natives of the county was held in Bomi by lawmakers, including Sen. Sando Johnson, Sen. Morris Saytumah and House Speaker Alex Tyler to discuss the decision of residents who petitioned him.
According to him, residents were threatened with dismissal and reprisal by their officials if they support him, describing him as a stranger to represent their interest on Capitol Hill. He also claimed that the meeting was intended to launch a movement title “Operations stop Snowe”.
“They are scared for nothing,” he said. “The unfortunate thing is that he had meeting without even inviting Representative Karmo. The meeting was attended by Saytumah, Sando Johnson, and Speaker Tyler.
The good thing is they are making time to go to Bomi to call meeting. I haven’t made a decision. I did not go Bomi to make trouble, I went to make farm.”
It was reported that House Speaker Tyler, who is under pressure of removal from his position, has vowed that Snowe can never be elected as a representative in Bomi, describing it as weak political tactics.
“I don’t see Snowe as a force. If it is because of his farm, why don’t we take some of the Malaysian and make them lawmakers. That is a cheap style employed by politicians”, said Speaker Tyler.
But Representative Snowe in response to Tyler’s statement said the Speaker is unpopular in Bomi, accusing him of trucking voters from Gardnersville to Bomi to vote for him during the 2011 elections.
“I am a Liberian citizen, I am sorry that the speaker cannot understand that Malaysian cannot be lawmaker. I want Tyler to fight, I am not deterred.
That meeting is good but challenge that no commissioner will be dismissed. Karmo is my partisan and my friend. He thought I was undermining him but he is getting to understand that I am not the one,” Representative Snowe said.
He expressed confidence of wining if he contest. “The only way I will not win is if I don’t contest.”
The current Montserrado County district #6 lawmaker accused his former ally of manipulating the national budget to fund his presidential ambition.
“Tyler thinks because he is manipulating the budget he can be president. His picture will never go on the ballot box as presidential candidate. That party will go to an opposition and turn over their resources for accommodations if God forbid they win”, Representative Snowe said.
‘Lying Snowe’
For his part, Senator Sando Johnson confirmed the holding of the meeting but said it was part of regular meetings held with residents of the area.
“I dare Snowe, if he makes one attempt on me, I will come for him. Snowe knows me, he cannot challenge me. We welcome him as a corporate citizen but he likes window dressing, he likes big show. He is a bloody liar,” Senator Johnson said.
Hard joke
In support of Representative Snowe former Senator Lahai Lassana described purported meeting as a hard joke, claiming that the people of Senjeh have spoken. “In as much that Snowe is a member of the Unity Party, he has my blessing. I am disappointed that a UP senator, Saytumah, could attend,” he said.
UP is not an issue
Senator Morris Saytumah, chairman of the Bomi Caucus said Unity Party is not an issue because, according to him, the current representative of the district is a UP lawmaker.
“We went to talk to our people. There has been this issue about petition and in Liberia you don’t get petition until it’s paid for. It was a micro-managed petition,” Saytumah said.
“We from Bomi will not take that. All that he is giving our people is his corporate responsibility. For me, if the people say they want Snowe is not the issue but it should not be micro-managed. He has even taken over the radio in the county,” Senator Saytumah added.