MONROVIA – The National Youth League of the CDC has decried and described as a religious and tribal card of divisiveness Senator Amara Konneh’s reminder to President Boakai for giving majority ministerial positions to citizens of Lofa and Bong Counties.
Recently, the Gbarpolu County Senator provided a statistic on his official Facebook page about the number of appointments made to ministerial posts by President Joseph Boakai, stating that the Liberian leader has so far appointed a single Muslim in his government.
In a press release issued Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the National Chairperson of the Coalition for Democratic Change Youth League, Emmanuel Mulbah Johnson said they are extremely concerned with the new wave of divisive rhetoric that has been heralded by Senator Amara Konneh.
According to him, the lawmaker who is a ranking member of the Unity Party administration is religious and regionally insensitive by questioning the latest appointment made by the President.
“Such a statement brings fresh memories of our dark past where we have the ULIMO -K, ULIMO -J, Lofa Defence Force, NPFL, INPFL and warring factions founded to defend certain religions, tribal and regional affiliations,” the statement noted.
The Youth League stressed that such act of incitement as a religion and regional fuel and reckless and thoughtless on the part of Senator Konneh, adding that these are the main reasons that led the country into 14 years of civil unrest.
The Youth League believes Mr. Konneh, who is a former Finance Minister and now a senator who hailed from a minority religious group (Muslim) should be a man who endeavors to promote peace and unity but not beat an early war drum by signaling out a specific group of religion or regions has been overlooked for ministerial positions.
“We feared that the Kissi people or Lofains might be offended by this as well and feel threatened by the statement of Amara,” Mr. Johnson intoned.
At the same time, the CDC Youth League stressed that the regional and tribal divisive rhetoric is creeping gradually; referencing a statement made by Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson on the same day as Amara Konneh in which the lawmaker attacked President Boakai for reportedly ignoring the citizens of his county during the appointments.
“The Senator of Nimba Prince Y. Johnson took to his pulpit on the same day as Amara Konneh, to attack Mr. Boakai for ignoring Nimbaians and giving all the Ministerial positions to Lofains. Senator Johnson’s latest attack comes in the wake of his previous threat against Mr. Boakai’s inaugural speech which he propagated the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes court,” the release said.
Emmanuel Johnson also said it is saddening that a man who participated in Liberia’s heinous crimes including the murdering of a sitting President continues to participate in Liberia’s political space at the disadvantage of those who saw the horrible war days and are demanding justice.
“This is troubling and for Senator Amara Konneh to show a semblance of division by beating the war drum, talking about which tribe or religion is more viable than the other in the Boakai-led administration shows a partnership with PYJ as in the ULIMO days, which wouldn’t be strange to Liberians,” he indicated.
The Youth League Chair emphasized that as the Liberian people detest any form of looming tribal or religious conflict, they will hold Senator Amara Konneh liable for any religious or tribal conflict, noting that it is being fueled by him.
About President Boakai’s delay in asset declaration
Furthermore, the CDC National Youth League is agog that after two weeks since President Boakai’s inauguration, he is yet to declare his assets in accordance with Part 10, Section 10.1 and 10.2 of the 2014 National Code of Conduct.
The provision states: “Every Public Official and Employee of Government involved in making decisions affecting contracting, tendering or procurement, and issuance of licenses of various types shall sign declare his or her income, assets and liabilities before taking office and thereafter”.
The Youth League arrowhead stressed that the President’s failure to declare his assets as promised during the campaign and as prescribed by the Code of Conduct of Liberia continues to validate their views that the Liberian leader and his cabals have come to power to steal and deplete the national coffer.
“We are beginning to witness the broad day stealing of US$19.5 million from the consolidated account, the misappropriation of US$650,000 intended for the inauguration and US$365,000 intended for the inauguration celebration in the seventy-three electoral districts of our country. So troubling that less than two weeks in power, Mr. Boakai is yet to account for all this money that could be used to create jobs for young entrepreneurs, and small businesses or invest in education or health,” Johnson intoned.
Meanwhile, the CDC Youth League said it is troubled by President Boakai’s secret handling of the death of several innocent citizens who died at the UP celebration up Crown Hill and then at the inauguration where three other citizens reportedly met their untimely demise on January 22, 2024.
“There has been no report in this regard. We call on Mr. Boakai to provide the whereabouts of the deceased and inform the Liberian people of the cause of death,” he noted.
At the same time, the political group stressed that it is taken aback by President Boakai’s latest action to have reportedly instructed his Executive Protection Service to hunt down former officials of the government.
‘The latest attack on the life of partisan Pepci Yeke is an early sign of witch-hunt which is a part of Mr. Boakai’s plan to ferment chaos and instability. We want to inform Mr. Boakai that the CDC is fully capacitated to constitutionally defend its members against any witch-hunt,” Emmanuel Mulbah Johnson claimed.
He emphasized that the Liberian leader needs to know that CDcians will be protected by CDcians in the country, stressing that they (CDCians) are fully prepared to resist any form of intimidation and political witch-hunt.
