Monrovia – Adolph Lawrence once enjoyed a strong friendship with George Weah. He contested as an independent candidate for the Monstesrrado County District No. 15 seat and won. In 2017, through the efforts of President Weah, he contested on the ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and won his second term for the same district.
Lawrence’s 2017 victory was a much better performance than his 2011 win when he secured 6,872 votes for 27.1 percent. When Rep. Lawrence’s wife, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Liberty Party, Grand Bassa) was named as political leader of the opposition LP, shortly after the 2017 presidential and legislative elections, succeeding three-time presidential contender, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, strains between Lawrence, President Weah and the party became more visible.
Ostracized from Party In the weeks leading to his death, Rep. Lawrence had become ostracized from the party, making him only the second party’s ranking member to defect and fall prey to the cold hands of death in recent weeks. Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, February 10, 2019, four days after her 52nd birthday. Since Rep. Lawrence’s death in the early hours of Monday morning this week, messages of condolences have been making the rounds on social media. Equally so, some segments of Liberians have taken to the social medium Facebook to spit messages of hate against the fallen lawmaker, going as far as celebrating his death with innuendos of good riddance. The hate trend has prompted a number of exchanges bordering party lines. Nathan N. Kwein, posting in the Alternative National Congress chatroom Monday proclaimed: “It’s like having an opposing view or constructively criticizing the policies of this government is a crime punishable by strange deaths.” Fingers Pointing to Weah’s Supporters Fingers are being pointed toward supporters of President Weah, who appear to be unhappy that Lawrence, once a party stalwart, has in recent weeks been at the forefront of the Weah Step Down campaign. Last week, the University of Liberia student based political movement, Students Unification Party (SUP) launched the campaign, calling for the resignation of President Weah based on what it calls factors that are counterproductive to the livelihood of Liberians. “SUP believes that the state under his hegemony is fast crumbling and this tragedy could deepen if he doesn’t resign or be impeached,” SUP Chairman Carlos Tingban Edison, who was also involved in the crash with Mr. Lawrence said. Outlining 60 reasons categorized in five thematic areas, Edison said the crumbling economy compounded with the increase hardship, bad governance, attacks on press freedom, rising inflation and disregard for the rule of law and the Liberian Constitution are unbearable under the Weah administration.
According to Edison, the practice of ill-transparency and the President’s inability to adhere to promises made are evidence of his inability to lead Liberia. One of those comments making the rounds is from a post named Jaymel Johnson who, in the Truth Breakfast Show page, went as far as calling for more deaths. “Who are those ungrateful idiots left on the list to die? Martin Kollie, Darius Dillon, Yekeh Kolubah and Henry Costa, you will die soon.” Another poster suggested: “When you are rude, and disrespectful to your leaders in authority, this is what you get.”
‘Train up a child in the way he should grow, when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ “This President is favored by God. This should serve as a serious warning to everyone who are rude, and disrespectful to our leaders.” A Query for the Dead: Why Travel with SUP Stalwarts? Patrick Roberts, writing in the Costa Show wrote: Rest in peace Hon. Lawrence. But why were you traveling with five senior members of SUP (Student Unification Party) members from Buchanan? One died along with you and the rest including the chairman are in hospital. It shows that you and your wife were some of the supporters of the Wean Step Down Campaign. It’s sad though.” Another poster, Jeamco Corks went as far as wishing death upon SUP’s Edison: “Oh! Your ass supposed to die too. Planning evil against your own country that’s the result. Protests whole day. Your asses can’t get something doing but to damage our country.” Complicating the hate-filled messages in the aftermath of the lawmaker’s death is the fact that some members of Student Unification Party (SUP), also in support of the Weah Step Down campaign were also involved in the accident that killed the lawmaker. Among them: Gwendolyn Wilson, a recent graduate of the University of Liberia who was in the front passenger seat of vehicle also lost her life, along with Rep. Lawrence. Carlor T. Edison, Chairman of SUP, Prince B. Gbadoe, and Aaron Cassell are all currently in critical condition undergoing treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Edison, along with Martin Kollie has been vocal against the Weah-led government. In a response to the President’s annual message in January, the SUP chairman declared that under the Weah first year, the government demonstrated nothing substantive to improve the livelihood of the citizens. the people are still living in sad times – basic amenities such as food, health, sanitation, safe drinking water, quality education, housing, and job remain a mystery; conditions are terribly worsening every day that passes; hospital are closing down; medical standard has deteriorated even at health centers that are still functional; drugs are unavailable at various government hospitals; people are dying daily from curable diseases.” With Lawrence Gone, Yekeh & Sloh Face Challenge Quietly, some CDCians are said to be unhappy with Lawrence’s criticisms. Others had up to the time of his death, accused the lawmaker of biting the hand that gave led him to two elections victory. Nevertheless, the lawmaker had in recent weeks not shied away from expressing his views. In recent weeks, Rep. Lawrence and a number of lawmakers have been in a major row with House Speaker Bhofal Chambers whom they accused of ‘unruly’ behavior. In one of the major drama on the floor of the lower house, Rep. Lawrence was heard calling plenary’s adopted agenda a “trash”, prompting Speaker Chambers to order the Sergeant-at-arms, Brigadier General Martin Johnson to escort the Montserrado County’s lawmaker out of session for what he (Speaker Chambers) termed as his disturbance and unruly behavior. The drama began following the reading of the agenda by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mildred Sayon, and a motion for adoption was filed by Rep. Samuel Kogar (Nimba District #5). Several lawmakers including Reps. Lawrence and Yekeh Kolubah (Montserrado District #10) raised their hands to amend the motion (either to add, modify or subtract) for subsequent adoption by plenary. Rep. Lawrence also wrote several communications to House Speaker including a plead for the City Major of Monrovia, Jefferson Koijee to be invited and explained why Monrovia was overwhelmed by dirt and fifths. His communication, however, did not appear on the floor. Rep. Lawrence had cemented himself among a trio of powerful lawmakers standing up to Speaker Bophal Chambers. As one of the aggrieved members of the Lower House, the late lawmaker was also a founding member of the Independent Legislative Caucus, set up to restore independence, sanity and credibility to the House of Representatives.
Together with Reps. Jay Nagbe Sloh (Sinoe County Dist. #2) and Yekeh Kolubah (Montserrado Dist. #10, Independent), the trio held no punches in holding speaker Chambers’ feet to the fire, regularly slamming him as “weak and inconsistent.” The trio’s action put them in the firing line of the speaker’s wrath and Lawrence was twice thrown out of legislative sessions for standing his ground. Even up to the final moments of his life, Rep. Lawrence was passionate about his cause. Rep. Sloh recalls: “He was not too lively on his birthday you know – he kept saying, in fact he was lecturing the students from SUP – telling them not to give up, that Rome was not built overnight and we should not give up. And the students said, no, we’re not giving up. And the guys said we don’t sleep one place now. We alternate sleeping places every day – you know. He, Yekeh and myself, his wife – man…. I still don’t believe Adolph is dead.” Rep. Sloh says in the wake of his colleague’s death, he and Rep. Kolubah have been told by many to exercise caution. “Legislators who are supposed to be friends with these big people, our colleagues were telling us, you and Yekeh have to be careful.” Lawrence’s Last Act This week, he was expected to oversee a House investigative hearing into the mysterious death of Matthew Innis, a former researcher at the Central Bank of Liberia who was victim of a hit-and-run accident recently. The late lawmaker had sought Plenary approval for Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean and Police Inspector Sudue to appear before the august body on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 to give a comprehensive report on circumstances surrounding the death of Innis. In his communication, Rep. Lawrence stated that following the CBL staff’s untimely death, which Police have linked to a hit-and- run accident, family members and the public have contested reports that he died under such circumstances; “especially the incident happened just after the release of two damaging reports surrounding printing and importation of excess Liberia banknotes and the controversial US$25 million mop-up exercise.” The mop-up exercises, according to Rep. Lawrence was implemented by the Technical Economic Management Team (TEMT) and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), “which it is believed that Mr. Innis must have had some basic information relative to the printing an importation of money and the unconventional mopping.” However, after the reading of Rep. Lawrence’s communication by Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon, Rep. Jeremiah Koung (Nimba County District #1) filed in a motion calling for the report to cover the deaths of Greaves and Allison. “These are grave issues in our country and most times always go unnoticed. We all remember the death of Harry Greaves and we have been awaiting that report, but up till now, nothing. Cllr. Michael Allison was due to appeared before the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission LACC two days before he died. I will move if I can obtain a second that the Police Inspector General and the Minister of Justice be made to appear before this Plenary to give us full report on the death of Harry Greaves, Cllr. Michael Allison and Matthew J. Innis.” he proffered. Amid the massive spewing of messages of hate against the fallen lawmaker, some Liberians say it is important for President Weah to lead a massive reconciliation effort while slamming his supporters for raining insults against a fallen member of the lower house of the national legislature in spite of whatever differences they may have had with him. “Sheer naivety and stupidity to the highest order to celebrate the death of a fellow Liberian. May God save the motherland,” Siebo Willliams chimed in Tuesday. ‘Hate Woefully Incalculable’ Telia Urey, in a post on her page lamented: “I hope the Liberian people and the international community are keenly watching some of the ruthless and fearful comments coming from some savages! Those wishing and celebrating the deaths of Liberians. Is this the new Liberia?” Robert Kpadeh, for his part averred that the divide is scaring and deepening. “The hate is woefully incalculable. Where are our religious and traditional leaders?” James S. Goodday Flomo, also writing in the Truth Breakfast Show lamented: “This is how politics in Liberia has turned. This is very sad for young people in this country. I wish Carlos Tingban Edision along with the rest of the folks a speedy recovery.” Despite the outrage, the attacks on the fallen lawmaker and some of those involved in the crash, has amplified in the last 48 hours. “Liberian people, death before regret, stop going against the chosen one. George Weah is the chosen president. Give him the chance to stop planning evil. Anyone planning evil against him will surely die, this is not time for politics, RIP,” wrote Saytue Perry. Another poster, under the name Arthur G. Collins went as far as to wish death upon SUP Chair Edison. Collins wrote: “A source just informed me that Carlos T. Edison is dead at JFK. I am happy about it, but when an individual starts to plan evil against the will of God, He God does not hesitate to destroy the person. This is a clear manifestation that God is totally angry with the so-called Weah step-down madness. Lesson to all those, including Henry Costa and a high school dropout Darius Dillon who are planning evil against our God-sent leader, President Dr. George Weah. Rest in peace foolish pekin, it is the will of God and so shall it be.” he attacks on Rep. Lawrence comes as President Weah on Monday consoled family members of fallen Rep. Lawrence when he paid a visit at the home of the family. According to the Executive Mansion, President Weah, sitting by the widow of the fallen representative, who is also a member of the National Legislature, Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, extended his condolence to the Lawrence family and encouraged them to be strong during their difficult time of bereavement. The President, who was joined by several officials of government at the home of the fallen lawmaker, said his government was deeply saddened by the tragic death of the representative. He expressed hope and prayer that God would grant the family solace. “The late Rep. Lawrence was a member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of which President Weah is the Standard-bearer,” the Executive Mansion’s statement concluded.