Monrovia – Love him or hate him, talk show host Henry Costa epitomizes everything that nearly everyone in Liberia wants to say about the current leadership in Liberia but won’t.
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
While many say, he defies the convention of the extreme in his daily critique of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government, on his early morning breakfast show, his entry into the rugged jungle of the Liberian political terrain is a gamble many of his critics appear certain could serve as a litmus test of Mr. Costa’s popularity on the national level as he embraces and ventures into a territory that could make or break his standings albeit perceptions among his followers.
As he prepares to contest the representative seat in the soon-to-be vacated District of former Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe, Mr. Costa, regardless of the outcome will be hoping that the 180,000 followers on his show social media platform and another 33,000 on his personal page will follow him all the way to the ballot box in October.
As polarizing as he is to many, his quest to replace former Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe, who is redirecting his representation to Bomi County in the upcoming elections, Mr. Costa says he has no intention of changing his persona for the political journey ahead.
“I don’t intend to attempt a futile of changing who I intrinsically am. I am Henry Costa, they must accept me as I am.”
Change or not, Mr. Costa faces an increasing number of challenges. At least thirteen others are also eyeing the district seat.
They include gospel recording artist Kanvee Adams and Samuel Enders, who runs a school funded by Presbyterian in America which his critics say he is using as a launching pad to the legislative branch.
Mr. Costa’s brash style has made him few friends and it is one he hopes will elevate him to perform wonders in a lower house that has taken a hit from critics for failing to address lingering bread and butter issues affecting Liberians today.
For Mr. Costa, who says he intends to take a 30-percent pay cut if elected, “it is unacceptable that lawmakers make too much money while their constituents suffer.”
In addition to his plans to slash his salary, Mr. Costa also says he will push an aggressive health care reform bill which would seek to bring doctors and nurses who are active or retired in the United States to be placed at both public and private hospitals across the country.
“These foreign doctors would work together with local doctors to provide skills and knowledge,” he says.
In Liberia though, things are easier said then done and many of Mr. Costa’s critics fear he may not be able to deliver on much of his promises, making particular reference to football legend George Weah who has been criticized for not making much of an impact since entering the Liberian Senate.
But Mr. Costa appears content in what he will be able to accomplish.
“I am different because for the last five years I have remained constant in my advocacy. I have been to jail twice, wrongfully, because of the struggle for social and economic justice in Liberia.
Even after my radio station, Voice FM, was shut down by the government, I never stopped talking.
I am the only aspirant in the race with a solid track record of a consistent fight for a better Liberia. And I have raised thousands of dollars for tons of sick and needy Liberians to seek medical treatment abroad.”
In only a matter of months, Mr. Costa’s brash style, though extreme at times could come face to face with the political realities.
There are some who feel he goes a bit too far or over the edge at times. Others say he simply doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.
But Costa remains unapologetic and insists that one of his first order of business would be to push for the impeachment of an associate justice on the Supreme Court bench.
“I will seek to have Associate Justice Jemima Wolokollie impeached for travesty of justice.”
Wolokollie has been on the receiving end of some of Mr. Costa’s harshest criticisms due to her mishandling of the Ecobank – Milal Hage controversial case. Mr. Costa is unsure why the verdict has not been read since it was decided by the court.
At a welcome bash last week, Costa who is running under the banner of the All Liberia Party (ALP) is vowing to go door-to-door to ensure that the ruling Unity Party government does not return to power.
“We have to make sure Joe Boakai doesn’t win and we must elect Benoni Urey as president. I have stated repeatedly that a Boakai election will be a woeful continuation of the madness in this country.”
Will Liberia accept the loud-mouth, unapologetic talk show host?
More importantly, how will he fit into a lower House whose members have been on the receiving end of a lot of his rantings?
Win or lose, Costa says, he will continue to fight for those languishing at the bottom of the economic ladder.
“It’s not about me but about the people. I want to be part of the process to help transform their lives,” he says.