Weah and his associates turned a deaf ear to valuable advice, sidelining the brilliant minds that propelled them into power. Entrusted to deliver concrete results, Weah’s focus shifted to questionable deals, get-rich-quick schemes, and misadventures.

By John Morlu, Former Auditor General

Six years passed quickly, and disillusioned by Weah’s actions, many cut losses early, abandoning assistance to a group turned kleptocrats. They now face sanctions, thanks to the American Government’s commitment to combating corruption, human rights abuses, fraud, waste, and abuse of power in Liberia.

As initial mistakes unfold, documented by America and Europe, Joe Boakai’s team must be vigilant. Six years is short, and repeating Weah’s mistakes looms if expectations aren’t met.

Misadventures and quick money-making schemes offer short-term gains but an unsustainable path to wealth. The warning is clear: avoid becoming “Government Entrepreneurs” like McGill, Koijee, and Tweahway. Government is public service, not the private sector.

Listening is key—reject stubborn refusal to change from corrupt practices. Refrain from “That John Morlu man” rhetoric, as it could lead to sanctions. Learn from CDCians’ regrets. John Morlu aims to uplift Liberia from chronic poverty.

Today, Weah and company call to apologize, acknowledging they should have listened. But it’s too late. The damage is done; it’s time for comeuppance and to recover stolen money and illicit wealth.

Corruption isn’t a path to prosperity. Liberians elected Joe Boakai to combat corruption, enhance governance, and generate jobs. Protect Boakai’s legacy in the short six-year timeframe. Recognize dedicated professionals, avoiding sidelining them for quick gains.

Embrace private enterprise capitalism, emphasizing government serves the public. Let Boakai’s government mark a new beginning, breaking free from the curse of stolen taxpayers’ money plaguing Liberia. The era of Government Entrepreneurs should end.

Monrovia – The opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), through its National Youth Chairman, Jefferson Koijee, has alarmed over what it calls “strange happenings,” creeping into the Liberian 2017 political arena.

Report by Willie N. Tokpah – willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com

CDC youth chairman Koijee Saturday, October 28, sounded the alarm over rumors of plans by the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Liberty Party (LP) to disrupt the pending runoff process aimed at establishing an interim government.

Koji stated that they have gathered unconfirmed pieces of information, which suggest that UP is now backing LP on its court proceedings in order to stall the runoff process.

“We think our peace and stability should not be threatened. Reliable information in our domain is that [Rep. Edwin Melvin] Snowe and others are forming alliance with the Liberty Party for an interim government,” Koijee said.

He vowed that the plan of the two political institutions will be resisted by them.

Addressing a news conference, Koijee described as troubling for his party to be faced with too many attacks from political opponents, since a favorite son of Nimba County, Senator Prince Y. Johnson, pledged his support to them.

He said the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction Party’s political leader’s support to CDC has limited UP chances of winning the runoff election, which, according to him, has forced the party to opt for an interim government.

“We want to come very clear to the ruling establishment and Liberty Party that there can be no interim government here.”

“The mandate of the people is clear and no one, no institution can thwart that,” the CDC youth leader stressed.

Koijee explained: “There is a marriage being carved between the Liberty Party and the Unity Party. “

“They cannot defeat us. So the only thing they can do is to have a factional leadership; we say no.”

At the same time, the CDC Youth Chair wants government, through the Liberia National Police investigates individuals involved in issuing statements and threats against the peace Liberia now enjoys.

“Since the declaration of support to Ambassador George Weah by Senator Johnson, we have seen on social media threats on the stability of our country,” Koijee said.

He made specific reference to a Facebook post by a Liberian journalist, Rhodoxon Fayiah which speaks about plan by Grand Gedean to unleash war on inhabitants of Nimba County.

“On the social media, there were political pundits of the ruling establishment, creating fear of war to our people. Even journalists have gotten polluted. Rhodoxon Fayiah posted on his facebook page that the Grand Gedeans will bring war,” Koijee lamented.

Koijee noted that the continued silence of the police force on said situation without inviting those associated is creating fear on the part of the CDC.

According to him, the alleged silence of the police force means that it is taking a side because of some interests it has with those involved.

However, Unity Party Campaign Spokesman, Mohammed Ali noted that Koijee has no authority to speak for his party and must not insinuate.

In a telephone conversation with FrontPage Africa, Ali said Koijee’s assertions cannot be taken seriously by the UP. He described them as “nonsense.”

Paynesville City – Liberia’s opposition political party, Congress for Democratic Change, has come in strong defense of occupants at the 72^nd Barracks in Paynesville after the tenants were recently ordered by the Ministry of Defense to vacate the facility.

Report by Willie N. Tokpah – willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com

The CDC has described the MoD’s decision as a ‘sad’ moment, arguing that it may spark chaos in an election year.

Jefferson Kojee, Chairman of the CDC Youth Wing, noted that there are over 12,000 people occupying the barrack and cannot be evicted as ordered by Defense Minister Brownie Samukai.

He said the occupants comprise of families of former combatants and Armed Forces of Liberia personnel who have been living in the barrack for several years.

Recently, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai told a state radio, ELBC morning show that the MoD is seriously considering the eviction of occupants at the 72^nd Barracks.

Minister Samukai stressed that the occupants were given prior notice for a very long time to leave the barrack but they are not making move to adhere to the mandate.

Ahead of the MoD’s deadline, the CDC National Youth Wing Chair told a news conference on Thursday, February 16 that it will be inhumane for the Ministry of Defense to remove occupants of the Barrack without resettling them.

He claims there have been several calls by occupants of the 72^nd Barracks for the CDC to make speedy intervention into the pending eviction by the Ministry of Defense.

The CDC stalwart claims the eviction will pose more hardship for them, displacing the occupants.

“It is disappointing that we have come to realize people with checkered history; and who have been in the history of ensuring that this country returns to chaos and one of those elements who have been doing it persistently is the sitting Defense Minister, Hon. Brownie Samukai.”

“One of his attempts was in 2014 under his direct instruction when the late Shaki Kamara was murdered,” Koijee asserted.

He said occupants of the barrack will not be removed as ordered by the minister, raising alarm that a forceful removal might lead to disorder.

Koijee alleged that the statement made by Minister Samukai not to resettle the occupants speaks volume of the ministry’s strategy of inciting citizens to carry out mayhem in the midst of elections.

The CDC Youth Chair asserted that most of the occupants have military trainings and cannot be evicted from the barrack by forceful means.

He said the move by the minister has a political undertone and intend to undermine the pending elections.

However, Assistant Defense Minister for Public Affairs David Dahn told FrontPage Africa in a mobile phone interview that the 72^nd Barrack is not being occupied by ex-AFL personnel as claimed by Koijee.

He said it was at the good will of the military that ordinary citizens have been occupying the barrack for over 12 years.

“So if the military tells you that they want their facility to use it, want to develop it that is their issue.”

“They were given February 28 deadline, so they better begin to pack and find their way…just as people left for the new defense, just as people left for the Coast Guard Base, they will have to leave,” Dahn said.

Dahn described “a joke” for occupants of the Barracks to request resettlement benefit when they have stayed in the area for 12 years.  “As citizens, we all should understand that when you stay somewhere for 12 years in a public building, you should know that it’s a public building and we have been issuing this warning so I think they have to go,” he stressed.

But Kojee who alleges that Minister Samukai wants to instigate chaos, also reference the secret recording saga involving Samukai and Ellen Crockum, former Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport (RIA).

“In his quest to reduce this country into chaos, his son was involved into attempted murder by attempting to take the life of young person and government tax-payer money was used to quiet the air.

“Today, we are yet to know the welfare of the young man that was attempted to be killed by the son of the sitting Defense Minister,” Koijee maintained.

Kojee said he wants the Ministry of National Defense relocate residents of the barrack as well as resettling them before any renovation work can kickoff.

“These people have live here for the longest and have borne their children and their children had been in these kinds of conditions and we are telling the Liberian government that it has reach a point that our people will stand-up against this backward and ill-fated policy that they want to inflict on our people,” he said.

“We can assure you that no one will leave this place because this place belongs to us and it is the flesh and blood of your forefathers.”

“No one should infringe on your fundamental rights as a citizen of this country.”

For his part, the spokesman of the aggrieved 72^nd barracks’ occupants, Simeon Mason, said removing them from the barrack is disheartening but he said they remain resolute on the process.

He said the leadership of occupants at the barrack had previously written the Ministry of Defense on the matter but to no avail, referencing the Collective Bargaining Agreement between ex-combatants and government relative to maintaining peace in Liberia but instead the ministry is taking different trend.

“I may quote, article eight section two which states that the Special Security Unit should be disarmed and restructure, resettled but to our utmost surprise, they sanction us,” Simeon said.

He said former soldiers have been quiet on the matter because of peace but said they are not afraid of statements coming from the Ministry of Defense concerning their eviction from the barrack.

Meanwhile, a resident of 72^nd Community Joshua Gbor has expressed a contrary view to the CDC’s position on the matter, calling on residents to be civil in the process.

“Two days ago, our community chairman told us that Jefferson Koijee is coming to the community to get our view but when we came this morning, they were raising battle cry and criticizing the government which we don’t support,” Gbor said.

He said the status of the matter does not need criticism but rather constructive engagement with government, something he said might worsen the situation for them.

Mr. Gbor encouraged his fellow tenants to continue appealing, as the only way forward.

Meanwhile, Gbor wants the Ministry of National Defense to reconsider its decision of evicting them from the barrack at the end of February; he’s calling on the ministry to extend the deadline until the end of the 2017 elections.

Monrovia – Liberia’s leading opposing political party appears to be in hot water with the Liberian National Police after making condemning statements about the Police raid of suspected criminals and drug addicts from the main streets of Monrovia.

Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo/ bettie.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

“I would like to make reference to a letter dated October 17,2016 from the Revolutionary Youth League of the Congress of Democratic Change making some accusation of some youths dying in Police custody, we will be calling them into give us more information, it is vital for the security of this state” – Col. Gregory Coleman, Director – Liberian Police

On Tuesday October 18, LNP Inspector General, Gregory Coleman invited the youth league of the Congress of Democratic Change to give further information about their statement.

Coleman’s invitation to CDC came after the party’s youth league at a press conference earlier on Tuesday morning expressed concerns over the Police action against astray youths also known as ‘Zogos’.

The CDC revealed that their attention had been drawn to what they termed as the [“violent] removal from the streets of homeless youths, car loaders and others.”

The CDC also claimed that the Police cannot account for some individuals that were raided from the streets.

CDC youth league chair, Jefferson Koijee, said there were multiple ways to reduce the possibility of crime and the Police action might be an attempt to work in that direction.

“However, there is a level of concern that we have as regards the manner in which these persons have been forcibly and with brutality enjoined from the enjoyment of the liberty by the unilateral directive of Abraham Kromah,” Koijee said.

Koijee hinted that the party was concerned about the manner in which these individuals (zogos) have been “forcibly and brutality” removed from the streets was illegal.

Stating Article 20 of the Liberian Constitution, the CDC youth chair emphasized the significance of the Police recognizing the rights of individuals in accordance with the due process of the law.

“There is nothing that indicates that there were complaints filed against these individuals, arrest warrants issue or that any of them had access to a lawyer,” he said. 

He also accused the Police of not properly handling their operations in raiding the streets of alleged criminals.

“There were no listing that has been made available to the public or families of those concerns as regards those targeted, (if there was a target) and those actually taken, consequently we have no way of knowing whether any individual could be picked up at any time, can this action be justified by AB Kromah as a continuation of his efforts to rid Monrovia of the persons in question.”

Police Inspector General Coleman has however described the statement as “baseless and untrue”.

The Police boss noted that the invitation given to the CDC youth league chair was geared toward providing information to the Crime Service Department on statements made by the CDC.

“We are calling them in to give us detail; we can’t see everywhere so we are inviting them to come forward to provide us information, if someone is making these statements that show that they have information which we need, so they now have chance to provide the information,” Coleman said.

The CDC youth league communication was also copied to Ministry of Justice, United Nations, United States Embassy, African Union, ECOWAS and European Union among others.

The CDC Youth league chair warned that “They can’t stand idly by and watch him (Kromah) enforce disappearances to his dreadful resume.

“Currently the persons he took from the street cannot be all accounted for , we have been informed that a good number of them are sick, even more disturbing news now in pour possession suggests that four of the young people are now dead  and being surreptitiously buried without any involvement of their families,” Koijee

But the Police boss who is not taking CDC’s comments  any lightly said the party’s position clearly shows that they have information and evidence to proof that four persons died from the recent raid of allege criminals from the streets.

 “I would like to make reference to a letter dated October 17, 2016 from the Revolutionary Youth League of the Congress of Democratic Change making some accusation of some youths dying in Police custody,” Coleman said at programs marking his official turnover on Tuesday.

“We will be calling them in to give us more information, it is vital for the security of this state.”

Continue Coleman: “If someone making such allegation they must be invited for more information and we will not tolerate people making reckless statement to endanger the state, we will act on the basis of good evidence I mean good evidence.”

Col. Coleman stressed the Liberia National Police’s commitment to a violence-free election, while revealing that a lot would be done to keep the state safe.

“Many people have said that 2017 will be violence election, but we come against that rumor and we can say this will be one of the peaceful election, we will collaborate with candidates and parties to coordinate campaign activities and to keep citizens safe, and all riots were be covered”

“We want to reassure all that we will do all we can for the election to be peaceful,” Coleman said.

POLITICAL ACTORS IN LIBERIA must prove themselves deserving of their inclusion in the comity of noble men. We say this to mean that people who take upon themselves as political leader at any level must be well schooled in government policies and factors governing the state. Most importantly, they must be fully aware of the implications of their actions and what they say.

LEADERS IN OPPOSITION PARTIES must raise political standards. With the bar lowered to the notch we are witnessing today. Perhaps, we should not be surprised that some actors whose comical activities should be shunned are being accommodated and even allowed to issue statements.

IF ONLY THE FRAMERS OF THE Constitution had foreseen such a situation arising, they would perhaps have found a way of obviating it with the appropriate clause or so. Perhaps, that is why the laws needed to be amended time after time. Every day comes with its varying levels of degraded politics, all of which are contaminating the quality of politics and even governance and undermining security.

THE CONGRESS FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (CDC) youth league chairman Jefferson Koijee must be reminded that in portfolio, he has people, especially young people, who look up to him for direction. But, leading them blindly would only create chaos for our country.

KOIJEE IN A PRESS STATEMENT Tuesday accused the Liberia National Police of not being able to account for loiterers who were taken off the streets by the Police. The CDC man went on to say that they have received information that four of those the Police took off the streets were dead, and that they are being surreptitiously buried without the involvement of their families.

WHILE IT IS NO ESSENCE DIGNIFYING these wild accusations, we cannot let it pass without addressing some issues of concern to us. We’re at a critical stage of our country’s peace as we get closer to an election year, where the Liberia National Police, which Koijeee accuses here,  would is fully in charge of national security for the first time since the end of the civil war in 2003.

WE SEE KOIJEEE’S STATEMENTS, which he failed to back with facts, as inciting and have the tendency to derail the progress we’ve made in our nation building process.

POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE to be the torchbearers of peace instead of provoking their followers to rise against the powers that be when there are no grounds for such.

THIS DISCREDITS THEIR LEADERSHIP credibility and should not be condoned by the party’s leadership if at all they mean well for the country. It not an argument that the car conductors (car loaders),  who also engaged in pickpocketing, hijacking, snatching, etc. were indeed public nuisance and could not be tolerated by many citizens.

WE EXPECT THE CDC YOUTH CHAIRMAN of be conversant of the fact that loitering the streets of Monrovia is against public ordinance. We also expect the CDC youth chairman to recognize the fact that taking these street hooligans off the streets has brought some relief and a sense of security to pedestrians.

WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THESE zogos are, too, victims of circumstances but we all agree that that does not mean victimizing a whole lot of people. If Koijee’s major qualm was the rehabilitation of these criminals, it would have been a healthy debate that we would be happy to participate in.

KOIJEE SHOULD RATHER ENGAGE the Police as a leader of the youth league of what is known to country’s largest grassroots political party to find amicable means by which they would be assimilated into society, if they so deserve. All including the CDC must be part of the solution to our problems, and that cannot be done by wildly accusing the Police.

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE LIBERIAN National Police recognizes gaps and shortcomings and admitted in an interview with FrontPage late September. “Whilst it is true that these people themselves are victims of the systemic issues—the problem we have to deal with is not Police problem is system problem—they kind of impede our functions, so if we cannot deal with them we cannot have our parts of the job taken care of,” Inspector General Coleman said.   He also said the Police was concerned about rehabilitation for some the young men and women on the streets doing drugs.

“WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT. We are not just trying to move them from the street, we are going beyond that. We have been trying to talk to other partners to see what other programs can be developed to incorporate them and try to rehabilitate them and put them back into society.

“BUT FOR NOW, WE HAVE to keep the street free that people can walk, people can take taxi freely at night and during the day and create a safe zone,” he told FrontPage Africa.

HOLDING LIBERIA ABOVE all else, we urge the leadership of the CDC to do due diligence by engaging the Police to have a fair understanding of the operations of the Police. We remind Mr. Koijeee and his followers that the politics is a noble act and those who participate in it must do so with nobility.

Monrovia – Regarded as one of the most popular individuals within the ranks and files of Liberia’s main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), the party Youth League Chairman, Jefferson T. Koijee believes that in the midst of economic hardships, suppression and corruption, Liberia can still be a better country.

Koijee who is currently visiting the United States of America in a speech delivered at the Washington and Lee University located in Lexington, Virginia, United States of America said in spite of the harsh situations in Liberia, there is still hope that the country can undergo major reforms and provide for its citizenry.

He told the audience comprising university students and faculty members that some Liberians continue to push the youth generation into bondage.

“This is a dangerous thought for those who seek to keep generations in bondage. And that is what I have been a worry to the warmongers on thrones and a threat to the entrenched kleptocracy”, said Koijee.

Koijee says in the midst of a dollarized-political system compounded by huge economic disparity, his approach in advocating for the development and betterment of Liberia’s youths and underprivileged populace has set him apart as a different kind of political youth leader of Liberia.

Added Koijee: “Today, the dynamics of Youth Leadership in the Liberian body politic has been transformed. No more is the role of a youth leader devoted to holding the bags of the bigwigs. Not this Youth Leader. No more is a youth leader expected to be in the office of the various government officials, to get tips for writing press releases”.

Paying tributes to fallen

Koijee paid tribute to many young Liberians who were in the struggle for change prior to their deaths.

But Jefferson Koijee is just a face. The muscles, bones and organs are those young people in the various ghettoes, slums, hamlets and trenches. Some of them, like myself have been placed in jails for spurious claims.

Some are still incarcerated. Some of them like my late friend and Brother James Gray have fallen to the perils of nature. But a few others are uneasy in their graves.

The ghosts of Morris Kamara, Papie Solo and Boryonnoh Swen remain restless while their oppressors continue to parade and feast on the stolen wealth of the Liberian nation. To bring them rest, I cannot rest”, he vowed.

The CDC Youth League Chairman applauded the University for affording him the opportunity to deliver a speech and vowed that he will keep the courage to fight on.

Predicting CDC 2017 Victory

With general and Presidential elections expected in Liberia in less than a year, the CDC Youth League Chair says he foresees a victory for the CDC in 2017 before expressing gratitude to those who believe that his political advocacy has touched their lives.

Said Koijee: “Even those who do not agree with my political leanings, but accept that I have touched lives, I am also grateful. The future is long. I see a 2017 victory for the CDC as the great moment we have awaited as a nation and we have strived for as a generation”.

Touching on his political sojourn where he has been to prison and molested Koijee said he sees himself as one of the powerless people in Liberia that are accused of crimes and imprisoned without trial.

Continued Koijee: “And, as one of those powerless people accused of a crime, I did not commit and imprisoned without a trial or anything near it. I found myself like some of our forceful advocates from years past, including Rodney Sieh, Charles Gbeyon, Hassan Bility and others, wondering who would stand with me in the face of injustice. I was grateful to those who did and expressed same”.

Koijee is one of the devoted partisans of the CDC and has been playing a key role in pushing for the presidency of George Weah.

The Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia, United States. The University consists of three academic units: The College; the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics; and the School of Law.

Today the university has about 2,000 undergraduate students and 315 in the School of Law. Both the undergraduate and law schools are in the first tier of the U.S. News & World Report rankings for national liberal arts colleges and law schools, respectively.

In the 2016 guide, the undergraduate college is ranked number 14 amongst national liberal arts colleges and the law school is ranked number 42nd nationally amongst all law schools.