MONROVIA – Ahead of the 2023 general and presidential elections in Liberia, Montserrado County district # 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah has vowed to ensure the training of hundreds of supporters of the opposition community in preparedness to combat against brutalities and other violent acts being permeated against opposing and critical voices in the Liberian society.

Lawmaker Kolubah is a member of the disbanded Collaborating Political Parties (CPP).

Representative Kolubah observed that citizens, especially those who are differing with the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government continue to be brutalized in the presence of officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), with nothing being done to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He said the men will be vetted and trained by him to “protect the people of this country”.

He made these comments when he addressed a news conference at his office in Sinkor, Monrovia on Sunday, July 31.

Representative Kolubah disclosed that he has received hundreds of berets and other regalia to uniform that those that will be trained to provide security for the opposition

“I received 1200 berets from our supporters. This is to tell the CDC that we are getting ready. Two to three weeks from now, we are coming to start training our men. We will protect the people of this country because we know that the police have become a private security to this President (George Manneh Weah). The police can be there and our citizens are brutalized. Gone are those days; these things will not happen again and the oppositions are getting ready to protect our people”.

He, however, fell short to disclose the name of a particular supporter who provided the materials for the training of his “men”.

Representative Kolubah also made reference to a statement made by President Weah threatening that those who abuse or use invectives against him will no longer walk freely in the streets during a dedicatory ceremony held in the country sometimes ago.

But according to Representative Kolubah, President Weah and his government have failed to provide security and protection for citizens in keeping with his constitutional mandate.

He said members of the opposition community will not take “guns” to provide protection for their leaders and the citizenry, but will train and provide the berets and other regalia to others because, the Liberian leader is more focused on “making music and dancing Buga”, instead of prioritizing the safety and security of his people.

“We will train our people not with guns to protect our people. Three weeks from now, we will be inviting the press to come on the beach where we will be training our people in self-defense and how to protect themselves and our political leaders. The people will stand up not with guns; the power is inherent in the people. 2023, baboon will divide kola because we will not sit down for your to brutalize us again”.

Representative Kolubah further pledged his loyalty and commitment to providing protection for all political leaders of the opposition, especially those within the CPP.

The latest move being made by Representative to train citizens to provide protection for the opposition community in Liberia comes in the wake of the brutalizing of Christopher Walters Sisulu Sivili of the Student Unification Party (SUP) at the University of Liberia.

Sivili was humiliated, tortured, naked, and brutalized by some members of the CDC-COP after he and others had gone before the US embassy to protest and present a petition against the high cost of living in Liberia during the celebration of the country’s 175^th Independence.

Though he ran away from his attackers into a house nearby, he was captured, dragged out and beaten. Blood was seen oozing from his head, nose, mouth and other parts of his body.

The victim was reportedly to be nursing injuries at a local clinic in Monrovia after he was rescued from his attackers by unknown persons who risked him away on a commercial motorbike.

The Liberia National Police is yet to make an arrest.

December 9 protest

Representative Kolubah used the occasion to announce that he and others will be part of a move to petition the US government, through its embassy near Monrovia on corruption and other vices in the country.

He vowed to go across the country to recruit citizens to form part of the move.

He added that the protesters will not hesitate to “move on” the police if they intend to disrupt the gathering of the citizens.

Representative Kolubah said it is now time that the international community, including ECOWAS, United Nations to step in because, the police is allegedly serving as a “defense force” for the ruling party.

“If you people (international community) do not come in now, if something happens, don’t come because it will be difficult for us to listen to you”.

He said the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) should also stand and advocate for the Liberian people.

Taking off chatroom

A chatroom was established on the social members by the leadership of the House of Representatives to have members promptly informed about legislative issues or matters.

But sometimes ago, multiple screenshots captured from the House’s chatroom went viral on the social media.

In some of those messages, it was alleged that members of the House received inducement from the executive to hastily pass the US$800M budget without thoroughly scrutinizing the document.

Accusing fingers were being pointed at Representative Kolubah and other opposition lawmakers for being the masterminds behind the leaking of sensitive information discussed in their chatroom to the public, including the Liberian media.

Representative Kolubah officially announced the decision taken by the administrator of the chatroom to boot him out for no justifiable reasons.

He questioned the rationale and authority behind his removal.

“I want to use this public medium to inform my supporters and the people of Liberia that I have been taken from the House of Representatives chatroom. Nobody get right to take me out of the chatroom. If you feel different about something, I think we got rules and order that we supposed to follow”.

Representative Kolubah noted that though some of his colleagues see the chatroom established for lawmakers as a “personal chatroom”, the business of the Liberian people cannot be discussed in “personal chatroom”.

He vowed to reach out to the House of Representatives’ leadership to ensure that he is added back in the chatroom to continue to discuss issues affecting the Liberian people.

Paying legislations without seeing it

For years now, Representative Kolubah has been raising alarm over the manner and form in which the House acts on proposed legislations and others emanating from the executive branch, headed by President George Manneh Weah.

He claimed that draft national budgets have been passed without thorough scrutiny just to please the Liberian leader.

“Communications and bills are coming (at the House of Representatives) but no copies are sent to our office. We only see the communication on the floor and it is not right because, our rules talk about communications coming to our offices and the agenda being prepared 24 hours or one day before the session”.

He wondered why the rules which were adopted by the Plenary are being grossly violated by the House of Representatives.

He observed that the time stipulated in the rules for lawmakers to attend session has not been adhered to by members of that August body.

“We are not following our rules or anything because we want to satisfy Ambassador Weah. Our rules say we should start the session by 12noon. But sometimes we start by 1PM or 2PM.

MONROVIA – Pregnant women, especially those traveling from towns and villages far away from medical centers in Lofa County, are expected to benefit from the construction of 12 housing units to alleviate the numerous constraints they encountered while seeking adequate healthcare delivery.

The women have been catching hell by commuting and sitting for hours on commercial motorbikes and vehicles and sitting for several hours just to give birth at public health facilities mainly in Fissebu and Zorzor districts. Hammocks and wheelbarrows are also being reportedly used to transport them to the facilities.

Some even trekked long distances just to get to those facilities for maternal healthcare, while others renege on visiting to get their regular medicines due to the distances from their homes to the facilities. Few others lost their lives or the lives of their unborn babies before reaching these medical centers while en route on foot.

As part of efforts to address the situation, the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Executive Director of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), Mr. Quiwu Pepci Yeke, over the week end broke grounds for the construction of the housing units to address the situation.

He also paved the way for the construction of another five housing units for doctors and nurses assigned at the clinic in Salayea a nd separate city halls for residents of Zorzor and Fissebu.

Speaking during a brief ceremony marking the event, Mr. Yeke disclosed that the move was in fulfillment of promises made to the locals by President George Manneh Weah during his nationwide tour.

Some time ago, the Liberian Chief Executive toured the 15 political sub-divisions of the country to listen and help address the plights confronting the citizens.

He used the occasion to inform the citizens that President Weah has made a decision to construct his dwelling place in Fissebu, Lofa County.

“People can be thinking where is Zorzor or Fissebu so, these housing units will be between the two areas because of the interconnection of the two towns because we are all one people. If you can recall during the county tour, the President decided to sleep in Fissebu because of the love he has for the people.  The President wants that when he comes to Lofa, he has a home here and so, the landlord should help find the land and we will make sure that the house is constructed before January 2023. Fissebu has been the chosen one in Lofa and so, don’t miss that opportunity”.

“The essence of these housing units is to see to it that those pregnant patients who are coming from far away and most of the time ride the ambulances or get on motorbikes-it difficult get somewhere better to be. We are trying to curtail the situation and so, we will build 12 housing units which will give us about 24 rooms”.

Mr. Yeke stressed that authorities of the medical facilities will maintain and spearhead the accommodation of pregnant women at the units free of charge.

When completed, the LACE boss disclosed that the beneficiaries will occupy the units for between one to two months before or after giving birth and are released to go back to their respective homes in faraway places.

He further stressed the significant roles the Curran Lutheran and Salayea hospitals and clinic continue to play in providing healthcare delivery to citizens from nearby and other faraway places, especially during the heat of the Ebola and Coronavirus pandemics.

He pledged to make additional interventions including the supply of running water, provision of air conditioners, and others at the two medical facilities.

“We are not noted for giving cash to individuals, but we also decide to help institutions because help for the hospital is helpful for the entire Zorzor district or Lofa.  We are not doing these things for the staff, but for the patients. Lofa will benefit everything that the President said he will do”.

Mr. Yeke further emphasized that the provision of five housing units for nurses and doctors assigned in the area was intended to shelter and ensure that they have somewhere to stay not too far from the medical center.

He stressed that medical workers would be more punctual, committed, efficient and effective in carrying out their assigned tasks and responsibilities when their wellbeing is dignified following the completion of the project.

“The President made a promise that he was going to build a city hall in Zorzor.  And we are here to make sure that everything the President said comes to fruition. We are not just breaking ground for this project today. But in the next seven to 14 days, this project is going to start and it is going to be completed before the end of this budget year, the city hall will be constructed” Mr. Yeke stated before a jubilant crowd during the brief groundbreaking program held in Zorzor.

Michael Supu, District Health Officer of Salayea, is committed to safeguarding the housing units project for medical workers in the county.

He warned against the abuse of the units for personal benefits.

Mr Yeke further announced the provision of L$1M micro loan for women, mainly marketers in Salayea.

He said government will also work towards the relocation and subsequent construction of a new market building for the women.

At the sametime, Mr. Yeke provided over L$400,000, several bags of rice, used clothing, sporting materials, and others to women, youth, students groupings and and medical workers in Salayea, Zorzor, Fissebu and other areas in Lofa.

Solar lights were also provided to light-up several schools, villages and towns in the county.

He also inspected the newly constructed housing units in Nahn Town, Bong County. The units which comprise of two rooms each, sitting place, bathroom and back and front porches, are expected to be dedicated very shortly.

Also speaking, former Lofa County Representative and head of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA) Moses Kollie expressed pride and delight over the growing wave of developments ongoing in the county.

He said the move clearly demonstrates the President’s goodwill to citizens of the county as was preached by him and others during the campaign period of the 2017 elections.

“Whenever I see these developments coming, I feel proud and I want to say thank you to the President and Mr. Yeke who has been very instrumental in making sure that the President fulfill his promises made to his people”.

Smiles and jubilations were seen on the faces of the citizens and characterized the separate groundbreaking ceremonies held in the county.

In separate remarks, the locals described President Weah as a “talk and do leader”.

They used the occasion to pledge their support for the maintenance of peace and stability in the country.

They, however, committed themselves to embracing developments, instead of giving their political franchise or votes on a “self-pay” basis.

For his part, Lofa County Superintendent William Kamba cautioned against the political stereotyping of the county.

He said citizens of the county are ready to work towards and embrace developments void of any political interference or affiliation.

He noted that citizens are resolved not to allow themselves to be used anymore by remaining loyal to those who do not mean well to them and their county.

“We want to express our thanks to the President because these are some of the requests the county has been yielding for. I know our talk and do President will always do what he says he will do and I know that our people will benefit especially in making sure that our people do not encounter medical problems while on their way coming for treatment”.

Superintendent Kamba, however, urged residents of the county to take ownership of the projects, adding that, “what the President is doing is just a gesture and this is our property and we should make sure to maintain it”.

He vowed that his office will on a weekly basis monitor all of the projects that will commence in the county very shortly to guarantee their timely execution.