FLASHBACK photo of former Defense Min. Samukai leaving the Court after guilty verdict
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmal.com
A group under the banner, “Movement against the Senatorial Bid of former Defense Minister Browne Samukai” has launched a vigorous campaign in Lofa County to reject his senatorial bid in the 2020 Mid-term polls.
Last week, the former Defense Ministry boss told Truth FM in Monrovia that, despite his conviction of corruption by the Criminal Court ‘Ç’ for which he is seeking Appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia, he will still run for Senator of Lofa County.
He said that COVID-19 pandemic should be no reason for the delay of the election on grounds that preparations should have been made long time before the outbreak of the pandemic.
But in a telephone communication from Lofa County over the weekend, the founder of the movement, Yanquoi Mulbah said the movement was established to campaign against the senatorial bid of former Defense minister Samukai.
Yanquoi Mulbah
The executive director of the movement said due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, they have deemed it necessary to avoid face-to-face campaign for now. But he said his has plans to distribute bo to the citizens in the County telling them their reason for the rejection of Former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai come October or December.
He said if Lofa should experience development, citizens of the county should reject corrupt leaders like Samukai as Senator in the county.
Mr. Mulbah stated that the former Defense Minister is not able to represent citizens of the county at the house of senate base on his criminal record,
The Lofa youth said former Minister Samukai is not to be trusted with the position of Senator based on his corrupt attitude that has undermined the dignity of Lofa.
‘’Electing such a person at the Liberian Senate has the propensity of undermining the development of beloved county,” Mr. Mulbah said.
Browne Samukai, who recently declared his intention to contest the upcoming Senatorial election in Lofa County has been criticized by several other citizens in the county since the Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia brought him and two of his top officials guilty of embezzling US$1.3 million of AFL soldiers salary savings.
He and the two others were ordered by the Court to restitute the amount of USD $687, 656.35 to the AFL pension saving account and USD$ 460,000 to the government of Liberia account, making a sum total of USD$ 1,147, 656.35.’’
Mr. Mulbah’s Lofa movement is also campaigning against the senatorial bid of the sitting Senator, George Tangbehla, who is aspiring to run for reelection.
The movement has warned other sitting lawmakers from Lofa in the House of Representatives to remain in their posts and represent their constituents that elected them, instead of leaving their position and asking for another job.