-As he, Urey, others, pontificate to Weah’s Gov’t
-Bastardized the CDC change mantra, as government grapples with tough economic, social and security challenges
By David S. Menjor
He was dressed as a “revolutionary” wearing a red beret as he led a huge crowd to the headquarters of the former ruling Unity Party (UP) now the main opposition party in Liberia as he formally went to join the group of four known as Collaborating Political Parties.
It is Montserrado Electoral District #10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah.
The Collaborating parties include the Alternative National Congress (ANC), All Liberian Party (ALP), Liberty Party (LP) and the Unity Party (UP),
Rep. Kolubah and the chairman of the four collaborating opposition parties, Benoni Wilfred Urey as well as other speakers, including former Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai to the Weah-led government on Sunday, April 14, 2019 sent another message of bitter feelings inherent in the opposition bloc against the way they think the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is managing the affairs of Liberia.
The date chosen for that occasion is notorious in Liberian history. On this date 29 years ago Liberia was rocked by its first mass violent demonstration on the streets of Monrovia, with scores of people killed in what became known as the April 14, 1979 rice riot.
Sunday’s occasion, which witnessed the colorful arrival of Rep. Kolubah on the shoulders of young men to the headquarters of the UP as he joined the four collaborating political parties, was characterized by several strong political revelations against the CDC government, particularly its Standard Bearer and now President, George Weah.
In his statement of support to the collaborating opposition political parties, Mr. Kolubah said he has joined them not to bring about confusion or division but to strengthen the force so as to ensure that the Weah led government is made to work in interest of the country or be given a marching order politically.
“We have come to say that we want us to hold together. We have come to strengthen our older people in persons of Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Benoni Urey, Cllr. Charles Brumskine and Alexander Cummings,” he said.
He alleged that President Weah, in less than two years of his administration has taken the country to sad days rather than a period of joy in an achievement of anything.
“We have observed that this footballer, this merit maker has taken our country to the mud and we will not continue to sit and allow things to continue to be this way. This is why I have come to join you so you can use me at any time to force Weah and his crooks to do what is right,” he boasted.
Rep. Kolubah, who once served as commander of the notorious SOD police uit during the Taylor regime, said unlike many other persons out there, especially in the both houses of the Legislature he cannot be bought by anyone to accomplish any deal.
“We have suffered. We have just given the country to this mafia for a little over one year but we are going nowhere,” he said.
He alleged that President Weah has become a greedy hunter whose mission is to have all and denies the suffering masses he said he has come to liberate have access to anything for themselves in order to survive.
At one point the Montserrado Country District #1 Rep. came out with a wild claim that the death of Montserrado District #15 Rep. Adolph Lawrence was not due to spiritual charms, blaming it on the CDC leader, something the government has not yet reacted to.
Rep. Kolubah said the House of Representatives has become a toothless bulldog and the worst of it all is that Speaker Bhofal Chambers has become a bag’s boy to President George Weah instead of doing his job as head of the first branch of government.
He said the country has received no other benefit other than football jersey has been realized from Weah and his entourage’s travels to foreign countries since he became President.
“This is the reason why I bought a football and a set of jersey for George Weah so as to make him sit down and do our country’s work instead of traveling out there always for something all too cheap that we can afford to give him,” Kolubah boasted as the crowd cheered him up.
He alleged that Justice Minister, Musa Dean and the entire justice system of the country, including the Supreme Court of Liberia is extremely corrupt and lacks the trust and confidence of the people for the settlement of any major case.
He also alleged that Weah has used the country’s money to build his personal homes and other business centers while the majority of the country’s population continues to suffer.
“You killed my brother but you cannot make it with me. You cannot kill me because I know it better than you,” he insinuated as he further alleged that President Weah finds pleasure in traveling to Senegal because he has hired a group of spiritualists who are deeply involved with the killings of people in Liberia.
“Even though you visited us at the frontline on two different occasions and we sat, ate and smoked weed together, you have never fought war. You only supported us financially and materially but I know the tactics and I can get things done when I want to,” Kolubah said of President Weah as the crowd stood in awe and shock over the grave revelations.
He said that while he was planning on parading with his supporters from the Fish Market through the Tubman Boulevard to the UP headquarters he got information that Monrovia City Mayor; Jefferson Koijee had a meeting at his residence with the intent to disrupt his parade.
“I am not afraid. This is why I told Koijee and his guys to come after me. When I was a man in this country, Koijee was a small boy washing Chucke, I mean Charles Taylor’s son’s car. He is a little that I can never run away from,” he said, alleging further that a number of text messages threatening him were sent to his phone.
He congratulated the Police officers and a few of the Armed Forces of Liberia’s personnel who provided his parade and membership acquisition to the opposition collaborating parties.
“Today is the first time I have seen our Police really working. They too are angry with this government because they are not getting their money. For three months now, the AFL has not received the rations meant for them. So do not think that it is only you who are suffering under this regime,” Kolubah said to the crowd gracing his occasion.
He thanked the UP, ALP, ANC and LP for allowing him to join them so as to fight for the best of the country.
Benoni Urey’s statement of acceptance of Rep. Kolubah to the opposition block’s coalition was even more firing.
Urey, who is the political leader of the All Liberian Party (ALP) and currently serves as the chairman of the collaborating political parties said no group of people, has monopoly over violence in Liberia or anywhere else in the world for which people in government should keep threatening their fellow country people.
“The multiplication of mob violence across the country is as a result of people’s lack of trust and confidence in the justice system, including the police. You go to the court house they bribe all the judges. You go to the Supreme Court, you can’t get justice,” he alleged.
He said people are getting angry and it is time that the Weah led government stops playing with the country.
“We have had it long enough. Stop playing with our country. The constitution of our country must be upheld. We are not going to accept it anymore,” Urey noted.
He appealed to Kroll International, the international agency that investigated the alleged missing L$16 billion to make available to the Liberian people its report in which the names of certain people, mainly present and past top government officials were found on so as to ensure that justice is served with no bias.
“Kroll, we want that report. You cannot aid and abet criminals in committing crimes against our country. You only released the names of a few persons who were handcuffed and taken to prison here. They are even expected to show up in court anytime soon,” Urey blasted.
He claimed, with support from his audience that the Kroll reported cannot be trusted since it did not say it in clear terms as to whether there was no money missing.
“You said there was no container missing but you did not tell us as to whether there was no money missing. We know that our money was stolen by a few greedy politicians and their supporters. They know what happened to our money,” he said as the crowd cheered him up.
He welcomed Rep. Kolubah and assured him all of the collaboration’s support to fight in the interest of the country.
Also making remark, former Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai said he is worried about the future of the country.
Boakai said each time he sees young people roaming around without any specific meaningful engagement, he wonders what would happen to them in years ahead.
“I think always about how will our Liberia children be able to stand out there and boast that they are prepared to compete with their counterparts from other parts of the world, mainly in our sub-region. It saddens me each time I look around and see them struggle with no hope in sight,” he said.
Boakai said, while there are challenges presently facing the country, no one should prefer violence over peace.