By our Reporter
The Executive Mansion has announced the sacking of Liberia’s Minister of Labour, Atty. Neto Lighe for “gross disrespect and wicked act” but the dismissed Minister, but he has extended “profound thanks and appreciation to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for the opportunity extended me” to serve her government.
A two-paragraph press statement from the presidency on Friday said:
“President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has with immediate effect relieved Labor Minister – Atty. Neto Lighe of his position. His immediate dismissal is due to his continued gross disrespect and participation in wicked attacks and false accusations levied against the presidency.”
However, President Sirleaf did not say what kind of wicked act the youthful Cabinet Minister committed.
Dismissed Minister Lighe himself has not publically commented on the reason (s) for his dismissal, but some local media reports have linked it to his outspoken criticisms of President Sirleaf, who is the ruling Unity Party (UP) Standard Bearer Emeritus as he is closely aligned to the UP’s current Standard Bearer Vice President Joseph Boakai.
The Labour Minister is the second official of the Sirleaf regime to be sacked in the last several days. Recently, Deputy Information Minister Atty Jeddi Armah was dismissed for what was believed to be his strong link to the Boakai.
But Assistant Information Minister Wellington Geevon-Smith later denied the claim.
Without giving any clue to why he was fired, on Friday the sacked Labour Ministry boss posted this on his Facebook page (in which he walks side-by side with VP Boakai:
“7 years ago, through a presidential appointment, I entered mainstream government as an Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 2 years later, I was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister and then Minister of Labour.”
“There’s no singular honor than serving your country and I’m proud of the opportunity extended me to serve my country. Today, 7 years after, my service in government has come to an end.
“I want to use this occasion, on behalf of my family, extend my profound thanks and appreciation to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for the opportunity extended me. To all my colleagues in government and employees at the Ministry of Labour, thanks for your cooperation and service during my stay. It is now time to move on.”