PHOTO: (L-R) Sen. Edwin Snowe and ruling UP Youth Congress leader Evans Boima Tuku
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The National Secretary General of the Youth Congress of the ruling Unity party (UP) has sharply disagreed with a critical statement made by Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe against the nomination of Counselor Osward Tweh as Acting Minister of National Defense by President Joseph Boakai
Recently, the Bomi County Senator in a Facebook post, claimed that as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, in his considered view, performed dismally and contributed to the politicization of our justice system.
According to Sen. Snowe, his tenure too often reflected political consideration rather than consistently serving as the government’s principal legal adviser and providing the President and the administration with prudent, independent, and objective legal counsel.
Based on the prevailing situation, Senator Snowe went on, that record gives him serious concern about his suitability to serve in a position of leadership involving the Armed Forces of Liberia.
The Bomi County Senator added that the military is one of country’s most sensitive national institutions and must remain professional, disciplined, apolitical, and firmly committed to its constitutional responsibilities.
Snowe argued that’s as such, any leadership that risks introducing politics into the military could undermine its professionalism, cohesion, and institutional integrity, with potentially serious consequences for our national security.
He said his position is therefore not personal; it is based on his assessment of his record in public office and my responsibility as a Senator to protect the integrity of country’s national institutions.
Concluding, Sen. Snowe added that he (Snowe) does not believe Cllr. Tweh’s record as Minister of Justice inspires the confidence necessary for this responsibility.
But reacting to Sen. Snowe’s post, UP youth congress leader, Evans Boima Tuku responded that while they respect the Senator’s right to exercise his constitutional duty of oversight and to express his opinion, they strongly disagree with his assessment. And he added that his stated intention to vote against the confirmation of a highly qualified and distinguished public servant.
According to Tuku, Sen. Snowe’s position appears to conflate two distinct roles within the governance architecture of our nation: the role of the Attorney General and that of the Minister of Defense.
Tuku further said that it is imperative that the UP Youth Congress clarifies this distinction and set the record straight regarding Cllr. Tweh’s exceptional qualifications for the defense portfolio.
The UP Youth Congress National Secretary General made it clear that the Office of the Attorney General is inherently political and as the government’s principal legal adviser and prosecutor, the Attorney General is expected to advance the legal and policy interests of the sitting administration.
“This role necessitates political engagement and alignment with the executive’s agenda and it is, by design, a position where political considerations are not only expected but required,” Tuku stated
“In contrast,” Tuku went on, “the Minister of Defense is an administrative and strategic leadership role and as such, the minister is responsible for the overall management, administration, and operational readiness of the Armed Forces of Liberia.”
“While policy direction is provided by the Commander-in-Chief, the day-to-day leadership of the Ministry is administrative, logistical, and strategic.”
“The Minister does not prosecute cases, nor does he engage in partisan legal battles and he ensures that our military remains professional, disciplined, and apolitical.”
Concluding, Tuku said Senator Snowe’s concerns about politicization, while valid in the context of the Justice Ministry, are misplaced when applied to the Defense Ministry. Cllr. Tweh’s transition from Justice to Defense represents a shift from a politically.