By Catherine B. Nyenkan
MONROVIA, June 3 (LINA) – Simmering allegations that President George Manneh Weah reportedly told the head of the visiting ECOWAS delegation, Mr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, that his Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor is the mastermind and financier of the planned June 7 protest, has been refuted by the Government of Liberia.
Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe in an interview with the VOA “Day Break Africa” on Monday said the contention is ‘absolutely untrue,’ emphasizing that “the President at no time made such position to the head of ECOWAS.”
Nagbe contended that such allegation is part of tactics of some political forces that are bent on sowing seeds of discord in the country.
The Information Minister statement comes amidst recent remarks made by Bomi County Senator Sando Johnson on local radio alleging that President Weah told the head of the visiting ECOWAS delegation that Vice President Taylor is the financier and mastermind of the planned protest.
Johnson is one of the proponents of the planned June 7 march which organizers and members of the opposition bloc have said is intended to draw government’s attention to some concerns in the governing structure of the one year old Weah regime.
Nagbe, however, pointed out that the allegation by Johnson is false and malicious; indicating that the President and Vice President are working together cooperatively and that there is no disharmony between the two.
“Since the election, these people have not accepted the results of the elections in practice and it is members of the opposition who are carrying out all these lies and disinformation, Mr. President and Madam Vice President continue to work together cooperatively and harmoniously,” Nagbe asserted.
The allegation by Senator Johnson has also prompted the National Patriotic Party (NPP) which is a member of the ruling Collation for Democratic Change (CDC) to hold a press conference in which the group additionally termed the comment from the lawmaker as “misleading and false.”
The NPP acting National Chairman John Gray told the news conference that as a constituent member of the Government, the NPP has been and will continue to be a law-abiding political party.
“The NPP and its standard bearer, the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, assure the Liberian people and the international community of their commitment to the peace and stability of the Republic of Liberia,” Gray said.
“It is our prayers that during these difficult times that all Liberians are reminded that Liberia is our common patrimony and each of us should work to uphold the laws of the country and maintain the peace,” Gray indicated.
LINA CBN/WSG/PTK
