MONROVIA – A state radio assigned journalist, who recently alarmed over what he deems a threat from his boss, Deputy Director General, Tetee Gebro, for his support to Unity Party’s standard bearer Joseph N. Boakai (JNB) over incumbent President George Weah in the country’s impending presidential election, Patrick Okai, has resigned.
Patrick, who goes by the appellation, “The Boss”, disclosed that although he harbors no regrets, his resignation letter tendered to the management of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), was the hardest he has ever written, and painfully submitted.
He inferred that he was constrained to resign because his safety and pride are paramount, indicating, “Some decisions are best taken when it hurts while being taken.”
Patrick noted that his decision to resign from his post at the state broadcaster was predicated upon his former boss, Madam Gebro feeling entitled to a privileged position while believing she has the right to hurl at him threatening, disrespectful, and demeaning comments.
Late last month, Patrick a longtime broadcast journalist wrote on his verified Facebook handle that the wife of President Weah’s friend and former playmate on Liberia’s national male soccer team, the Lone Star, Mr. George Gebro, Madam Tetee Gebro, had threatened him by also taking to Facebook to infer that by he not supporting Weah’s re-election bid, he (Patrick) was biting the hand that feeds him.
In a social media altercation at the time between Patrick and his boss, who posted on her official Facebook page suggesting that there was an unimpressive turnout at the main opposition Unity Party campaign rally in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County last month, the journalist like many other Liberians, in the thread under such post wrote indicating that Madam Gebro’s claim was false.
In response to the broadcast journalist with more than 32 years of experience in the practice of journalism, Madam Gebro wrote: “Patrick Okai your ownpa keep bitting the hand that feeds you! GOD deh papa,” a statement Patrick deems a dangerous threat to his profession and to his life.
He stated that with such a comment coming from his boss, who is the Deputy Director General for Administration at the Liberia Broadcasting System, especially, with Madam Gebro being a presidential appointee, he was not taking such a threatening comment lightly.
Indeed, Patrick did not take his boss’ threat lying down, as he resigned from his state radio job, informing Madam Gebro that he bears no grudge against her.
“LBS is bigger than us both; management comes and management goes. AFTER POLITICS, THERE’S A TOMORROW,” Patrick “The Boss” Okai further informed the LBS Deputy Director General.
He then told his followers and fans that he was sorry for disappointing them, but pointed out that his personal happiness and safety matter, especially in these crucial times, when Liberia goes to elections on 10 October 2023.
Smart News Liberia’s efforts to get LBS management’s reaction to Patrick’s resignation proved abortive, but Deputy Director General Gebro in her previous reaction to the journalist’s claim of threat, averred that her comment in response to Patrick that she was not stating the truth about the turnout at the Unity Party’s Buchanan campaign rally is not in any way a threat.
