By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – Former President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Armah Zolu Jallah, has called on Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah and human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe to end their public exchanges of personal attacks and instead focus on substantive national issues.
In a statement issued Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Jallah expressed concern over the ongoing war of words between the two respected public figures. He cautioned that the public spat risks undermining what should otherwise be a constructive national dialogue.
“As a former President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate and a lifelong advocate for institutional integrity and issue-driven public service, I have observed with deep concern the ongoing exchange between Minister Jerolinmek Piah and Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe,” Jallah said. “While both individuals bring with them decades of national service and earned respect, their current public spat threatens to reduce what should be a valuable national dialogue into a cycle of personal attacks.”
Jallah acknowledged that Cllr. Gongloe had raised important concerns about the role of the Ministry of Information in a democracy, citing the legacy of the late Dr. Edward Kesselly, who prioritized civic education and public enlightenment. He noted that such questions were valid, especially at a time when rebuilding public trust requires transparency, accountability, and strategic communication.
At the same time, he said Minister Piah’s defense of the President’s international engagements was also understandable. “Liberia must remain engaged globally, and the Office of the President must be supported in doing so,” Jallah remarked.
However, the former Senate leader urged both men to elevate their discourse. “I respectfully urge both leaders and all others in government and opposition to rise above personal mockery and redirect the conversation to the heart of governance, how do we best inform, educate, and serve the Liberian people?” he stressed.
Jallah emphasized that political debate should strengthen democracy rather than diminish it. “Debates in our democracy must be anchored in ideas, not insults, solutions, not sarcasm. As we approach a critical phase in Liberia’s development, we need statesmen and women on all sides who can elevate our national discourse, not diminish it,” he warned.
He concluded with a broader appeal to all public servants, past and present. “Let this moment be a reminder that public disagreement is healthy, only when it informs and uplifts.” I call on all public servants, present and former, to recommit to the principle that substance must always outweigh style in our political debates,” Jallah said.
Jallah, who has long championed equitable development and democratic integrity, said the country needs a renewed focus on governance, civic education, and service to the people rather than political quarrels that erode public confidence.
