By Olando Testimony Zeongar
MONROVIA – Members of the opposition bloc comprising over seven political parties, have accused the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC’s) Secretary General, who doubles as Mayor of Liberia’s largest city, Monrovia, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, of presiding over an armed group in the country.
At a joint press conference on Thursday, the parties; (UP), Liberty Party (LP), Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), Liberian People’s Party (LPP), Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Rainbow Alliance (RA), Vision for Liberia’s Transformation (VOLT), All Liberian Party (ALP), stated that it is undemocratic for the secretary general of a political party, as in the case of Mayor Koijee, to preside over an arm group, alarming that the CDC chief scribe has illegally armed the Monrovia City Cooperation, where he presides as Mayor.
The parties also pointed out that the Secretary-General and Mayor of Monrovia, Koijee, has always been linked to negative episodes including the 2018 electoral violence in Montserrado County District 13; the maltreatment of one Jestina Taylor, as well as the maltreatment of media practitioners.
“During a recent hearing at the Liberian Senate, the opposition political parties recalled that Justice Minister, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean disclosed that by law, the Monrovia City Police, which Koijee heads as Mayor, is authorized to carry firearm.
The UP, LP, MDR, LPP, MPC, RA, VOLT, and ALP, recalled that on Thursday, February 23, 2023 “edition of Spoon Talk”, Cllr. Jerome Verdier, former Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia asserted that the attack on the home of Gloria Scott and the murder of her granddaughter was allegedly orchestrated by CDC Secretary General Koijee.
The opposition political parties stated that they are concerned about further revelation made by Cllr. Verdier in which the parties quoted the erstwhile TRC former boss as alleging that Finance Minister Samuel Tweh; the Liberia National Police (LNP) Inspector General, Patrick Sudue; Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee; and others orchestrated the gruesome killing of Central Bank of Liberia employee, Mathew Innis.
“It is so sad to have national leaders of Liberia always linked to the murder of their citizens,” stated the parties, which observed that In resent time, there has been alert of security threat on the lives of senior political actors in our country such as: Senator Prince Y. Johnson of MDR, Senator Yonblee Karnga of Liberty party, former Chief Justice Gloria Scott amongst others.
