MONROVIA – A long time broadcaster, who resigned his post at state radio over a brawl that ensued late last year between him and his former boss, Deputy Director General, Tetee Gebro, Patrick Okai, has extended an olive branch to the female media executive.
Early on New Year Day this year, Patrick took to Facebook, extending holiday felicitations to Gebro, whom he referred to as his professional colleague, former boss, and his birth month mate.
Late September last year, Okai alarmed over what he termed a threat from his boss, Deputy Director General, Gebro, for his support to former VP Joseph Boakai over incumbent President George Weah, for the presidency during the country’s elections in 2023.
Patrick at the time accused Madam Gebro, the wife of President Weah’s friend and former playmate on Liberia’s national male soccer team, the Lone Star, Mr. George Gebro, indicating that the female media executive threatened him by taking to Facebook to infer that by him not supporting Weah’s re-election bid, he (Patrick) was biting the hand that fed him.
In a social media altercation between Patrick and Madam Gebro at the time, the latter had posted on her official Facebook page suggesting that there was an unimpressive turnout at the then main opposition Unity Party campaign rally in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, but Patrick like many other Liberians, in the thread under such post wrote indicating that the LBS Deputy Director General’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.
Patrick stated at the time that with such a comment coming from his boss, who is the Deputy Director General for Administration at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), especially, with Madam Gebro being a presidential appointee, he was not taking such a threatening comment lightly.
True to Patrick’s words, he did not take his boss’ ‘threat’ lying down, as he resigned from his state radio job early the following month, informing Madam Gebro that he bears no grudge against her.
He disclosed 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.
“LBS is bigger than us both; management comes and management goes. AFTER POLITICS, THERE’S A TOMORROW,” Patrick further informed the LBS Deputy Director General, via a write-up he uploaded onto social media.
Howbeit, early today, Patrick again, took to Facebook, recalling the clash he had with his former boss in September of last year, indicating that between them, he being the one well advanced in age over Madam Gebro, he was taking the lead reaching out to her aimed at the duo smoking peace pipe.
He informed his former boss that at the time of the standoff between them, which he termed the heat of the moment, negative things also happened but pointed out to her that it’s only death that is irreparable and not alterations such as the one between them.
“We had a clash in September 2023, but sincerely, I have absolutely no animus toward you; as the older person, I am taking the lead in reaching out to you,” Patrick wrote.
He pleaded with Madam Gebro to see reason for them to bury the hatchet and move on, bringing to her attention that what transpired between them was in 2023 and that year has elapsed, and that they are now in 2024, a new year.
“FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I AM DONE WITH IT. LIBERIA IS BIGGER THAN US BOTH,” Patrick further pleaded with Madam Gebro.
