Job Seekers?

Four members of the opposition Unity Party (UP) on Wednesday December 19, 2018 declared their membership for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) saying they were not job seekers, but rather going to support   President Weah’s Pro Poor agenda.

Fahnbulleh, Cole, Munyeneh,  Socrates

Prior to declaring their support, many callers on a local radio station (OKFM) described them as ‘job seekers’ while others said they ‘true patriots.’

For instance, one caller identified only as ‘Michael’ said “joining the party-CDC is not bad if they are going to contribute.  But if they are going to seek for jobs, then it becomes a problem. I encourage them to join for good intention. If we all can join hands together, we can move this country forward, it will be good.”

Those who joined the CDC are, former Montserrado County electoral district four Representative, Henry Fahnbulleh, Saye-Maye Cole, Emmanuel Munyeneh, Alphonso Socrates Nimley and Sneh Johnson respectively.

Saye-Maye Cole once worked in the office of the former Finance Minister, Amara Konneh and recently served as the Montserrado County chairman of the opposition Unity Party. Emmanuel Munyeneh is a former Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Alphonso Socrates Nimley former Liberia’s Minister Counselor to Qatar, but was declared personal non-grata.

Sneh Johnson is the former Development Superintendent of Sinoe County, under the administration of the Unity Party.

Henry B. Fahnbulleh was once the Representative of Montserrado County electoral district four on the ticket of the then governing Unity Party, now the main opposition political party in the country. He served the position from January 2012 up to the time he was defeated in 2017 by now Representative Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis.

CDC Chairman Mulbah Morlu & Youth League Chairman Jefferson Koijee

The University of Liberia Public Administration lecturer was a member of the Unity Party for 23 years before joining the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) on December 19, 2018 according to him.

He said during those time, he was not visited frequently like is being done by the current CDC officials.  He dismissed the notion of seeking for job. But said he joined to support the agenda of the CDC.

Fahnbulleh is said to be a friend to President Weah and at some point, he campaigned for Weah’s bid for the senatorial elections in 2014.

Luseni, one caller on the Okay afternoon show said, “those people were going to the party to loot.  “I do not know why people believe in blind loyalty. We have L$16B and US$25M missing and you see people going to join.  When you see people going there, they want to steal, they do not love the party. But they want to go and steal.”

For another caller, Abraham, he said, “the opposition wants to destroy the country. They want to make Liberia a one party state.”  But David, another caller disagreed with him. “We will deconstruct the opposition in this country in a positive context.”

Abraham further said, “most of the people want to get job. That is the intention they are moving there.”

However, Deputy Information Minister Eugene Fahngon called on the show to go in defense of the new Cdicians.

He said, “they went to the CDC because they have come to the realization that the CDC led government is development center and for the people. The agenda for the president is good for the country.”

He added, “they are not job seekers, but they want to be part of the pro-poor agenda. We are not giving jobs because there are many Cdicians who have not been given jobs. We have more qualified Cdicians who are qualified and don’t have jobs. We do not have jobs.”

He said the CDC is not like the UP that kicked opposition politicians and ran them out of their offices.

For his part, Alphonso Socrate said, “we are not Cdicians. I do solemnly swear to the governing principles of the CDC that I am a member. I have been a member of the CDC long time in spirit. Today marked a new day in my life. I do not play deceit. I see a son who is serving as a global icon. Right now, I am with you. We have not come for jobs. We know that one-day, all the sons and daughters of this land will come back together (meaning to CDC). We come of no deceit.”

He is a former staunch member of the former Unity Party and strategist at the time. Later, former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf appointed him as Liberia’s Minister counselor to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia appointed. He was later recalled after he acted against the diplomatic norms of that country. The action was not disclosed.  Since he returned, he has not been in any senior government position. Foreign Ministry sources told this paper that he has been lobbying for posts in previous position.

At the same time, Henry Fahnbulleh who turned into a ‘signer’ said, “I never knew Weah was so good, I have been wasting my time. He paid my school fees, built roads…. I never knew he Weah was so great, I have been wasting my time.”

“Today, I am here as a Christian and today is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it,” he said.

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