… Cautions Liberians To Checkmate the System
By: Moses B. Sundaygar
+231777986622 / +231770508370
mosesbarshielsundaygar@gmail.com
March 31, 2020:
Monrovia, Liberia:
In the wake of the conflicting saga surrounding the comfirmation of the NEC Boss designate Cllr. Nwebudike in relation to his Nationality, Education and Competency, Veteran Liberian Journalist now President of the West African Journalist Association (WAJA) Mr. Peter Quaqua has taken a look at the other side of the coin.
On Tuesday March 31,2020, Mr. Quaqua took to his social media platform and wrote an article that added more flavor to the already season delicacy which he entitled; “What A Scandalous Documentary”!
In his well structured piece, Mr. Quaqua was quick in exposing the hidden deeds of some of our national heroes and leaders and also pinpoint the ills in our Liberian society.
He concluded his work with several questions which Liberians must push their government to answer.
Read his transcript below👇🏾👇🏾
WHAT A SCANDALOUS DOCUMENTARY!
In 2011, a scandal was uncovered that challenged the credibility of the Liberian Government. Danish journalist Mads J.B Cortzen was reported to have been appointed Liberia’s Honorary Consul to the Central African Republic (CAR).
Cllr. Varney Sherman and Dr. Toga McIntosh (former Foreign Minister) were at the center of the embarrassment.
The Liberian government said Cortzen’s diplomatic passport was forged and that his title as Ambassador-At-Large was a bogus one”. But Dr. McIntosh who was representing the Country at the ECOWAS Commission as Vice President then, is quoted as saying “The certificate that is in the possession of Journalist Cortzen, which is also circulating in the public, is a genuine one since it contained both my signature and that of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s.”
Toga G. McIntosh said: “Bringing the facts to the open will greatly help our country than throwing damaging allegations out there.” He denied taking bribe. The controversy ended with no one being held to account.
Fast forward, in 2020, the country is in a double lockdown (aside the Coronavirus concerns) to yet another scandal of greater effect. On Friday, 20th March, President Weah nominated Cllr. Ndubusi Nwabudike as Chairman, of the National Elections Commission along with other commissioners.
No sooner had the announcement been made, a debate ensured over the nationality of the man, who is said to be a Nigerian by parentage. He claims to be a naturalized citizen.
At his confirmation hearings at the Liberian Senate on 30th March 2020, Senator Varney Sherman put it to him that he must have been a minor (17 years old) at the time of naturalization and therefore did not meet the qualification by law. Yes, he admitted to being a minor but claimed he was accompanied by an adult before taking the oath of citizenship. Will the Senate go beyond the claims and investigate?
Like the Mads Cortzen show, this is turning out to be a scandalous documentary with all three of our branches of government playing roles. It turns out that the Ndubusi, the nominee is a lawyer. In Liberia, foreigners don’t practice law. So, it goes without saying that the Supreme Court passed him on before he got admitted. But look, this same man currently heads the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). If he went through this same Senate for confirmation hearings, then we are truly watching a “Nigerian Show” – and like most Nigerian movies, the end is already known.
Credit to Ndubusi, he has cleverly maneuvered his way through the Liberian bureaucracy – from the Executive to the Judiciary and to the Legislature. But from the look of things, this could be “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” President Weah may or may not have willfully thrown him into the “lion’s den,” (the country’s Elections Commission) where he’s been rightfully eaten up.
The President should have known that the Elections Commission is a crucial body where all eyes are focused; to have a Chairperson with questionable nationality, is “too easy to call.”
Yes, it is easy to read “ulterior motives” in the President’s controversial nomination ahead of elections, but like Dr. McIntosh observed during the Mads Cortzen embarrassment, bringing the facts to the open should greatly help our political leaders and officials to be a little more circumspect in handling the affairs of the state.
How many more of these kinds of shameful official acts are out there in our system begging for attention? Without sounding and appearing xenophobic, how many non-Liberians are benefiting from such high-level placement in our government?
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