Liberia: Former Rep. Gray Accuses LNP of Plotting to Arrest Speaker Koffa and CDC Lawmakers Over Capitol Building Hearth; Police Stay Mum
MONROVIA — A National Executive Committee (NEC) member of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Acarous Gray has alleged plans by the Unity Party (UP) led-government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to arrest the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives Jonathan Fonati Koffa and different lawmakers from the get together.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
Gray previously represented the folks of electoral district # 8 in Montserrado County.
Though Gray didn’t state why the federal government is planning to arrest embattled Speaker Koffa and different CDC lawmakers, his declare comes on the time the federal government, via the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP) Gregory Coleman, reported that the latest hearth incident on the Capitol Building was an arson.
Coleman informed a information convention in Monrovia on Wednesday, January 8, that compelling proof hyperlinks the blaze to “deliberate criminal actions” because the in depth examination of the Capitol Building’s electrical system revealed no faults that might have triggered the fireplace.
It could be recalled that on December 18 final 12 months, hearth gutted the Capitol Building, destroying the Joint Chamber and different places of work within the wake of a management disaster on the House of Representatives.
“Up to the time of the incident, the grid was still supplying electricity, which shows that it was not the cause,” Coleman reported.
He mentioned as a substitute investigators discovered proof suggesting the fireplace began in a number of places — an indicator of intentional arson — with investigators additionally discovering a container on the scene containing a flammable substance.
Coleman additional disclosed that the Joint Security had recognized a number of individuals of curiosity related to the incident and danger being arrested in the event that they fail to cooperate with the continued investigation.
‘Opposition are being targeted’
But in a remark posted on his official social media web page on Thursday, January 10, Gray alleged that the police below the management of Coleman are focusing on members of the opposition group in Liberia.
He claimed that there’s an early warning of a closely divided nation and President Joseph Boakai is quick turning into a “despot” in opposition to his political opponents.
As a results of this, he referred to as for the opposition CDC to stage a nationwide protest in opposition to the Boakai-Koung authorities.
“I am hearing that Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa and a few CDC lawmakers and executives will soon get arrested like in the case of former presidential Aide Sekou Kalasco who was arbitrarily arrested and charged. The moment is nearing that the Mighty CDC must rise up and cease the moment by calling for a nationwide protest to put the Boakai’s Administration into immediate check,” he mentioned.
He claimed that the peace and stability of the nation is being allegedly abused regularly by the present administration.
“President Boakai and his Gestapo Police Director have crossed the redline by targeting opposition members especially from the CDC. Giving President Boakai power in a narrowly won election was because we wanted a peaceful Liberia but he keeps abusing this peaceful nature of the CDC.”
These alleged acts of the federal government, he emphasised, name for the CDC to stage a protest.
He careworn that the previous ruling get together must take a “preemptive strike” in opposition to the federal government by invoking provisions of the Liberian Constitution in demand of a peaceable co-existence.
Protect your individual
“In my mind there is one language now left to be spoken and that is for the Mighty CDC to call to action all of its partisans to move into constitutional action of a nationwide protest.”
Gray maintained that if the CDC can not shield its personal, the UP authorities won’t achieve this for it.
He claimed that Liberia is now divided into Blue and Green, “so the Revolutionary Blue must use the Liberian laws to demand from its government that inalienable right to live peacefully void of harassment and intimidation,” noting that, “no one can do this better than the CDC herself.”
Partners watching
Gray furthered that Liberia’s worldwide companions, non secular and opinion leaders are watching the” nation slipping into the darkish days the place President Boakai and his hooligans are violating our legal guidelines.”
He maintained that this alleged act of lawlessness and focused arrests made by the federal government reminds residents of the nation’s darkish days.
According to him, Liberia is quick turning into a state of horror the place you don’t know the following day whether or not you’ll get up alive or not.
“This is not the reason we relinquished power with a narrow margin of twenty thousand votes. This peaceful transition was unprecedented and must be cherished by Boakai but instead he’s parading like one Hercules around here.”
Not a populist chief
He reminded President Boakai that he’s not a populist chief, however a frontrunner who has “questionable legitimacy to lead our people.”
Gray emphasised that the CDC should revert to its revolutionary journey and produce to halt the focused assaults and arbitrary arrests of its partisans.
Despite the claims being made by Gray, the federal government, via the Joint Security, has not disclosed the names of the “persons of interest” which might be being or can be invited for investigation.
Wesseh: My life is below risk
Meanwhile, late on Thursday, a former Assistant Agriculture Minister Alvin Wesseh clarified that he has not been arrested by the Liberia National Police (LNP), claiming that law enforcement officials had surrounded his dwelling, making him really feel unsafe.
Earlier stories instructed Wesseh had been arrested and was in police custody. However, throughout a dwell telephone interview on the Spoon Network, Wesseh acknowledged he was at dwelling however alleged that safety officers had been encircling his residence.
According to Wesseh, he obtained intelligence suggesting that he and different members of the CDC had been accused of planning to disrupt President Boakai’s upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
He additional alleged that police had been planning to arrest him and detain him in an undisclosed location till the tackle was delivered.
“There are security officers who came to my house to arrest me, according to information. Based on security intelligence, they claimed Alvin Wesseh and others are planning to mobilize and disrupt the SONA of His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai,” he mentioned. “When I arrived, I saw groups of security agents, particularly from the LNP. They allegedly planned to arrest me and keep me in an undisclosed location.”
He continued, “I am indoors. My house has been surrounded by the Liberia National Police. My life is under threat. As I speak to you, the officers are still around.”
Up to press time, the police didn’t situation a press release in response to Wesseh’s allegations. However, Mo Ali, a senior authorities official and stalwart of the Unity Party, dismissed Wesseh’s claims.
Ali described them as a part of a broader propaganda effort by the CDC to achieve public sympathy. “There is nobody after you, Alvin. Go and sleep,” Ali mentioned.
