By J. Ebenezer Daygbor
‘Support Boakai or go home’ seems to be the ultra-virus measure Montserrado County Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff has taken against her staff members who have not declared their support for Vice President Joseph Boakai for the presidency of Liberia.
Sen. Sheriff, who is currently in the Liberian Senate on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC, recently told her staffs to follow her lead to support the Unity Party candidate.
But that did not go well with some of her staff members. During a meeting, some staffs flat-out told Sen. Sheriff to her face “no”, that they will not support for Vice President for president of Liberia.
Apparently angered by the resolute position of some staff not follow her to the Unity Party, Sen. Sherif ordered them to take a compulsory leave, without telling whether or not they will get their monthly salaries they nurse the political bruises of their decision to stick with the respective political parties.
Our Monrovia Correspondent said staffs of Sen. Sheriff were seen loitering in the hallway or corridor of the Capitol Building, as they were denied from entering her offices.
Some are lobbying with fellow senators to intercede on their behalf but to no avail as yet. In fact, what is interesting is that some the are reportedly taking the same action that Geraldine Sheriff has taken.
According to our sources, some of the senators also forcing their staffers to follow them and support the parties that they (senators) support. This situation has left civil servants working in the offices of the lawmakers vulnerable.
In a bid to get contact the Montserrado County Senator Sheriff, her administrative assistant Mr. Murphy Diggs declined to grant access to her. He told journalists that his boss was not ready to respond to the allegation, but that she is “preparing a well loaded press statement to response”.
Geraldine Doe Sheriff’s action is in sharp contravention of the 1986 Liberian Constitution. Article 17 of the Constitution says in part “All persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good, to instruct their representatives, to petition the government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.”
Senator Doe Sheriff came to the Liberian political limelight through the main opposition, the Congress for Democratic Change of football legend and Montserrado County Senator George Manneh Weah. Sources closed to her offices said she took the decision based on the refusal of some of staffers who believe Vice President Boakai cannot make a better president.
On March 10 of this year, 19 senators from several political parties endorsed the candidature of Vice President Joseph Boakai for President.
In a statement, the Senators promised to work to ensure that Vice President Boakai is elected Liberia’s next President. The senators included Albert Chie (IND-Grand Kru County), Henry Yallah (PUP-Bong County), Dan Morias (NPP-Maryland County) Gbleh-bo Brown (IND-Maryland County), Peter Coleman (CDC-Grand Kru County), Edward Dagosseh (UP-Grand Cape Mount County), Varney Sherman (UP- Grand Cape Mount County) and Alphonso Gaye (UP-Grand Gedeh County).
Others are Geraldine Doe-Sheriff (CDC-Montserrado County) Thomas Grupee (NUDP-Nimba County), Dallas Gueh (PUP-River-cess County), Armah Z. Jallah (NPP-Gbapolu County), Matthew Jaye UP-River-Gee County), Daniel Naatehn (ANC-Gbapolu County), Francis Paye (NDC-River-cess County), and Morris Saytumah (UP-Bomi County), including Milton Teahjay (IND-Sinoe County), George Tengbeh (UP-Lofa County) and Jim Tornonlah (PUP-Margibi County).
Senator Geraldine Deo Sherif, who was out of the country at the time, endorsed the Vice President following her returned to the country and promised to work tirelessly to ensure that the Unity Part flag-bearer becomes the next president of Liberia.
Henry Yallah, chairman of the of group of 19 Senators who signed the resolution, said their decision was based on Vice President’s experience in public service and his maturity in handling matters, especially when it comes to conflict resolution and reconciliation.
