By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD)has accused Sinoe County Senator J. Milton Teahjay of threatening that the people of Sinoe Electoral District #.3 that the district will be deprived of development initiatives if they elect their incumbent lawmaker Mathew A. Zarzar.
The IREDD said Teahjay made the threat at an event marking the induction of the Student Council Government of the Willie N. Wylie Memorial Baptist School on May 5th. They described Teahjay comments as “rants” and “shows political machismo”.
When Senator Teahjay was contacted via mobile phone on several occasions, his private cell phone rang endlessly.
IREDD at a news conference Monday, September 11, said Teahjay’s action is a gross violation of his incumbent power and it has the propensity to create fear and pandemonium within the population of District # 3 in Sinoe County.
The civil society group in its quarterly report to the nation said also three senior government officials, including Ministers Neto Zarzar Lighe of the Ministry of Labour, Len Eugene Nagbe of the Ministry of Information and Mr. Cole Bangalu, Deputy Director General of the Civil Service Agency have all served elected posts in the incumbent ruling party. These three individuals have openly declared their support to the presidential bid of the Vice President, something the Code of Conduct forbids, the IREDD alarmed.
Detailing further, the Project Manager Mercy Sackie said on July 12, the Superintendent of Nimba County Dorh D. Cooper publicly declared his support for the Unity Party’s incumbent, Vice President Joseph Boakai on a radio show and encouraged citizens of the county to do same.
“We wish to remind Hon. Cooper that he is not a Superintendent of Unity Party citizen in Nimba but a Superintendent of the whole of Nimba County and his actions undermines public trust and grossly violate the code of conduct,” She said.
IREDD called on the Unity Party and officials of government both within the Liberian Legislature and the executive branch of government to desist its current attempts of political machismo and muscling of the political space to allow all political parties free and unhindered access to state facilities across the country for as long as they are paying for the use of the facilities.
“We call on the General Service Agency (GSA), to take swift and prompt action to take stock of all official government vehicles and the enforcement of the Code of Conduct to prevent official of government from using state asserts for political campaigning,” Madam Sackie added.
IREDD also called for the abolition of the Legislative Support Projects because they do not serve any development intent, rather it is a political tool and a waste of tax payer’s money which is only intended to benefit few individuals.
IREDD has called on all political parties to uphold and respect the electoral laws of Liberia and on the National Elections Commission to be more forceful in ensuring compliance of the provisions of the elections law.
