By Pewu Y. Sumo
Monrovia – Liberia’s largest opposition political party, The Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has thrown its weight behind embattled Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah, warning its legislative caucus to vehemently oppose any attempts to expel him from the Capitol Building.
During a major press conference held Monday at the party’s temporary headquarters in Sinkor, CDC Chairman Atty. Janga Augustus Kowo characterized the intensifying campaign to remove Yekeh as politically motivated and hypocritical.
Kowo maintained that Yekeh has “done no wrong” that warrants banishment from the Legislature.
The CDC Chairman pointed out that the same rhetoric now being labeled as “unbecoming” by the Unity Party (UP) was hailed by them when they were in the opposition.
Chairman Kowo blasted the ruling UP for its hypocrisy, arguing that the current administration lacks the moral authority to sanction Yekeh.
“The Unity Party government does not have the moral standing to remove Yekeh,” Kowo stated. “The CDC stands with Yekeh, and we call on all supporters to stand with him.”
“Hon. Yekeh Kolubah’s right to free speech must be protected; trying to remove him from the Legislature for speaking out is the highest degree of hypocrisy on the part of the UP government.”
“Yesterday you hailed Yekeh’s style of politicking; you have no moral ground today to attempt to attack him and remove him from the Legislature,” the CDC Chairman argued.
Kowo then called for Yekeh’s protection by calling on all supporters from the CDC, the student community, and civil society groups to stand up for Yekeh, saying doing so will be “defending the democracy” of the state.
Kowo said that during the regime of former President George Weah, the CDC disagreed with Yekeh, but his right to speak out was respected.
Kowo said those who hailed Yekeh at that time are the ones now pushing for his removal, which, according to him, shows a lack of tolerance for free speech from the ruling UP government of President Joseph Boakai.
Hon. Yekeh Kolubah, a member of the 55th Legislature representing Montserrado County Electoral District #10, has been under fire since making remarks over the Liberia-Guinea border saga, which met huge public backlash.
Supporters of the ruling UP administration have argued that his action is treasonous, thereby pushing for his removal from Capitol Hill.
However, following President Boakai’s recalling of the Legislature last week for a 10-day working period, a communication was sent to the plenary for actions to be taken against the Montserrado County District 10 lawmaker.
In a related development, reports today from the Legislature indicates that Yekeh, in an appeal to his colleagues on Capitol Hill, requested five working days from the committee investigating him to secure legal representation. However, the committee declined his request, granting him only two working days, and instructed him to appear on Wednesday of this week to proceed with due process.
With the embattled lawmaker now having the full backing of the major opposition, questions over his removal from the Legislature remain concerning to many Liberians far and near.
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