Liberia: Avant-garde Student Alliance Condemns President Boakai's Alleged Bribery, Plans March for Fire Victims, and Criticizes Corruption - FrontPageAfrica
Source: Front Page Africa
Monrovia - The Avant-garde Progressive Students Alliance (PROSA) at the University of Liberia have vehemently condemned what they described as an act of bribery by President Joseph Boakai. The statement, released from the office of Chairman Richardson J. Korboi, accused the President of attempting to manipulate the political landscape by offering monetary incentives to lawmakers for the removal of the current Speaker of the House of Representatives.
By J. H. Webster Clayeh
Citing Representative Yekeh Kolubah as a whistleblower, PROSA alleged that President Boakai, through the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, issued a check of $4,500 USD to a group of Representatives to facilitate the ousting of the Speaker. "This action is not only criminal in nature but it warrants the impeachment of the President," declared Cde. Justin W. Jallabah Jr, Secretary-General of PROSA.
"This plot to remove the speaker who is perceived to be an opposition lawmaker is to have a speaker that will be a lame duck to the Executive Branch of Government. This action alone clearly undermines the system of checks and balances in the governance process of our country. With the visible evidence of chronic poverty that has engulfed the masses of our people, Joseph Boakai who promised to rescue the Liberian people has become an embarrassment and has proven to be a cunning and corrupt President," the students stated.
The statement further criticized Boakai's administration for neglecting pressing issues such as the recent wave of fire disasters across the country. PROSA announced April 14th as a day for a march in solidarity with fire victims, highlighting the President's purported lack of concern for those affected. They also drew attention to the budget allocation, where they claim President Boakai allotted a significant amount for his domestic travels while neglecting the funding for the National Fire Service Agency.
"The party's attention has been drawn to the recent wave of fire disasters across the country that has claimed a total of over 70 homes and 20 deaths. We have realized that the President has been playing a very sluggish role as it relates to the fire disaster within the Republic. The masses of our people have lost their homes and some of them are still grieving the untimely demise of their loved ones while President Joseph Boakai doesn't seem to be concerned or bothered about the fire pandemic that is ravaging the homes and lives of our people," they said.
Additionally, PROSA pointed fingers at newly appointed Managing Director of LPRC, Amos Tweh, for allegedly building a luxurious condominium in a short period after his appointment, raising questions about the source of funds. "Corruption is now at its peak under this Unity Party government," stated Chairman Korboi.
"Corruption is one of the vices that erodes the development of any society, especially for a poverty-stricken nation like Liberia where the vast majority of our people are living under horrible circumstances. It is an affront and a callous disregard for the suffering of our people for a government official who should be serving the Republic with diligence and transparency to build a massive property in less than 3-months following his appointment as Managing Director of LPRC. The continuous silence of the President on matters of grave corruption scandals speaks volumes and it has the proclivity to serve as a recipe for massive looting across the government."
The Avant-garde party promised to take a radical stance against corrupt government officials, asserting their commitment to the revolutionary cause and the betterment of the Liberian people.
