According to the party’s Commander-In-Chief, Emmanuel Gonquoi, President Boakai is presently being tested by a corrupt few in his government.
Monrovia — The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) has sounded a caveat to the Unity Party (UP)-led government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai against provoking its members and supporters to early actions if it fails to dismiss corrupt public officials.
By Obediah Johnson
The EFFL is one of the political parties that supported the election of President Boakai in 2023.
According to the party’s Commander-In-Chief, Emmanuel Gonquoi, President Boakai is presently being tested by a corrupt few in his government. He observed that the collective struggle of Liberians is now becoming the “accommodation house for greed and grandstanding.”
His assertions were contained in a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, October 2.
He recalled that in January 2018, former President George Manneh Weah was historically inaugurated as the second indigenous President (after former President Samuel K. Doe.) According to him, Mr. Weah’s inauguration was not only historic and energetic, but it was emotional with many poor people sharing tears of joy while hoping for a future that they truly desired.
According to him, Liberians were hoping for a future that would have seen medicines in hospitals, emergency rooms equipped to standard, inflation put under control, a better foreign image of Liberia carved, corruption fought vigorously, the Judiciary Branch functioning wholesomely, and a robust private sector.
President Boakai’s administration has witnessed few scandals now and they are all linked to people considered by facts or myth untouchable. It’s now time to see the President’s anger against corruption because his promise to fight corruption brought him to power.
Emmanuel Gonquoi, Commander-in-Chief, Economic Freedom Fighters of Liber
Gonquoi added that citizens also wanted a better public service in which the government is working directly for the people and not few.
But sadly after a few months later into Weah’s leadership, he recounted that, “the tears of joy turned out to be the real tears of sorrow.”
He added that hardship engulfed the entire country and joy was quickly turning into anger. “The news of Nathaniel McGill and others buying big properties emerged. George Weah himself joined the daylight looting of the State. The poor people who struggled and printed their own t-shirts became the victims of their generosity, and sooner than later, they began to pay back by electing Senator Darius Dillon twice.”
Gonquoi claimed that former President Weah didn’t change anything from his leadership style and “after all these messages from our people, he got punished for his reckless leadership behavior throughout his tenure.”
Like Weah, like Boakai?
Gonquoi further recalled that in January 2024, President Boakai was inaugurated with some historic global delegations witnessing his inauguration as the new president succeeding Weah.
Perhaps, he added that President Boakai received those delegations because the International Community wanted to show him their support from day one and hoped that he would stamp out corruption which has destroyed Liberians’ hope for a better future throughout the country’s history.
According to him, “President Boakai’s administration has witnessed few scandals now and they are all linked to people considered by facts or myth untouchable, “but “it’s now time to see the President’s anger against corruption because his promise to fight corruption brought him to power.”
“One thing that is getting clearer by the day is the determination of our generation to fight corruption; regardless of who is involved.
Dismiss them
Gonquoi called on President Boakai to with immediate effect dismiss those who are linked to various reports of corruption upon his return to the country.
For days now, President Boakai has been in the United States to attend the just ended United Nations (UN) General Assembly. “For EFFL to support this Alliance, we were clear about prosecuting former officials of government including ex-President George Weah who became an overnight millionaire. The UP Alliance can’t afford to betray our people in the fight against corruption.”
Why the rush for riches?
Gonquoi observed that many people believe that President Boakai is “old and is not running for office again”.
As a result of this, he added that, these individuals do not see themselves having the same opportunity any time soon and would do everything at the cost of the UP Alliance to get rich, noting that, “some of us will not accept such behavior – no; not today, not tomorrow.”
“If we have to make enemies because we want to keep our commitment to our people, so be it, but we have a future here and wouldn’t compromise our people’s future to accommodate criminals.”
Distancing Boakai from corruption
Gonguoi, however, claimed to have worked with President Boakai for nine years, prior to his ascendancy to the Liberian Presidency.
“I can say with certainty that he will never personally get involved with corruption like George Weah. I still trust him (President Boakai) and will support him until he decides to turn his back on our people.”
He pointed out that President Boakai will continue to enjoy the support of the EFFL for now, but the group will be “monitoring.
“We have asked our ground forces to support the President amid unhappiness until it’s clear that he is fully departing from his promises to our people. We have a revolutionary tool to make the determination.”
He continued: “The collective struggle of our people is now becoming the accommodation house for greed and grandstanding! Such accommodation wouldn’t be acceptable because young crusaders who sacrificed their lives can’t as well become victims of their patriotism. For some current officials of government to attempt to prove the CDC right just in a few months, you have to consider that you are committing genocide against EFFL. Don’t provoke us to early action because we will fight back.”
According to him, the EFFL is talking in-house because it wants the President to succeed. Gonquoi emphasized that the group is “refusing to play politics with our people’s future but at the same time, we can’t be provoked.”
