By Mark N. mengonfia
Monrovia-The Press Secretary Kula Fofana and Deputy Press Secretary Joseph Vallai have shared contrasting comments on whether or not President Joseph Boakai is personally following developments in the media – either by radio, in the newspapers or on social media.
The contrasting comments being spewed by them have ignited public concerns as to whose account is worth believing or not.
Hours after Madam Fofana stated on Ok FM that President Boakai’s busy schedules do not permit him to listen to radio or read newspapers, Deputy Press Secretary Vallai tacitly rebuffed her by saying that the President does follow everything in the media space.
On his facebook page, he implied that contrary to what his boss has said, the President listens to the radio, watches the news and reads what’s on the social media.
His social media page carries an image of him and the President with the President seeing flipping through pages of a magazine.
He said in his post, “Our fellow citizens, your President is surely aware that this country is facing challenges. He listens to the radio, watches the news, and stays updated on your concerns through social media.”
He went on in his post by saying, “At times, he even takes time to read your posts and see how you’re feeling. He shares in your pain and hears the weight of your hearts.” Contradicting his boss further, Vallai intoned, “Your struggles are real. They matter. Your concerns are justified.”
He furthered, “In the midst of it all, there is hope for a brighter future with this President. Every day, he goes to bed and wakes up thinking about this country and the responsibility you have entrusted to him. He sees your mandate as the greatest honor of his life.”
Vallai said as the President’s deputy official spokesperson, “I assure you that he understands that your patience and resilience have been tested.
He also said he knows there are skeptics who will try to remind you of the sacrifices you’ve made to bring about change.
“But rest assured, this country will not fail under this President. Under his leadership, efforts are being made to address the electricity crisis for today and for future generations of Liberians,” he tried to defend his boss credentials.
Madam Fofana’s comments had already claimed public attention, prompting a cross session of Liberians insinuating if that the President does not have a listening ear to their concerns, it means he only pays attention to those in his cycle what they want him to hear.
“If what the Presidential Press Secretary is saying is anything to go by, it means that the president is discounted with his people because they will only tell him what they want him to hear and not what the people of Liberia say,” Saah Nyumah, a member of the UP said when he called on a local talk show in Monrovia.
Not only Nyumah, but Joseph Flomo who is a member of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) said, “We told the people of Liberia that the man was too old to lead this country. He does not listen to the radio or read newspapers before I talk about the following things on social media.”
With the conflicting presentations coming from the two official spokespersons of the president, others believe that they both are not working as a unit.
According to our Executive Manson correspondent, Vallai who has little or no media background was appointed by President Boakia to serve as Deputy Presidential Press boss, he received public outcry that he was not fit for the job on grounds that serving in such position, one has to know information management, coordination and the rest of it.
