THE TOXICITY OF Liberian politics – evidenced by fiery rhetoric, alarming and at most times fake accusations, cusses and even vituperations – has only one checkpoint: interrogation before the court of law, or simply the invocation of the rule of law. That is the most sensible way out of the storm of chronic angers, hate and bitterness so arrogantly expressed and harbored by politicians and their programmed lackeys. And we speak of not just one side of the political aisle; we refer to all, and at this point, we zoom in on the verbal feud between Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr., on the one hand and the ruling establishment and its propagandists. What the Bomi County Senator said that warranted the response of government spokesman, generating all the uproarious public discourse must be put on the prism of logical and lawful scrutiny, and let the chips fall where they would.
FROM WHAT THE public has seen and heard, the senator’s trouble became when he appeared on SpoonTalk, as a panelist. He wished the Boakai government would fail, and become a one-term president. By its failure, he would realize his ambition to be president when he contests in 2029. The information minister of the government responded, accusing Snowe of plans to destabilize the country, to use his connections in ECOWAS to undermine progress at home. Government threatened to complain the lawmaker to ECOWAS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE YOUTUBE channel which Senator Snowe used to utter his “destabilizing” comments, and whatever evidence Government has regarding his alleged use of leverage at the ECOWAS Parliament must be probed, and evidence laid bare. The YouTube video available was not one that was uploaded; it derived from live interactions and therefore technically insulated and above manipulation and doctoring. Audios, videos and printed versions of what the government, through its spokesman charged of Senator Snowe are also available. Those who will investigate the matter, be it a Senate Committee or Senate Plenary as others are requesting, or the Liberia National Police or any specialized investigative committee or agencies should therefore not have difficulty conducting an impartial, fair and smooth probe into the saga. This must be done not only to bring logical closure to the matter but also to nip in the bud the rise tide of toxic politics in the nation.
WE TAKE NOTE OF comments made by a range of Liberian senators in the Plenary of the Senate on Tuesday, and the press statement released by Liberian representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament going to the defense of Snowe, a fellow colleague and a ranking member of the Parliament – all unanimous on the position that the Government allegations and threats against Snowe were unfounded, unwarranted and misdirected because he has proven over time to be a true patriot, and that the situation has exposed the country to public disrepute and unnecessarily put the senator in harms’ way.
BUT WHO KNOWS? Perhaps officials at the Ministry of Information and other government actors may just believe they did not make the allegations from the clear blue sky – not trumped up. Reportedly, the head of the Ministry of Information and Snowe have strong bond of relations, an amiably friendship, as both men hail from the same district in Bomi County. The Minister could not have been reckless to send a brother to the Golgotha for political and physical crucifixion without proof. Snowe must have said something mischievous, sinister and even criminal. And as lawmaker said publicly Tuesday, and supported by many members of the public, let the allegations against him be investigated thoroughly, and if he’s found liable for planning destabilization shenanigans he would face that weight of the law. If the government lied on him, acting merely politically, let the statement be retracted, and apology offered.
THAT IS THE solution we desire in the prevailing feud, and this is what we are promoting. Certainly, it is the only solution that would bring an ultimate end to the growing tide of demonstrated chronic political hate, bitterness and toxicity, often leading to cusses, vituperations, threats and bullies flying all over this place.
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