MONROVIA – Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue of Grand Gedeh County has categorically denied allegations contained in a social media video that went viral recently linking him claims that he was involved in the training of militias to rig the 2023 elections and being paid millions of dollars to sell out the county at the detriment of the citizens and residents, stressing that his democratic credentials in the country have shown that he is not a person of violence.
Senator Pennue made this clarification yesterday, Thursday, September 22, 2022 through his Chief of Office Staff, Mr. Sunnay T. Wonsiah, who addressed the press at the Capitol Building to debunk the contents of the video which he termed as “fake”, attributing it to the handiworks of faceless persons meant to ruin the good character his principal has built over the years.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it can be recalled that on the 17th of September 2022, while Senator Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, Sr. was in transit to the United States of America (USA) to attend the 77th United Nations General Assembly Session, a video clip was released to the public from an unknown source citing series of ill-disposed issues of national security threats and undermining of peace and stability. The Office of the Senator wishes to inform the public categorically that the accession made in that video was fake, silly, grossly not genuine, and misleading.
“In view of the foregoing, we strongly condemn the faker for linking Senator Pennue Sr. with allegations which could be a threat to national security, peace, reconciliation and stability. The Office therefore urges the people of Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties to remain reconciled and united. Moreover, the office wishes to remind the general public that Grand Gedeh County is neither training ground for any militia groups nor is there knowledge of stored weapons as mentioned in the fake broadcast.
“Fast-forward, the office wants to reaffirm that Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties had since mended their political differences through peace and reconciliation. No amount of baseless allegations and fallacy compositions can make our people think otherwise, and revert to the ugly past that witnessed destruction and instabilities for more than a decade. We now enjoy enormous economic, cultural coexistence and reconstruction of our respective counties.
“The office of the Senator wants to congratulate the International Community, Liberian Government through the Justice Ministry, The Liberian Council of Churches, the Press Union of Liberia, the Civil Society Organizations, The County Authorities and others for the rain of condemnation on the proponent of this malicious video clip.
In the same vein, we support the call by Stakeholders and The International Partners for all to refrain from hate speech, disinformation and violence especially as we build-up to the 2023 elections.
“Furthermore, we wish to state for the record that Senator Pennue’s democratic credentials have never been associated with violence since the post war Liberia elections process in 2005. The Senator has democratically represented Grand Gedeh over the years, void of illegal interference with the electoral process-either by increasing the votes shared/cast in his favor, or manipulated any process of vote rigging. The evidence can be traced from 2005 up to 2020 where he contested in five (5) electoral challenges, and achieved 4 (four) positive outcomes overwhelmingly which were deemed “Free and Fair” by national and international observers.
Mr. Wonsiah, whose boss is the Senate Standing Committee on Social Security, Pension and Insurance said evidently, Senator Pennue has no history of election violence, and has since enjoyed the confidence of the people of Grand Gedeh County, thereby transitioning from the office of Representative in Grand Gedeh County to the Liberian Senate in the 2020 Special Senatorial Elections.
“Finally, Liberians must never embrace lies, misinformation and disinformation that will promote violence in our society, but to continue to enhance peace and nation building. May God Grand Gedeh County”, Wonsiah concluded.
Comments are closed.