Warning Boakai With “Rat-Trap” Allegory -John Morlu Says UP Failure to Uphold Integrity Puts It At Risks 2030
MONROVIA – While some Liberians are approaching the ongoing debate sparked by the hot pursuit of former officials of government by the incumbent in light of attritional partisan war right now, others like former Auditor General John Sembe Morlu are looking far ahead with the sixth eye, and saying something instructive: grabbing and parading perceived corrupt individuals is not all the news that matter; preparing and sanitizing yourself to be morally immune to similar fate is key. And the former Auditing General, who played a key role in getting Boakai elected is worry about the eventuality, wanting Boakai to be aware. The Analyst reports.
As officials of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are bracing themselves amid what seems to be sweeping charging, arresting and jailing of their compatriots by the governing Unity Party administration for corruption and misuse of public funds, Liberians are not concealing their heartfelt reactions to the spectacle.
Some citizens are celebrating the dawn of a new Liberia where accountability and transparency will be the order of the day, and others a decrying the biasness of the action by the Boakai government.
While these debates are ongoing, former Auditor General John Sembe Morlu, II, has put on his studious telescope, seeing beyond the ordinary—what will happen six years ago to those who are rounding up alleged corrupt officials and moving on with the legal process.
In a short observatory opinion piece, Morlu sees the possibility of the arc of justice and accountability turning to its original anchor to which it is being fastened by president Boakai and his administration.
Morlu, who produced damning 80 audit reports during the 12-year rule of the Unity Party, where Boakai was the vice president, said: “Boakai and his team should act with the awareness that they may face electoral defeat in 2029 and risk arrest in 2030 if they fail to uphold integrity.
“Boakai’s ‘Rescue Mission’ should learn from Weah’s grassroots movement, which assumed it would remain in power for 18 to 24 years—a fallacy then and now. Liberian voters are known for ousting non-performing, corrupt, and incompetent incumbents. The proof is in the pudding: George Weah’s grassroots movement fallacy of 18 to 24 years in power.”
Morlu assumes that former President Weah could put up a good fight and win in 2029 and vengeance could be the order of the day.
“Today there is widespread regret among citizens that Weah gave up power too easily, so you hear the drum: 17,000 vote difference and the country is divided down the middle,” he said, adding: “True, but in that middle, minus the Rescue Coalition, including myself, Weah has the edge. Let’s not forget that and ignore the potential coalition realignment that could give Weah a big edge. Let’s celebrate seeing people going to prison for corruption and corrupt acts.”
He called on President Boakai and his party “not repeat what we are prosecuting because 2029 is right around the corner and Weah could win, again.
“Weah, Tweah, and their allies thought they would remain in power for 18 or 24 years and acted accordingly, disregarding the broader interests. This should serve as a lesson for the JNB administration.”
He further warns president Boakai: “Assume your administration will be in power for six years, with a subsequent administration in 2030 that will scrutinize your actions. Sirleaf was fortunate to align with Weah in 2017 against Boakai, thereby avoiding the scrutiny that Weah and his team will face over the next six years.”
The anti-corruption czar said opined that accountability, transparency, and the rule of law are essential but only effective when individuals are held accountable and punished.
“Sirleaf initially pursued this in 2006 but reemployed figures like Sam Wulu, whom she had previously arrested and pretended to prosecute,” he recalled. “Notably, only two instances of actual conviction and imprisonment occurred: Albert Bropleh and those involved in the fraudulent bank account in Sirleaf’s name at Ecobank, transferring $1.1 million and exposing systemic banking flaws.”
Despite efforts to prevent large over-the-counter cash withdrawals at the CBL, the former auditor general said, “it resumed under Weah, with $178 million cashed over the counter, raising concerns about potential misuse of public funds.
“To put this in perspective, the U.S. government spends $163 million annually in Liberia to save lives and improve conditions, while some individuals withdraw millions over the counter at the CBL, perpetuating dependency on American and other donor aid despite Liberia’s 177-year history. We commend Boakai’s initial steps to end impunity and hope he can address both past and current corruption.”
It is like Morlu is saying to Boakai, Uncle, be beware, a rat trap is not for rats alone. So long you are prosecuting people who your opponents, howbeit for alleged corruption and wrongdoing, don’t forget the Golgotha is still intact waiting for you and your people to depending on how you proceed with upholding integrity. You risk losing your vanquisher position to a victim position if you float the law on integrity and transparency.
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