Zargo Welcomes Dismissal From LIS -Why was LP Silent Over Its Former Chairman’s Dilemma?

MONROVIA – Former Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) Commissioner General and former Senator of Lofa county, Atty. Stephen Zargo, has welcomed his dismissal by the President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

Addressing a team local journalists during the week in Voinjama City, Lofa County, the LIS former boss thanked the President for providing him the opportunity to serve the Unity Party led Government for nine months as Commissioner General of the Liberia immigration Service (LIS).

Atty. Zargo clarified that his dismissal was not related to allegations of corruption, misappropriation, refusal to arrest former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh, upon his returned into the country or deportation of a Guinean who was in Liberia and reportedly got killed in his home country, as has been widely speculated in the public.

“I heard a lot of stories about my suspension, and subsequent dismissal and that my suspension was as a result of misappropriation,” he retorted. “Another account said my refusal to arrest former Finance Minister Samuel Tweh, upon his return in the country. Some said I deported a Guinean who was in Liberia and reportedly got killed in his home country.”

Sadly, none of the information is true, he said quoting his letter of suspension that speaks to the judgment of the president in his mind that he didn’t do well.

“I worked 9 months to transform the Immigration Service,” he stressed. “The chiefs & elders in Lofa wanted to hear from me about these different stories. Above all, they wanted to know the relationship I’ve with the president. And, am having a cordial and unique relationship with Pres. Boakai, and he has explicit confidence in me, and I support him 100%.”

He thanked the president for the opportunity, and the chiefs of Lofa have promised to thank him on his behalf.

The Lofa County Former Senator said his clarifications come as the result of concerns being raised by Chiefs and Elders of the Lofa County as to what may have led to early his dismissal from government by his uncle, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. 

However, political pundits, observers as well as Lofaians are concerned over the continuous silence of the Liberty Party (LP) and its Political Leader, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence and other Executives over the dismissal of the Party’s former Chairman from government.

The LP is a collaborating Political Party to the ruling Unity Party of President Boakai. As a result of this partnership, LP is said to have enjoyed many opportunities and advantages in the placement of several of its members in government, including dismissed Atty. Steve Zargo.

Many are of the views that former LP Chairman to have been one first senior officials of government to be dismissed by President Boakai doesn’t mean well for the LP, especially in the face of many allegations as to what might have led to the President’s decision.

Lofa Eye Newspaper reported that investigation has revealed that the former LIS Commissioner General was never a favorite of the President and many in the Unity Party, especially key decision makers.

This situation, according to sources, is dated as far back as 2011 Presidential and Legislative Elections when Zargo, then as an executive of the Liberty Party supported the LP candidates, including the late Foya District Representative Eugene Fallah Kpakar against the UP candidate, Francis S. Nyumalin, nephew of President Boakai.

Zargo was elected as Senator of Lofa County in 2014, and served for 9 years. Throughout his tenure, he remained a strong opposition to the extent of becoming the National Chairman of the Liberty Party. Despite his commitment and support for the Lofa County tradition of respect for the uncles, elders and statesmen, Zargo is well respected in the county for never shown any disrespecting attitude to President Boakai.

Nevertheless, following the political marriage between the LP and UP ahead of the 2023 election, Zargo, a sitting Senator of Lofa County, was accommodated to contest on the ticket to the Unity Party, a decision which didn’t go down well with senior members of the party and citizens of Lofa County including but not limited to Hon. Francis S. Nyumalin and former Defense Minister, J. Brownies Samukai.

As a result, the two along with some members of the UP, pledged their support to Independent Candidate and former Superintendent of Lofa County, Hon. Galakpai W. Kortima, current Director General of the GSA.

This caused the UP to lose the Senatorial Seat considered her stronghold. Considering the above, one can only say that the appointment of Atty. Zargo, one of Liberia’s trained, credited and experienced security personnel as Commissioner General of the LIS was a trap to get him off the back of the President and government, since in fact no reason has been provided for his dismissal.