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MONROVIA, Liberia – Renowned Liberian journalist Patrick Honnah has sent President George Manneh Weah an ‘Armed Forces Day message’, with the revered broadcaster calling the attention of the Liberian leader to what he calls the glaring message of deepening division in the country, under the rule of the retired footballer.
While the nation on Monday, celebrated the 2019 version of Armed Forces Day, observed on February 11 each year, Mr. Honnah wrote on his official Facebook page that it is sad that rather than uniting the country, under the watch of President Weah just within a year, division was further deepening.
“The “Us versus Them” and “join Us or Suffer” mentality is terrifying for a country that has experienced chaos as a result of a particular group of people feeling marginalized in their own country, because of political differences,” Honnah wrote.
He called on President Weah to muster courage and exercise the prudent political will, and do what is required of him as a leader and refrain from listening to those he said are beneficiaries of the deep-seated division among Liberians under his (Weah) regime.
“The President needs to show leadership and don’t mind those who are benefiting from this divide. The change, we were told about, needs to be for “hope” and not for “despair,” Honnah stressed.
He lamented that the level at which people are targeted simply because of different political views is troubling, stating, “that is not democracy, it is dictatorship.”
He recalled that a year ago, BBC’s stringer in Liberia, journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh was verbally attacked by President Weah, himself, adding that even the complaint from Paye-Leleh regarding the matter was never taken seriously.
Further cataloging instances of division and undemocratic practices under the CDC-led government, Honnah wrote that after he made what he described as huge investments in his private business; Punch FM radio station, and acquiring all legal documents, he was reliably informed that President Weah instructed the Minister of Information, Lenn Eugene Nagbe to allegedly shut down his (Honnah) business because he criticized the Liberian leader during the country’s recent past elections in 2017.
“For almost a year now, the government is supposed to “still be reviewing” my license to operate,” he further wrote.
It can be recalled that in January of 2018, One Media Incorporated, owner of Punch FM/TV and Online Service, have met all requirements under Liberian laws to operate as a bonafide media entity, having been cleared by government and issued broadcast license and operational permit.
But in June, the Weah administration prevented the station from coming on air, citing a review of the country’s media sector as its basis.
However, several months has elapsed and the government is yet to state when its review process would be concluded, but it has been reliably gathered that government has since authorized other new media entities such as Independent Inquirer and Spoon 107.5 FM, which is currently carrying out test broadcast, to operate, while it has not announced the conclusion of its review process.
Honnah, in his ‘Armed Forces Day message’ to President Weah, also disclosed that the editor of the award-wining FrontPageAfrica newspaper, journalist Rodney D. Sieh was recently threatened and branded because he had reported a story about the failed “Eton and Ebomaf” deals, adding that the journalist alarmed, but nothing was done about it by the government.
“Journalist Phillip Wesseh’s Inquirer was duplicated allegedly by government operatives with more than half of his staff transferring. He is branded as one of the “Enemies of the State,” Honnah wrote.
President Weah is on record for branding critics of his administration, including journalists, as ‘enemies of the state.’
In June 2018, President Weah, while on a two-day tour of central Liberia, expressed disappointment over barrage of criticisms that were being thrown at his administration just within six months’ period.
Responding to his critics whose criticisms covered all sectors of the country regarding the government’s quest for loans for roads construction across Liberia, President Weah at the time told residents of Bong County not to listen to the critics who he described as enemies of the state.
“My people, don’t listen to those criticizing for lobbying for loans. Those doing so are enemies of the country. The loans I am taking will be able to complete the roads in three years. When I am asking partners for loans, any of them who tell me that they want complete the roads in six years, I can say no because I know in the next six years, if I don’t do anything for you, I will not be re-elected,” President Weah said.
Howbeit, Honnah still capturing the scenery of disharmony being displayed under Weah’s administration, as the president and the government watch without taking concrete leadership steps, added that vocal talk radio presenter Mary William was forced off the air because she’s viewed as an obstacle, indicating that Madam Williams’ move to have also transferred to Roots 102.7 FM, owned by controversial talk show host, Henry Pedro Costa, is even still worse, as the station is now off the air, as a result of being vandalized allegedly by thugs.
“Even a Political leader of an opposition party Nyonblee Lawrence was threatened and attacked in district 13 during a by-election. No report has been released till date,” He wrote.
“The home of another critical voice, Representative Yekeh Kolubah was shot at and attacked. Nothing has come out of that. A political activist Abe Darius Dillon reported threats on his life, no investigation to ascertain the veracity. Henry Costa’s radio station has been attacked twice in a month. Government says no word till date.”
Honnah averred that friends who were so closed during the previous administration (in spite of their political views then) have, all of the sudden turned enemies, indicating that “they are made to believe that it is an abomination to be closed to their friends who oppose the current administration.”
“You risk getting fired if you associate with the “enemies of the state “. Many are afraid to speak out. And all of these have happened just in a year, imagine!”
Honnah reminded President Weah that “when you are a leader of a country, you become the leader of all, despite people’s feelings. The “pay our debt” feeling has resurrected from both ends. The country is fast dividing. Even those who are not in the current administration now have the feeling that no matter how long it takes, they will “pay their debt.”
He emphasized that such actions are beyond politics, and that they are creating deep seated hatred and the urge for reprisal.
The award-winnning broadcast journalist, who is of the belief that having experienced over a decade of civil war that tore the country apart in shred, Liberians cannot allow ourselves to go back down that road, adding that rather than calling for prayers for investors, he was calling on President Weah’s favorite pastors including the Liberian leader’s Religious Advisor, Rev. M. Emmanuel Nimely, to rally the nation toward unity of purpose.
“They must now serve as the bridge to bring all sides together rather than using their proximity to the president to pursue earthly gains. Happy Armed Forces day to the gallant men and women in arms!” Honnah concluded his message.
