Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
MONROVIA, Liberia – A recommendation from a staunch supporter of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government, businessman Musa Bility, calling on nationalistic Liberians to work together to rid the capital Monrovia of filth, has been snubbed by several Liberians including some prominent opposition politicians.
The Liberians have instead recommended the dismissal of the City Mayor of Monrovia Jefferson Tamba Koijee, who is a high ranking member of the ruling party.
Many of the Liberians disagreeing with Bility regarding his proposal to have all hands on deck to clean the capital city which he described as being in a bad state, argued that if Mayor Koijee is not up to the task to do the job for which he was appointed, he should be replaced and not to have others doing his job while he gets the pay-check.
Bility took to Facebook Sunday and wrote suggesting that due to the condition of Monrovia, which is in a bad state from filth, this could rekindled what he called the spirit of nationalism by all Liberians putting aside politics and mustering the courage and come together to clean Monrovia.
“May be the current condition of our Capital can help us rekindle our spirits of “Nationalism”. Clearly, Monrovia is in a very bad state. Now, can we muster the courage, forget politics, and come together to CLEAN MONROVIA ? All of us !!!” Musa Hassan Bility wrote.
But like many other Liberians who replied the politician cum businessman, controversial talk radio presenter Henry P. Costa thinks otherwise, laughing off Bility’s recommendation and stating, “Hahaha…My solution: let’s change the mayor…”
Vocal Liberian economist Samuel Jackson could not agree with Costa more, buttressing the loquacious talk show host by recommending the recall of former City Mayor, the workaholic and no-nonsense self-styled general Mary Taryonoh Broh, who is now Director General at the General Services Agency (GSA).
“Let’s bring Mary Broh back,” Said Sam Jackson.
Stong Gbana Pekin concurred with the tough-talking economist, as he wrote: “Samuel Jackson, simple. Bring Mary Broh back. There are still competent people in the government who are in the wrong places…”
Unlike others, former presidential press secretary Sam Mannah applauded Bility for his cleanup campaign suggestion, stating, “Great suggestion. We can all lend a helping hand to our mayors. There may be some challenges beyond their control. Let us put words into action and not just talk or criticize. Our people also have to be sensitized about the need to keep their environment tidy. Street sellers must be compelled to carry trash bags with them when conducting business.”
He then volunteered to be a part of the Bility proposed cleanup campaign for Monrovia, saying, “I’m ready to join any team that will be formed to lead the effort in assisting our mayors address the challenges with the waste management within Monrovia and it environs.”
But Mannah’s assertions were immediately rebuffed by Cheick Ousmane Toure, who warned the former presidential press secretary to refrain from politicizing the issue.
“Sam Mannah don’t politicize this thing Mannah, it is all about the limitation of the current mayor and deliberate refusal to bring on board individuals with the requisite expertise and professional background, you know this and see it from afar, but for the fear of being branded otherwise, you’re rolling your sleeves in his defense. Nothing political here,” Toure wrote.
It seems Toure is not the only one dissatisfied with Mannah’s input, as Charles Roberts urged President Geoge Weah’s first pick for press secretary now deputy managing director of the National Insurance Company to shut up.
Charles Roberts wrote: “Sam Mannah shut up, Musa is making fun of the situation, when in fact you got to know that people can lend helping hands? When you guys were in opposition, you criticized everything including Hospitals and Roads that were constructed for people.”
For his part, experienced journalist and secretary general for the lead support group for former Vice President Joseph Boakai’s bid for president in the 2017 elections, the National Movement for Boakai (NAMBO), Robert Moncio Kpadeh, told Bility bluntly that his suggestion is a wrong approach.
Kpadeh is instead recommending that current Mayor Koijee be given the boot out of the MCC and be replaced with an experienced city manager who will take charge, or that the service of keeping Monrovia clean be privatized to a reputable waste management company.
“That’s the only two options you have. That’s how cities around the world are kept clean and green. You don’t allow the city to get swallowed by filths…exposing the population to health hazard and call on people to come together to clean it. Nope!” Kpadeh wrote.
But Bility in response to Kpadeh countered that although the acclaimed journalist’s recommendations are not bad, he (Bility) is eagerly opting that the filthy city that is posing health hazards firstly be cleaned by all Liberians and thereafter they all will become stakeholders as to how Monrovia is kept clean and managed therefrom.
“The law of critical thinking requires us to first identify a problem before looking at solution…” Bility insists.
However, Kpadeh differs, reminding Bility that “we have a GOVERNMENT whose responsibility it is to clean the city. In the first place, the city should not have come to this horrible point that can be considered a crisis at the moment. It lingers more questions than answers…regarding leadership in the country. ”
Kpadeh told Bility, a former executive of the former ruling Unity Party, who defected to the Liberty Party but supported the CDC during the 2017 presidential runoff, that he is suggesting a quick fix, stating, “you don’t run a country by quick fix methods. With effective and efficient leadership Monrovia would not have been swarmed by filths…and that is the real problem. Lack of leadership is the problem…and this must be addressed. That’s the Capital city my friend, you cannot keep it clean by calling on citizens to a cleanup campaign every now and then. Appoint experienced people or privatize the service. That’s how cities around the world are managed…and you know that.”
Howbeit, George Gyude Wisner II says he agrees with Kpadeh but with an addendum, stating, “I agree with Robert Moncio Kpadeh but with one modification. It is not an either/or option. You need an experienced and competent city administrator and also an outsourced waste management system.”
Commenting for the second time on the issue, Strong Gbana Pekin asked Bility a question: “… so every time it gets dirty all of us have to come to together, which means leaving businesses, work, school and other activities to clean the city? What is the mayor there for?”
He added: “Like Samuel Jackson said, bring Mary Broh back; simple. There are still competent people in the government who are in the wrong places…”
For Jenkins D, N. Pelenah, he seems to agree with Bility but he puts it this way: “Last evening as I drove by several huge garbage sites around the capital, I was thinking of beginning Monday~Saturday all agencies of government with front end loaders and trucks could move into the streets to begin the CLEARING. LPRC can take charge of Bushrod and NPA take care of Central Monrovia. FDA and NTA can clear Gradnersville to Paynesville.
Pelenah who is of the belief that there is a compelling need to jointly clean up what he calls the avalanche of solid waste lest an epidemic strikes the capital, is recommending that an invitation be extended many of the country’s Social Development Partners like Bea Mountain, GVL, ATLANTIC RESOURCES, MITTAL STEEL, HUMMINGBIRD, CHINA UNION, CICO, CHICO, MUSONS, CESAF, MEDINA ROCKS, ALL LOGGING COMPANIES AND PRIVATE TRUCKERS, for the sole purpose keeping Monrovia clean.
The vice chair for political affairs of the Liberty Party, Abraham Darius Dillon, for his part, is concerned about why all Liberians would have their hands on deck in cleaning the city while a few others get paid for the city being clean.
To that Dillon wrote: “No way!!!! The people that are being paid must be made to do their work instead of being political. Better still, replace them with people that can do the job. SIMPLE!!!”
Strong Gbana Pekim applauded Dillon, stating, “… thank you.” “So every time the city gets dirty we should leave our activities to go clean it?” He asked Bility.
Strong Gbana Pekin is not the only one to be on the same page with Dillon, as Sekou Keita writes: “Abe Darius Dillon, couldn’t agree w/you more!
The founding chairman of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC), Lafayette Gould thinks with the suggestion from Bility that Liberians put aside politics and get involved with cleaning up a rather filthy Monrovia, the ruling party supporter (Bility) may have an ulterior motive.
Gould wrote: “Musa Hassan Bility, I don’t know what your goal is but we are observing!”
