‘No Money, But More By-Elections’

-Liberians React As Weah Nominates Sen. Joseph N. Nagbe To Replace Retired Justice Philip Banks

By Reuben Sei Waylaun

Following the nomination of Sinoe County Senator, Cllr. Joseph N. Nagbe as the next Associate Justice to replace retired Justice Philip A. Z. Banks on the Supreme Court bench, Liberians are giving mix reactions over the President’s decision.

According to them, while it is the constitutional right of the Liberian leader to appoint and dismiss, he should also take into consideration previous and repeated pronouncements that the country is completely broke and as such, the economy was in fragility.

“President George Manneh Weah has nominated Sinoe County Senator, Cllr. Joseph N. Nagbe as Associate Justice to the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia, replacing retired Justice Philip A. Z. Banks. The nomination of Cllr. Joseph N. Nagbe as Associate Justice to the Supreme Court is subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate,” Executive Mansion release said.

When the news broke out on the Executive Mansion website and subsequently shared on social media, Liberians at home and abroad gave their individual opinions on the president’s decision to appoint a sitting Senator to the Supreme Court which accepted by the senator will create another by-elections as created following the election of Representative Saah Joseph of Montserrado County electoral district#13.

Liberians React On Social Media

Following the news about Senator Nagbe nomination by President Weah, Liberians on social gave mix reactions as journalist Julius Jeh, formerly of Okay FM broke the news.

Robert Godfavor Paye: I tell ooo Brother.  Taylor Erick Farley: NEC have to work through out now, not only after every six years in October… Isaac Zahn: the process of planning a major election requires 2-3 years, with a lot of sticky details involved. So, the NEC does not only work in October after some six years.

Jennie Fallah Wounuah; We will get more loans Sam Kingsford Collins: THAT YOUR WORRY MY DEAR, BUT THE COUNTRY MUST RUN. Rotis Kanswen: Congrats Senator Joseph Nagbe. Franmel G. Barclay: Hmmmmm…. Liberia. K Stages Fahn: Liberia is getting better. Aloysius Beyan Bowah: This is complete waste of time and money. One by-election after another?
Wow……”PRO POOR” Angela Kou Suah: IKGZ. Wisdom go finish Liberia….Vamsa Fofana: Another by-election, another political game. We’re inside! Ralph Raja: Money pa ayy here. To spend nay pa da no case. Tony Alfred Joe: Liberia is always good as making history, another by Election Zenu Miller : After serving in the Legislature since NTLA time, Cllr. Nagbe now headed to the Full Bench of the Supreme Court; leaving behind another by election. Hummmmmmm. Cynthia Vambram: More bi elections for Lib. Yet we say the country broke. What kind of people are we?

The CDC led administration recently fielded two current representatives of Bong and Montserrado counties to contest the senatorial by-elections in the two counties. In the elections, Representative Josiah Marvin Cole of Bong County electoral district three was defeated by Dr. Henrique Tokpa while Representative Saah Joseph of Montserrado County electoral district #13 won creating another by-elections in the district by the government’s decision.

Now with the nomination of Senator, Cllr. Joseph Nagbe by the Liberian leader to the Supreme Court’s bench as Associate Justice to replace retired Justice Philip A. Z. Banks, Liberians are now saying the government is acting contrary to its ‘no money’ cry since taking over the mantle of authorities in the country.

According to them, the ‘no money’ cry from the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of soccer legend now President of Liberia is fasting becoming a mockery as the government is doing something different why crying in different tone in the country claimed to be insolvent.

Senator Nagbe’s Response

Senator Joseph Nabge has expressed joy and excitement over his nomination by President George Weah to replace retired Associate Justice Philip Banks on the Supreme Court bench of Liberia.

In a mobile phone interview with this paper, the Senator, Cllr. Joseph Nagbe said his appointment to the Supreme Court bench is a dream come true, thus, it has always been his desire and aspiration to serve on the Supreme Court bench throughout his legal career.

“I’m happy that I have been nominated by the President of the Republic of Liberia to serve on the Supreme Court bench of Liberia. This has been my dream that one day I will serve on the Supreme Court bench today my dream has come to reality. I am grateful to God first and President Weah,” Senator Nagbe said in a joyous tone.

He also described his nomination to the Supreme Court as a great move by President Weah, adding that Sinoe is a great county with great people that can at any time rise up to national leadership within Liberia and the world at large.

The Sinoe County Senator and soon to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Bench of Liberia indicated that he would not be in active politics upon his confirmation by the Liberian Senate, disclosing that consultations are ongoing as to get who will replace him at the Liberian Senate.

Cllr. Nagbe asserted that since his nomination by the President, Sinoe citizens both at home and abroad and the entire county are overwhelmed with joy.

He said he stands ready to properly discharge his duties and responsibilities as a member of the Supreme Court bench and as such, he would not make the people of Sinoe County and President shame.

“Liberia Is Broke” Weah

When the governing CDC took over following the twelve years administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, there were cries and allegations that the country was completely broke and its coffers were reportedly bleeding, something which caused the Liberian leader, President George Weah to begin knocking at the doors of his friends and development partners of the country for assistance to rejuvenate the economy.

“I inherited a broke country,” President Weah once told the AFP News Agency in Paris, France.

He took office on January 22, 2018 and has since been faced with a dire economic situation in Liberia following two civil wars and a deadly Ebola epidemic in 2013-2015.

“I inherited a country that is very broke, depleted by political malfeasance. We have to make sure that the things that happened will not happen again,” Weah said.

“I ordered a complete audit to make sure that what belongs to the government goes to the government.”