By Patrick N. Tokpah
Ahead of the 2023 General and Presidential Elections in Liberia, Bong County Electoral District#2 Representative James M. Kolleh has embarked on the promotion of tribal politics in the county by discouraging the election of people whose fathers are not originally from Bong County.
He said electing people whose parents are not from Bong County has the tendency to undermine the development of the County and Liberia at large.
Rep. Kolleh also termed the election of then Senator Jewel Howard Taylor as a big mistake on grounds that her father originated from Lofa County.
The Bong County District Two Representative further described Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor’s 2014 victory as Senator of Bong County as a “mistake” because she doesn’t hail from Bong County, something he believes has undermined the county’s development for years.
The People’s Unification Party Lawmaker is now leading a tribal politics campaign against “non-kpelle”, an aspirant seeking elective position in Bong County ahead of this year’s Presidential and Legislative Elections.
James is the current representative of Bong County Electoral District 2.
He replaced Senator Prince K. Moye during the 2021 By-election.
The PUP’s lawmaker who is considered a political son of Bong County District five Representative and Senatorial Aspirant Edward W. Karfiah thinks that his political father Rep. Karfiah is under pressure in the pending 2023 Senate race by businessman Johnny K. Kpehe Sr. based on Johnny’s recent development in the county that has drawn the attention of Bongese.
The leaked video of Rep. Kolleh which is in the possession of the Inquirer, the District 2 Lawmaker is heard telling marketers in Red- Light believed to be natives of Bong County not to vote Johnny Kpehe “because he’s a Gbandi man” and not a Kpelle man.
Unfortunately, one of those in the gathering recorded Rep. Kolleh and shared the video on social media which has gone viral in the county.
Responding to Rep. James Kolleh in a social media post, the Deputy Press Secretary in the offices of Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, Philip T. Singbah said Rep. Kolleh is another ingrate that they have to contend with.
He said as part of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor’s many development works in Bong County; she worked on the Budget Committee in the Senate for many years to raise thousands of US dollars to educate Rep. James Kolleh including many of those in leadership positions today in Bong County.
“It is ludicrous for you to come back and term her election as a mistake. Kolleh, focus on your job and stop the loose talks in the county!” Mr. Singbah noted.
Many political pundits have described Rep. Kolleh’s statement as irresponsible and they are calling on him to retract said divisive statement.
They said it was unfortunate for Rep Kolleh who claims to be a Law school student to be preaching said divisive politics in the county.
Pundits used an article in the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, especially article 30 (b) which talks about ‘being domiciled in the county or constituency to be represented not less than one year prior to the time of the election and be a taxpayer.
