Dec 30 Protest Will Go On … Yekeh Kolubah

By Alex Yomah
Ahead of the much-talked about planned protest, a prominent member of the Council of Patriot (COP), Rep. Yekeh Kolubah, has disclosed rallying the inputs of African leaders on the peaceful holding of the “December 30, Weah Step Down Campaign Protest.”
The District #10 Lawmaker who is a member of the 54th National Legislature, made the disclosure on the famous 50-50 radio talk-show on Monday, December 2, 2019- while stating that If the President refuses to step down during the protest, they, the protesters will remain in the streets for unspecified period until the Liberian leader steps down.
Liberians under the banner “The Council of Patriots” headed by vocal Talk-show Host, Henry Costa few months threatened to stage a nationwide and sustained protest to demand President George Weah to step down.
Rep. Kolubah who departed the country to solicit supports from neighboring countries recently said, the planned protest remained unstoppable-indicating that over 4,000 citizens are expected to get on the streets to demand Weah’s unconditional retirement.
Providing reasons for his tour in Africa ahead of the much-talked about protest, Rep. Kolubah averred, “I have been holding meetings with some African countries’ leaders to ensure that our protest becomes peaceful at all times, and we will not give up until President Weah steps down.”
“I am not going to say who I met because it’s confidential. I am not also going to say whosoever I met, and what we discussed because what we actually went to push was to make sure our protest is peaceful and to tell our African brothers that the peace that they brought to Liberia does not exist anymore, and that the Liberian people are resolved to take on the issue- specifically to look at the Constitution that calls for Peaceful assembly – so we can assemble peacefully to tell our President that it’s about time to go,” he stated.
“The Constitution provides that we have the authority to do that, and also provides that the power is inherent in the people,” he said.
Divulging the actual objective of the protest, he said, “The Step Down” and we have no regret and have not committed any crime”.
According to him, his colleague Lawmakers under the CDC-led administration have become private securities that can no longer speak on critical national issues but promised to be an exception.
Kolubah, however, said, “If Liberians refuse to come out in their numbers on December 31 to remove President George Weah, he vows to stop against vices affecting Liberians under Weah’s leadership; this means, we enjoy the way the country is proceeding.”
But commenting on the ‘Weah Step Down’ campaign on the Voice of America or VOA, the Minister of State and Presidential Affairs, Nathanial F. McGill said, the unabated protests against the President always organized by oppositions who were flogged by the President during the 2017 Presidential and Representative elections.
He said since the end of the elections, oppositions have been in the constant habit of organizing pocket protests against the presidency.
According to him, the planned protest is one of the fruitless protests because the President will not resign due to any political group pressure –adding that he was elected by the Liberian people for six years.
According to the Minister, if the same Liberian people who elected him for six years want to remove him, that will be done in 2023 and not by any planned group.
“No one under whatever banner will ask for the undemocratic removal of the President to happen,” he told VOA.
Also speaking as Co-host of the 50-50 talk-show, Inquirer Managing Editor Atty. Philip N. Wesseh called on the campaigners of the planned protest to reconsider the nomenclature of the protest “ Weah Step Down” noting that it has the tendency to ignite conflict.
In a related development, the General Overseer of the Royal Family Fellowship located in the Logan Town Community, Rev. Dr. David G. W. Badio, has warned organizers of the planned December 31, 2019 mass and sustained protest to desist-noting that it will create serious setback for Liberia than liberating the nation.
It can be noted that some aggrieved Liberians, many of whom are members of the opposition bloc, have threatened to stage a nationwide mass and sustained protest under the banner “Step-down” campaign.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, over the weekend, Dr. Badio also said that judging from the 14 years of civil conflicts coupled with the Ebola outbreak, urged Liberians to be united and avoid further action that will further devastate the already struggling economy.
The Clergyman also explained that the planned December protest is not an ultimate solution but rather intended to widen the current economic hurdles, creates what he called ‘serious setback for Liberians’.
He informed that the planned protest will only benefit few Liberians and urged Liberians to shun making individuals heroes overnight at the expense of the Liberians.
Dr. Badio noted further that while it’s true that it’s the right for all Liberians to assemble and petition their leaders, under the Constitution, but organizers of the protest should present themselves as people with alternative solution to the country’s problem and not to abuse the rights of others.
Dr. Badio is at the same time recommending to the Weah administration to deliver the basic services to Liberians noting that there is no time for argument.