By Gideon Nma Scott, Jr.
An adage in Grebo states that “When you are bathing and a crazy man takes your lappa from the bathroom door, you will not run after him naked, but will rather find another lappa to shut the bathroom door.”
In 2022 and leading up to the 2023 elections campaign in Liberia, a member of the 54th National Legislature, Yekeh Koluba, was tumultuous against the former President of Liberia, George Weah for bad governance, poor rule of law system, systemic corruption in government, ritualist and extrajudicial killing including the deaths of some financial professionals, lack of employments among others. The angry Yekeh was hailed by many Liberians, some of whom were victims of his advocacy.
Soon did Liberians know that they were feeding the wolf who would soon slaughter their cherished sheep in broad day light. Two weeks following his inauguration, Yekeh accused the President of corruption, exclusion, nepotism, party driven and inept for the job which led many persons to wonder whether they were dreaming or were witnessing a political drama from the last scene. “The president was just about a month old at the Mansion, how can a lawmaker accuse him of corruption when the government is still trying to settle in?” many Liberians wondered. From there, I knew Liberia was in a mess with a self-proclaimed lousy and pointless representative of Montserrado County District 10.
This is why I thought that the reaction of Speaker Koon and his group’s reaction to Yekeh Kolubah packing his car in the slot meant for the Speaker Koon would suit the adage mentioned above. But to describe the same scenario, westerners would say, “You dropped the ball.”
The phrase “dropped the ball” is an idiomatic expression that means to make a mistake or fail to take action in a situation where one was expected to perform or succeed. It often implies a failure to follow through on responsibilities or duties, leading to negative consequences. The origin of the phrase comes from sports, particularly in games like football or basketball, where failing to catch or handle the ball can result in a lost opportunity.
For example, She really dropped the ball when she forgot to call back , or he dropped the ball, turning down their offer.
In Liberia and elsewhere in the world, the term “drop the ball” has very negative connotations. It means you’ve failed to take action or failed to do something you were supposed to do. And by dropping the ball, you often end up disappointing your followers or the other people in your life.
So, calling on the police to open Yekeh’s car for in the wrong assigned to the speaker, was wrong and in this case, Koon and his guys dropped the ball. They should have seen this coming. They should have seen Yekeh coming with attitudes that would entice them to making the wrong decision or falling into situation that would bring them to public ridicule and should have resisted the temptation of the district # 10 lawmaker.
For me, Yekeh is one person that you can’t, because you cannot not detect his next action and I think the Koon leadership needs to know that it is very important to keep at a distance like Bohfa Chambers did and keep all of my balls constantly in the air, whether those balls were it is Yekeh’s indiscipline behavior, insults and blame casting from the opposition, political and institutional conflict, the post Kofa engagement and ensure the smooth running of the Lower House, as well as maintain peace in the west wing of the Capitol.
Dropping the ball at any cost in the Lower Court at the Capitol has a fall reaching consequences on how the House of Representative is run, after forcing Kofa out of his office and clinging to his post.
It is often said that two wrong cannot make a right. Damaging Yekeh’s vehicle or engaging any of the folks negatively has a damaging effect on Koon and his group as the conflict surrounding the moving of Kofa is yet to come to an end. Like Yekeh, there are about 27 lawmakers, including Yekeh who still owe loyalty to Koffa, and my thinking is how Koon and his guys are trying to win them over. Despite in the minority, they still hold to the fact that Kofa was not removed legitimately and still owe loyalty to him. Still Koon saying that if the 27 individuals park their vehicles in the lot assigned to the speaker, he would break in the 27 cars and removed them from the place? It is too early from such behavior under a Koon’s leadership.
By now, I thought that Richard Koon would be thinking of bringing all of 72 lawmakers under his gavel to do the business of the Liberia people instead of picking the bad apples from the bunch.
The scenes that are being filmed on Capitol Hill do not speak well of the House of Representatives of the 55th Legislature. Except they want to tell us that their elections to that august body is a mistske by their individual constituencies.
My Little advice to the Right Honorable Richard and his team is to try as hard as possible not to drop the political ball and ensure that the business of the Liberian people is done honorably.
The thought of the son of a professional Kru woman.
