The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has taken issue with the Minister of Transport, Samuel Wlue for accommodating Oliver Dillon and elevating him in the government.
Dillon, who served as Decentralization Coordinator at the Ministry of Transport before being accused and tried for the crime of murder, was set free by the court and returned to the Ministry as a civil servant.
With his post already occupied, the Ministry elevated him to the post of Director of Port and Border Entry but the CDC’s National Chairperson, Mulbah Morlu, in a press conference demanded Wlue to conditionally overturn and annul the position.
According to Morlu, the Minister had created that position to accommodate Oliver Dillon, an employee in the same ministry so as to be paid by taxpayers’ money.
Making the assertion over the weekend, Morlu disclosed that the party’s decision is predicated upon countless feedbacks that there had been no vacancy to employ qualified CDCians and supporters at ministries and agencies in the government wherein they fought with their blood and sweat to give power to
Making specific reference to the Ministry of Transport, Morlu averred that there were dozens of recommendations to allow qualified partisans be employed but they were all denied on the basis that there was no vacancy.
“After I have been told that there is no vacancy while CDCians are in despair seeking jobs in their own government, to hear that Transport Minister, Samuel Wlue has created a new position to accommodate and elevate Oliver Dillon, the brother of Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, who both are fierce critics of Weah’s government is unacceptable,” the CDC Chairperson expressed.
In his letter of appointment dated March 11, 2021 and addressed to Oliver P. Dillon, a copy of which is in the possession of this paper states, “Dear Dillon, after observing you for the past years, as Decentralization Coordinator, I wish to appoint you to the position of Director of Port and Border Entry, Ministry of Transport. Your appointment is based on your qualification and professional experience; signed Minister Samuel A. Wlue.”
“We bemoan this situation that unraveled at the Ministry of Transport. In the interest of governance and stability of the party, we demand that you rescind or withdraw that position that you created for Oliver Dillon,” he said.
He said any official of government that wants the CDC to lose presidential elections in 2023, that Minister or head of agency will lose his/her job in this government before the election.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of the Congress for Democratic Change has declared 2021 a year of new beginning as the party maximizes efforts to accelerate the fulfillment of institutional obligations to its partisans, the community and the Liberian people in general.
The ruling party’s Chairperson described Wlue’s action as one found wanton in the provocative decision to create employment opportunity for a non-partisan, while over the years they rejected dozens of qualified partisans under the pseudo-canopy of ‘no vacancy’.
He said there can be no moral justification supporting cabinet ministers’ appointment of non-partisans to important positions at ministries and agencies, while qualified partisans are left to wander in street corners in search of jobs.
The CDC Chairperson reminded officials of government that the National Executive Committee is moving forward in support of the President’s statement to officials of government that ‘There will be no room for errors’, will help monitor the performance of government officials; constructively criticizing, praising or requesting the President to dismiss where necessary.
Chairman Morlu thanked CDCians for their relentless tolerance over the past three years; stressing the importance of their support, patience and sacrifice as the enabling space within which President George M. Weah continues to achieve unprecedented development goals.
As the CDC-led government moves into its second half of governance, it reiterates the need for qualified supporters of the party and the President to be given priority consideration by filling the new vacancies and creating more opportunities that will prepare supporters, especially its youths and student wings for service.
He said, “Under the new beginning agenda of the mighty Congress for Democratic Change, the National Executive Committee hereby announces a comprehensive restructuring of the Congress for Democratic Change, (CDC) through the conduct of a national convention.”
This convention restructuring exercise according to the CDC will be robustly carried out from length to breadth, zone to zone, district to district and county to county through the holding of free, fair and transparent elections open to the participation of all CDCians.
It was announced that the convention begins in May, 2021 when all 25 administrative districts of Montserrado County will go to an organized congress to elect district officials, including coordinators; followed by the election of a chairperson and executives of the CDC Montserrado Chapter.
This process will graduate to every county ahead of the Congress for Democratic Change’s planned National Congress, which will be held next year for the election of the party’s by the NEC.
Meanwhile, the party working with district leadership’s structures will re-launch its ID card program next month just before the commencement of district elections. All partisans and new members will be registered in their respective districts for the issuance of ID Cards.