Trending news from the corridors of power suggests that the Minister of Transport, Samuel Wlue, has allegedly involved himself with double standard—serving in a high-ranking position of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government while at the same time supporting the Standard Bearer of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Alexander B. Cummings, to oust President George M. Weah come October 10, 2023’s general and presidential elections.
According to unconfirmed sources, leaders of the CDC are exerting efforts to have Minister Wlue booted out of the ministry and replaced with a “trusted” CDCian who would protect the interest of the regime and work toward the re-election of President Weah.
Minister Wlue has been dependently defending his alignment and loyalty to the CDC after he and the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, were boldly badmouthed by the Secretary General of the CDC and Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson Tamba Koijee, for playing double standard while serving high-ranking positions in the CDC government.
In a press conference recently, Koijee accused Minister Wlue of working against the interest of the CDC government, accusing him of doing business with Cummings. He warned Wlue and other government officials involved in double standard to “take note that we are aware of your activities”. He claimed that the party has received information that Cummings has promised Wlue and others that he would pay their salaries from now till January 2024 in return for their support while serving in President Weah’s government.
However, Minister Wlue has since refuted the allegation, reaffirming his loyalty to the CDC and the re-election of President Weah. He said he has not, and will not, subscribe to any activity that compromises the principles of the CDC.
The Transport Minister pointed out that it is important to separate politics from his duties as Minister of Transport, noting that his responsibility at the ministry is to deliver important services without political bias or personal gain.
Speaking to top CDC officials on the matter, the Hot Pepper was informed that Wlue, as Minister of Transport, recently sanctioned the design and printing of “Fixer 2” license plate for the Vice Standard Bearer of the CPP, Cllr. Charlyne M. Brumskine, and backdated the plate to August 2022 and to expire in August 2023, by command of his “secret organization” brother, Cummings.
They alleged that there are several text messages, leaked from Minister Wlue’s phone, exposing the conversation between him and Cummings as it relates to his support for the CPP.
According to the top CDC officials, Wlue claims to be a CDCian but has never attended any CDC function, worn a CDC regalia or affiliated with CDCians. They termed him an agent of ex-President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who is fronting for her political chicaneries.
They argued that Wlue is not a CDCian, and challenged him to prove his membership with the party since he aligned with ex-President Sirleaf and her Unity Party (UP).
Samuel Wlue is now the only minister-proper in the Weah administration who still retains his position from the Sirleaf administration. Wlue took over as Minister of Transport on December 1, 2016, and was maintained by President Weah when he took over the government in January 2018. Since then, Wlue has enjoyed the blessings of the Liberian Chief Executive.
The allegation against Minister Wlue comes just a few months after President Weah dismissed the Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Cllr. Cooper Kruah, for what observers believe was for attending the ceremony marking the Unity Party Standard Bearer, Joseph N. Boakai, naming Senator Jeremiah K. Koung, as his running mate in the 2023 elections.
Senator Koung is the Standard Bearer of the Movement of Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), with Cllr. Kruah as the Chairman of the party. It was founded by Senator Prince Johnson, who has also expressed unwavering support for the UP.
There are many other senior government officials who stand accused of secretly siding with the opposition for the 2023 elections, but the CDC Secretary General has vowed to name, shame and go after them until President Weah sees reason to dismiss them.