Grand Kru County Senator and Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Albert Chie, has dumped himself into a political dam with the ruling establishment through his open confession in plenary on Wednesday, June 3, 2020 that he sponsored opposition candidate, A. Darius Dillon, during the 2019 senatorial election as executive member of the CDC.
In an angry mood and speaking in his capacity as Senator of Grand Kru County, Chie, a stalwart of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), declared that he assisted Senator Dillon with US$3,000 to enable him to pay his poll watchers, against the interest of the his party. He further told his colleagues in plenary that Senator Dillon was “too corrupt and ungrateful”, adding that he paid Senator Dillon from his pocket when he was not senator and spent US$15,000 on him as assistance. Before his election, Dillon was a critic against the Weah-led government, a stance he still maintains.
It can be recalled that Pro-Tempore Chie donated a four-door pickup to CDC candidate, Paulita Wie, as his contribution toward her campaign in Montserrado County. Pro-Tempore Chie was also seen with President George M. Weah during the launch of candidate Wie’s campaign at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town, where President Weah vowed to defeat Senator Dillon and Telia Urey as long he is President.
Information reaching this medium says the confession made by the Grand Kru County senator shocked the President because both of them hail from the same county, and to go against his candidate is scaring. As a result, sources around the President have hinted the Hot Pepper that Senator Chie will one day pay for his betrayal of the CDC, especially in that particular election. CDC has always won Monterrado County, especially the senatorial seat, and to have lost that seat to a major opposition through the sponsorship of a party stalwart like Albert T. Chie caused setback for the party.
Chie got elected in 2014 during the special senatorial election, along with President Weah as Senator for Montserrado County. Pro-tempore Chie is among a number of senators who looked down upon Senator Weah due to his little input during plenary debates, terming him a “bobo” Senator. The Grand Kru County Senator (Chie) is also among the nineteen (19) senators who supported Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai during the 2017 general elections, which brought President Weah to power as President.
Lofa County Senator, George Tengbeh, recently took to the Senate a complaint against Montserrado County Senator, A. Darius Dillon: he described the Liberian Senate as rotten and spineless and, therefore, seeks plenary probe. Senator Dillon made the statement against his colleagues and the august body following the passage of the recast budget for 2019/2020. The Montserrado County Senator believed that the recast budget was not properly reviewed before passage. Immediately after the passage, he walked out of session due to the decision reached by his colleagues, and branded the Liberian Senate as a rotten place.
During the induction ceremony of Senator Dillon, Pro-Tempore Chie vowed to expel his own-sponsored Senator Dillon if he dare goes against that august body. The statement sparked public debate in favor of Senator Dillion because he has promised to expose any corrupt happenings in the Senate. Dillon is also on record for disclosing the salary and other benefits of a sitting senator.
Dillon promised the Liberian people that, if elected as senator, he would take not more than US$5,000.00, a promise which he is fulfilling. The Montserrado County senator told the public during his induction ceremony that he was at the Liberian Senate to unearth bad deals.
Dillon risks expulsion for his critical stance against his colleagues.
