The Acting National Chairperson of the Coalition for Democratic Change, Atty. Janga Augustus Kowo, has threatened to lead a disruptive and united opposition for good governance if the Boakai administration gives the cause.
Atty. Kowo underscored that the political institution does not intend to be a disruptive opposition but,considering the way the Unity Party government is running the affairs of the country—it suggests the need for a disruptive front if the condition remains unchanged.
Atty. Kowo was speaking Monday, March 20, 2024 at the CDC headquarters in Congo Town when he was presented to members of the party by the Standard Bearer George Weah as the National Chair, following the resignation of Mulbah Morlu from the position.
“We do not intend to be a disruptive opposition, but that will squarely lie in the hands of the ruling Unity Party because we are all aware that the victory of the Unity Party is within the margin of error,” the CDC Chief Administrator maintained.
Atty. Kowo acknowledged that the Unity Party government has the legal mandate of the country, but at the same time cautioned President Joseph Nyuma Boakai that despite this mandate the government does not necessarily have the popular mandate of the people.
The former Comptroller-General of Liberia now legal and political actor also averred that, moving forward, he will lead the administrative arm of the CDC to ensure the current administration respects the rule of law, especially public institutions with tenure positions.
“And we want to point out here today that we have come to serve this movement, and we will endeavor to keep the Unity Party in check because, as you can see in the last two months of the government, the government is already proceeding wrongly,” Atty. Kowo stated.
He said he believes there should be no justification on the part of President Boakai for violating the 1986 Constitution by illegally removing from offices public officials whose tenures are yet to expire, adding that the laws protecting those institutions bear the signature of the Liberian leader when he was Vice President for 12 years during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
“These institutions were created not under the CDC government; these laws were created during the Sirleaf-Boakai administration; so it is very counterproductive. It’s against the law. It’s against the Constitution to attempt to violate these very laws that your government created during the 12 years of your leadership,” the CDC Chair noted.
At the same time, Atty. Janga Augustus Kowo pledged the support of the Coalition for Democratic Change(CDC) to the fight against corruption and the asset recovery process, but emphasized that the asset recovery process as initiated by President Boakai cannot be limited to the six years of the Weah-Taylor regime.
“And we also want to point out that, as a party, we do support the fight against corruption, the fight for asset recovery but we want to send a caveat that the fight against corruption and asset recovery—all of these things cannot be limited to the last six (6) years of the CDC government,” Atty. Kowo lamented.
According to him, asset recovery goes far beyond the 12 years of the Unity Party government, noting that if the Boakai-Koung regime understands the actual definition of asset recovery it will put together a technical team to properly execute the task.