–Koijee reacts to Amb. Juli Endee’s replacement, condemns dismissals of MCC employees
By Jerromie S. Walters
Jefferson T. Koijee, Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and former Mayor of Monrovia, condemned the actions of Joseph Boakai, leader of the Unity Party, for allegedly fostering divisiveness and tribal bigotry in Liberia. Koijee’s remarks come in the wake of Boakai’scontroversial decision to remove Juli Endee from her position as Cultural Ambassador, a role she has held with dedication and professionalism.
Koijee described Boakai’s actions as “pathetic and disappointing,” emphasizing that Endee’s removal was unjustified, particularly as it followed her attendance at the opening of Madam Clar Weah’s Foundation. “Mr. Boakai is hastily dragging our country into divisiveness and tribal bigotry in the full glare of all our foreign partners and stakeholders.
His removal of Juli Endee as Cultural Ambassador, a role she has played professionally and responsibly only because she attended Madam Clar Weah’s Foundation opening is pathetic and disappointing,” he said.
Koijee: Madam Endee worked for twelve years under the Unity Party Government and not a single day under our leadership did we ostracize or remove her. For us, we saw her first and foremost as a gifted Liberian who deserves to serve her country like anyone else.
For the Unity Party to have used an indecent individual to spew gibberish at her and unilaterally interfere with the Justice system when she sought redress clearly showed the divisive path they have placed the country on.”
The CDC Secretary General accused the Unity Party of using “indecent individuals” to attack Endee and interfere with the justice system when she sought redress for her grievances. He expressed concern over the divisive nature of their tactics, suggesting that they threaten the unity of the nation.
Koijee further highlighted a troubling incident during Madam Weah’s extravagant birthday celebration, where a guest revealed that Madam Katumu Boakai had previously sponsored controversial activities led by Prophet Key. This revelation, made in the presence of Endee, raised eyebrows and underscored the alleged hypocrisy of the Unity Party’s stance on cultural representation.
“It’s unthinkable that an 80-year-old President and a current Effort Baptist Deacon who should be focused on reconciling the country will be leading an unwarranted hate for his fellow Liberians. Madam Endee and her Crusaders for Peace organization will be celebrating over two decades of service in Lofa as a proven testament and commitment to peace, reconciliation, development, and upliftment of our arts and culture,” he emphasized.
He praised Amb. Juli Endee and her organization, Crusaders for Peace, for their two decades of commitment to promoting peace, reconciliation, and cultural development in Liberia. “For Juli, hers is about love for country most especially, seeking donors and outside support to continue work that promotes her country without a direct salary or budget in the government structure. Is that how we pay her for a single title bestowed on her? We like to tell Madam Endee that she shouldn’t wither for we all have seen her work and love for country and will continue to support her amidst all the bullies and hate meted against her person.”
Koijee urged Endee to remain resilient in the face of adversity, assuring her that many recognize her contributions and will continue to support her amid the challenges she faces. He concluded with a stark warning about the atmosphere of fear in the country, stating, With professional Liberians being targeted on a daily basis, people go to work nowadays asking themselves WHO’S NEXT!!!“
Meanwhile, in another statement over the weekend addressing the recent dismissals of employees from the Monrovia City Government, former Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee accused the current administration of engaging in gross human rights violations and political witch hunts. He claims that the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has colluded with the Monrovia City Government to unlawfully terminate the employment of several Liberians, who he asserts have not committed any crimes or posed threats to the government.
“Before those dismissals, we were informed that Mr. Boakai had mandated the CSA Boss and the Monrovia City Mayor to dismiss scores of Liberians as a grand plot, but with initial dismissals of nine employees of the City Government. The dismissals are counterproductive to addressing the unemployment crisis in Liberia, it undermines the very fundamental ideas on which Mr. Boakai campaigned to rescue Liberia and lastly, these dismissals are instruments of chaos to dividing Liberia in a post-election environment,” he said.
Koijee alleges that the dismissals were orchestrated as part of a larger political agenda directed by Mr. Joseph Boakai, a prominent political figure in Liberia. According to Koijee, initial reports indicated that Boakai had instructed the CSA and the Mayor of Monrovia to dismiss a significant number of employees, with nine individuals being the first casualties of this alleged conspiracy.
“The dismissals are counterproductive to addressing the unemployment crisis in Liberia,” Koijee stated. “They undermine the very principles on which Mr. Boakai campaigned, and they serve as instruments of chaos designed to divide our nation during an already tense post-election environment.”
Koijee criticized the Mayor’s leadership, claiming that his incompetence has endangered not only those dismissed but also others who do not share the political sentiments of the ruling Unity Party. He expressed concern that the dismissals have created a climate of fear among citizens, particularly those who wish to contribute positively to national development.
He further condemned the government’s approach to dissent, noting that individuals are now being dismissed for expressing their opinions on social media. “Under Boakai, we can no longer use social media to disagree on policy and leadership issues without facing severe repercussions,” Koijee lamented.
Koijee’s statements come in the wake of a broader crackdown on dissent in Liberia, where he argues that the government is ignoring the rule of law. He pointed to the case of Mike Jabateh, a man who allegedly threatened violence against a sitting representative but remains employed, as evidence of a double standard in the application of justice.
The former mayor also highlighted the constitutional implications of the dismissals, citing Article 18 of the Liberian Constitution, which prohibits dismissals based on partisanship, tribe, or creed. He accused the Mayor of violating the Decent Work Act of 2015 and ignoring the autonomy of the Monrovia City Government to manage its personnel independently.
Koijee’s remarks have sparked a heated debate about governance and human rights in Liberia. He urged the international community to take note of the situation, warning that the dismissals could undermine the country’s diplomatic relations and hinder development efforts.
“The peace we fought for is at risk when innocent citizens are dismissed from their jobs,” he warned. “The government’s actions could lead to citizen unrest, which we do not wish to see.”
In a call to action, Koijee urged citizens and civil society organizations to stand against what he termed “bad governance” and to collectively contest the actions of the current administration. He expressed hope that the international community would intervene and support the preservation of democracy and human rights in Liberia.
