Monrovia – Jefferson Koijee’s love of the Congress for Democratic Change goes beyond the call of duty. As one senior party insider explained to FrontPageAfrica recently, the fiery youth leader many say is the glue linking the party’s political leader George Weah to the core of the party’s youth movement, was always willing and ready to give it his all for the sake of CDC.“He even turned down an opportunity to study in China by the ruling party but was advised against it by Weah,” said a senior party insider who spoke to FrontPageAfrica on condition of anonymity recently.
With his suspension from the party last week, FrontPageAfrica has learned that Koijee could be plotting his exit from the party, dealing a blow to George Weah’s presidential ambitions and possibly the CDC’s political life.
Koijee was suspended indefinitely last Wednesday for what the party’s chair George Solo described as “grave offenses” found to be incompatible with the guiding principles and constitution of the party. “The party informs the public of the immediate suspension of Mr. Koijee, pending investigation, consistent with Part II Bye Laws; Chapter I, Codes of Conduct, Rule 14 of the Bye-Laws and constitution of the CDC,” read a statement signed by Solo.
But the party insider confided to FPA that the suspension had been long in the making. “I think Solo, the party chair felt threatened by the kid,” said the source.
The suspension followed the acceptance of a Peace Ambassador post by the party’s political leader Weah in the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration.
Feeling betrayed
Some younger partisans are said to be feeling betrayed by Weah but are pointing the blame on Solo whose arrival in the party hierarchy is said to have led many disenchanted.For now, Solo and Weah appear to be on an island regarding the Koijee suspension as both the party’s youth base and the USA branch have expressed disapproval over the suspension.
In a statement leaked to FrontPageAfrica over the weekend, CDC-USA called on the the National Executive Committee to immediately rescind the suspension of Youth Wing leader Jefferson Koijee and allow him to resume his activities as National Youth Chair while the appropriate grievance process is conducted.
In an internal letter to the party’s chair George Solo obtained by FrontPageAfrica, the CDC-USA called on the party to provide formal communication of the grievance complaint against Mr. Koijee. “We seek this channel of engagement to avoid issuing a public statement in this regard and therefore request the National Executive Committee through the National Secretary General, Hon. Nathaniel McGill to provide formal clarification to us by Monday, December 17, 2012.”
In the letter signed by McCarvent Levi Madison, Acting National Secretary General and approved by Isaac Vah Tukpah, National Chairman, submitted on behalf of the National Executive Committee of CDC-USA, CDC-USA averred that it does not in any way endorse the action taken by the party to suspend Koijee. “In this formal manner we would like to emphatically state having not been informed of the negative information we have been reviewing in the press, we would like to formally document that the CDC-USA NEC does not in any way, shape or form endorse, condone, or recognize the suspension of Partisan Jefferson Koijee, the CDC’s National Youth League Chairman.”
But the CDC-USA chapter disagreed, suggesting that the suspension of Koijee, regarded as one of the last remaining firebrand in the party, is in direct contravention of the CDC Constitution, Part II By-Laws: Chapter I, Codes of Conduct, Rule #14 which requires that “The LEADERSHIP …considering the nature and seriousness of an alleged violation or offence by a member, may summarily suspend the membership of a member pending the preparation of a charge against the member and the finalization of disciplinary proceedings. The accused member shall be informed of such suspension…” There is no indication that whatever actions Mr. Koijee has been accused of rise to the “nature and seriousness” of the public ridicule and embarrassment the party has been subjected to by such an undemocratic, unconstitutional, hasty, and emotionally charged suspension. Furthermore, before the December 12, 2012 press release, there was no CDC National Executive Committee meeting held at which such a decision was reached.”
Solo Act: Weah, Solo on Island
The party’s USA chapter said it is imperative that the concerns addressed in its letter be given a high priority as it would be in the best interest of the CDC to handle such sensitive issues internally and with adequate consultation of all stakeholders, including the CDC-USA, prior to public exposure of such a high profile and obviously volatile action. “We firmly request that the NEC immediately provides Mr. Koijee with his constitutionally entitled due process as the CDC professes to be the protector of democratic tenets. The CDC-USA believes the reimaging and rebranding of the CDC suffers significant setbacks when actions like these are taken, given the history of suspensions and expulsions in the CDC. We believe our party should welcome a diversity of opinion within the context and restrictions of Executive Order #001.”
CDC-USA hopes that the CDC National Leadership recognizes the complex intersection at which the party stands today. We cannot diminish the meaning or importance of this time in history by internal actions that only serve to divide and separate key entities of the party. “At a time like this, when the Nation is seeking a cohesive route on Peace and National Reconciliation and is pulling leadership on this all important matter from CDC's own rank and file, the CDC itself needs to demonstrate restraint in its approach to resolving issue and give credence to the preferment of our political leader as the premier voice of peace in Mama Liberia.”The CDC-USA position comes just 48 hours after the the National Executive Committee of the National Youth League of the party labeled the suspension as a serious Procedural error in calling on the national leadership to reinstate Koijee.
“With this the members of the National Executive Committee of the National Youth League want to make clear that we “STILL ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF OUR SEATED CHAIRMAN” Mr. Jefferson T. Koijee, who was legitimately elected to the position at the Bomi 2012 National Convention as National Chairman of the National Youth League of Mighty Congress For Democratic Change.”
The group said the National Youth League is an autonomous body within the CDC that runs its own programs and carves its own policies on the basis of not contravening the General Party Laws.
Political life on the ropes
“As such the Executive Committee of the National Youth League looks to see the National Executive Committee of the Mighty Congress for Democratic Change give due process as is constitutional to any and every partisan,” stated the group.
The resolution signed by Delano T. Saah, National Vice Chairman for administration said that with the newest portfolio given to the CDC political leader George Weah.“The National Leadership of the CDC hopefully recognizes that the institution is again at a critical juncture,” stated the group.
Continued the youth league: “We can only hope that the significance of the duty does not in anyway circumvent the management of the affairs of the CDC, but rather brings relief to the Liberian populace as is expected. Time is far spent for allowing agendas, personal or non, to dictate the mandate of our esteemed establishment.”
In recent months, the party has broken ranks with some prominent women including Geraldine Doe-Sheriff, Alomiza Ennos and Regina Slokan Teah. Now in danger of losing its core youth base, the party with so much promise and perceived numerical advantage appear to be heading downhill.
Even more troubling for some has been the surprising silence of Acarous Gray, recently elected as a representative from the party’s stronghold in District Number 8.
Sources say Gray has been sidelined since the arrival of Solo on the scene and the party is said to have been streamlined to a two-man show featuring Weah and Solo. More complicating for the party is what may be looming on the horizon with Solo said to be contemplating a run for the Senate in the 2014 Senatorial race in Grand Gedeh. Ironically, it was Solo who masterminded the removal of the former chair Geraldine Doe-Sheriff when he insisted that she could not lead the party while serving as a Senator. With the shoes now lurking in his shadows, both Solo and Weah appear to be on the verge of losing control of a party many view as the likely successor to the incumbent government. But in the wake of tension, uncertainty and a looming exodus by Koijee and the party’s core base, CDC could be racing against time to redefine itself and convince voters that the deserve a shot at the presidency. For now, the Solo and Weah act appear to be hurting what’s left of the CDC whose political life appears to be on the ropes and Weah’s populist message appearing disjointed and becoming increasing lost among his core youth base.