—— Distances Himself from Late Senator Prince Johnson’s Feast, Raises Concerns Over Unity Party Governance
IPNEWS: Senator Samuel Gongben Kogar Distances Himself from Late Senator Prince Johnson’s Feast, Raises Concerns Over Unity Party Governance
Senator Samuel Gongben Kogar has expressed surprise and disappointment over reports of a planned feast in honor of the late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson, saying he was neither consulted nor informed about such an event.
Speaking in an interview with Radio Nimba, Senator Kogar described the alleged feast as a “disrespect” to the family of the deceased senator, emphasizing that tradition demands family involvement in such matters.
“The late Senator Prince Yormie Johnson’s feast — it’s news to me; I’m just hearing it,” Senator Kogar said. “Traditionally, for someone else to have your father or family member’s feast for you is a disrespect. If there is a feast, I should be contacted, then I will take it to our people for their advice. But I have not been informed.”
Kogar noted that internal conflicts within Senator Johnson’s family have further complicated matters. He disclosed that disagreements between the late senator’s children and widow remain unresolved, making the idea of a public feast inappropriate.
“There’s still disunity in the family,” Kogar stated. “When you don’t have money, people play fool of you — that’s the case with this feast issue. You can’t have conflict among key family members and go on the other side to jubilate. When the family is ready, I will inform you, but for now, we are not aware and there is disunity.”
Criticism of the Unity Party Government
In the same interview, Senator Kogar also took aim at the Unity Party-led government, accusing it of perpetuating the same patterns of corruption and regional favoritism that the party once criticized under the previous CDC administration.
“We campaigned against the CDC because of corruption — it was glaring for everyone to see,” Kogar said. “But in this government, the corruption is deep, and most people think they are doing well.”
He alleged that the current administration has shifted focus and key government appointments to Lofa County, likening it to how the previous CDC government concentrated power and development in the southeast.
“We voted CDC out because they focused the government in the southeast,” he continued. “But today, the same thing is being done — the government is focused in Lofa, and most of the top positions are from that county.”
Concerns Over Ministerial Replacement
Senator Kogar also criticized the government’s recent decision to replace Mines and Energy Minister Wilmot Paye with R. Mantenokay Tingban, suggesting that the move is politically motivated and aimed at dividing the people of Nimba.
“The decision to remove Minister Paye and replace him with Tingban is intended to put the citizens of Nimba against each other,” Kogar asserted. “We were not informed. I’m a frank person — if you do right, I will praise you; if you do wrong, I will say it without fear.”
Despite his criticisms, Senator Kogar urged Nimbaians to remain united and cooperative.
“I want to urge the people of Nimba to continue to hold together and work in unity,” he concluded. “I am not a disrespectful person, but I am frank.”
