-As He Receives Certificate For Invaluable Contribution To The Development of Lofa County…

IPNEWS: The Chairman of the Lofa County Legislative Caucus and lone Senator of Lofa County, Sen. Stephen J. H. Zargo says he’s disappointment over the delay by the National Election Commission (NEC) to certificate Lofa County Senator-elect, Hon. Brownie J. Samukia.

Sen. Zargo said that decision to elect Samukai did not just come from the people of Lofa County, but those that allowed him to contest and won the election.

“If the NEC and those who are preventing him from taking his seat had told the people of the Lofa that he is disallowed or stopped from contesting, they wouldn’t had voted him”.

The Lofa County Caucus Chair noted that it is unfair to the people of Lofa for the NEC and others to challenge the opinion and decision of nearly 300,000 people of the County that voted Hon. Samukai.
He added that in the midst of the Samukai’s situation, the people of Lofa County went on to give President Weah a rousing welcome to the County during his recent County tour. He said that all of the members of the County Legislature met with the President in Foya and presented the concerned of the Lofa People.

Senator Zargo made these assertions when he received a Certificate of recognition for his continuous contributions to the development and upliftment of Lofa County and its people from a local Newspaper, “The Lofa Eye Newspaper”.

The ceremony which was held Tuesday, November 9, 2021 was graced by the Political Leader of the Library Party (LP), Sen. Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, Sen. Jonathan L. Kaipay of Grand Bassa County, Sen. Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County and the media.

Speaking of the many contributions outlined by the Lofa Eye Newspaper for which he has been certificated, Sen. Zargo said “We were elected by the people of Lofa County and as such, we are obligated to them and must work to improve their lives. So, I want to thank the Management and staff of the Lofa Eye Newspaper for this recognition and hope that this certificate will be used to encourage me to do more for the people of Lofa.”
Presenting the Certificate to Senator Zargo the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of the Lofa Eye Newspaper, Mr. Joseph Kortu Nyandibo said that the Paper was established in March 2017 and as part of events marking its fourth (4th) anniversary decided to honor sons and daughters as well as institutions of Lofa County who have contributed and continue to contribute to the development and upliftment of the County in the last three years.
Journalist Nyandibo said that following months of competitive vetting process by a committee Chaired by the Paper Administrative Manager, Mr. Emmanuel N. Kelema, the name of Senator Zargo alongside several sons and daughters of Lofa County were sincerely qualified and nominated to be certificated in appreciation of their invaluable contribution to the County.

Naming few of the many contributions Senator Zargo had made to development of Lofa that qualified him for the honor, the Lofa Eye Newspaper Publisher expressed that, “Sen. Zargo has the highest shares in the three Rural Community Banks in the County namely: the Foya Rural Community Bank, the Kolahun and Zorzor Rural Community Banks, the biggest shares holder in a group call “Be Serious” Women Organization in Massabolahun Town, Wanhasa District, the uncountable provision of Building Materials to several towns and villages in the County and the contribution of financial aid to students at the Lofa County Community College (LCCC) and other institutions.”
Mr. Nyandibo went further to name commitment of the Senator entire 30K for Legislative Engagement Fund to the completion of seven Dormitory units he earlier embarked on for students at the LCCC, the empowerment of women at the Voinjama General Market and one of the biggest donators to the Lofa County Sports Association.”

“There are two additional reasons or if not most important reasons that qualifies our Honorable Senator for this great recognition. Firstly, as Chairman of the Lofa County Legislative Caucus, Senator Zargo has ensure unity among members of the Caucus to the extent that the visit of the President to the County with all lawmakers at the time were oppositions past without any incident of protest or otherwise. Secondly, Senator Zargo has served as the lone Senator of our County for nearly a year providing representation at the level of the Senate. This is unprecedented in the history of Liberia’s democracy for a single Senator to serve in the Liberian Senator for this period of time without a second Senator, especially for one of Liberia’s biggest counties with six of the sixteen tribes of Liberia. Therefore, we cannot sit and allow all of these great contributions of our outstanding son of the County to go by without recognition and certificating him” the Lofa Eye Publisher maintained.

In brief remarks, Grand Bassa County Senator Jonathan L. Kaipay
Said “Thanked the Lofa Eye for what they have seen; some time the lenses of the eye goes beyond what we have seen or think. I am glad today that you have been able to see this astute son of Lofa contributions.” Sen. Kaipay said that when these things are quantified and expressed like what the Lofa Eye had done, it reminds them of their achievements and not because they have the opportunities, but because they have the passion to serve. “And so we want to say thanks and Senator Zargo, we look forward to you making show that this presentation is manifested in addition to what you have done in Lofa County.”

Also speaking, the Political Leader of the Library Party (LP), Sen. Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence expressed “We are glad as Liberty Party (LP) that Sen. Zargo who is a Senator of the Party is representing well in Lofa County. Everything that the Lofa Eye have listed as some of the achievements shows leadership by example. We want to congratulate him and thanks to the Lofa Eye for following up with all of his work in the County and bringing it to light by certificating him today.” Sen. Lawrence used the occasion to call on all, especially those working in government to work closely with the media and civil society groups because whenever they do the right or wrong things, these groups will report them. She said that the fact that Sen. Zargo did not played part in the vetting process tells of the transparency in his selection and that he’s doing very well in Lofa noting that we look forward to his re-election in 2023.

Meanwhile, several individuals and institutions are expected to be certificated by the Lofa Eye Newspaper in appreciation of their contributions to the development of Lofa County in the last three years.
The recognition of outstanding citizens and institutions of our county is part of events marking the 4th Anniversary of the Lofa Eye Newspaper on the newsstand.
The Lofa Eye Newspaper is a legal and registered local newspaper published by the “Lofa County Communications Network (LCCN)” and is currently the only run Newspaper in the County.

The Paper which was established in March 2017 is dedicated to providing news, education and entertainment about the development, programs and other activities of the County including political governance, cultural, agriculture, sports and the promotion of peace and reconciliation. It is also intended to afford students, the youth and others the opportunity to learn the culture of reading newspapers and documenting them for future references.