IPNEWS: The President of the Republic, Dr. George Manneh Weah, has suspended for two weeks, the Assistant Minister for Logistics, Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr. J. Emmanuel Potter.
Mr. Potter was suspended today for administrative reasons. The suspension takes immediate effect.
The Liberian leader calls on appointed officials of his administration to exhibit a high degree of probity and integrity and to respect senior officials.
It may be recalled, Emmanuel Potter came under criticism for his lavishness displayed while broadcasting live on Facebook the gifting of his wife an Audi Q7 and popping champagne on it to wish her happy birthday has angered his fellow partisans who believe he must be investigated.
Audi Q7 is a midsize luxurious SUV.
“The Revolutionary National Youth League of the Mighty Coalition for Democratic Change (RNYL-CDC) condemns in its stoutest term the reckless display of wealth on the part of Assistant Minister J. Emmanuel Potter. The action of Emmanuel Potter who couldn’t afford a 2,500 USD vehicle years back will in less than three years be displaying and popping champagne over a luxurious Audi Q7 vehicle,” said Hassan Newland, Assistant Secretary of CDC Youth League.
Speaking to journalists at the CDC Headquarters in Congo Town over the weekend, Newland said the Youth League does not have any interest in how the minister spends his salary but wants to remind him that the CDC’s government is a government that is intended to uplift the lives of the ordinary masses, which, according to him, is the essence of the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
“The essence of the Pro-poor Agenda is to alleviate the vast majority of our people from the poverty line to an appreciable living standard but not to enrich an individual to the detriment of our people,” Newland says.
Newland emphasized that the Youth League sees these actions as a flagrant disrespect to the Liberian people and a complete contradiction to the philosophy and ideology of the mighty CDC.
He said: “While the President is making a serious effort in the fight against the Covid-19 menace that is ravaging our country and committedly endeavoring to address the economically challenging situation of the citizenry, we sincerely expect his lieutenants to realistically buttress his effort, instead of having an individual who is supposed to be identifying with their situation but flaunting with such a luxurious vehicle in the midst of all of these issues. This only speaks to the insensitivity on the part of Mr. Potter.”
According to the ruling party youth, while hospitals are challenged and the healthcare system is under attack, to have an Assistant Minister who reportedly earns around 2,000 USD parading with a vehicle with such a high cash value, to the point of insultingly pouring champagne on it, is unfortunate.
“The Revolutionary National Youth League – CDC wants to ask the President and standard-bearer of the CDC to investigate Mr. Potter’s display of such affluence which we think is at the peril of the ordinary people. We need said investigation to be conducted as we strive to live within the confines of the Pro-Poor Agenda. We hope that said move would serve as a deterrent for a would-be agent provocateur,” Newland said.
