2 Grand Gedeh Lawmakers’ Clash Deepens

Written by Keith Morris

Ahead of 2014 senatorial mid-term elections, two Grand Gedeh lawmakers are bickering on who has an impeccable record to contest or not.

Two of the county’s lawmakers of the 52^nd and 53^rd National Legislature respectively, Senator Isaac Nyenebo and Representative Zoe Emmanuel Pennue, have been at each other’s throat over integrity issue, something most of their constituents see as unnecessary and disappointing.

On a local radio talk show Tuesday morning in Monrovia, Representative Zoe Pennue accused Senator Nyenebo of being behind reported accusation of scandal against him regarding “misapplication” of the County Development Fund (CDF).

Earlier, the so-called Grand Gedeh Youth for Economic Security accused Pennue and other lawmakers of their county, excluding Sen. Nyenebo, of single-handedly using the CDF outside of Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) law and purchasing an ‘utility’ vehicle for the Grand Gedeh Community College.

On the talk show Tuesday, Pennue made several accusations against Nyenebo, among which he said his senior senator has been a “four-one-niners,” meaning that he (Nyenabo) “has been in dubious activities with people.”

Nyenebo immediately rushed to the studio to clear his name and promised to move further in reacting to the claims.

Based upon those accusations, Sen. Nyenebo reacted by saying: “Representative Pennue has entered the lion’s den and as such, he will face the consequences.”

The two unfriendly lawmakers hail from Tuzon, the hometown of the late Liberian President Samuel K. Doe.

Rep. Pennue is a “buffoon,” said Sen. Nyenabo. “He is causing hardship for Grand Gedeans through his continued approach to various government ministries and agencies not to employ qualified citizens from the county all because he is limited.”

In an interview with the Daily Observer Thursday in Monrovia, Sen. Nyenebo counter accused Rep. Pennue of receiving paybacks for supporting Putu Iron Ore Mining Company against the initial objection of Grand Gedeans.

He further claimed that the Representative is supplying the Putu Iron Ore Company with petroleum products, terming it as “conflict of interest.”

During the contract preparation period, Nyenebo said Grand Gedeans needed clarity and clear participation in the Putu Iron Ore concessional development contract, unfortunately, Pennue objected to said position and lobbied to ratify the contract in his interest and has now become a supplier of petroleum to the company.

 “This, we believe, is a complete conflict of interest which is unconstitutional. We therefore call on Putu Iron Ore Company to stop doing business with Zoe Pennue,” Sen. Nyenabo said at a press conference at the Capitol building.

“Representative Pennue is not seeking what will benefit the country but selfish interest. He has also gone into agreement with a company for the production of crush rocks from Sowahken, a town within the Gborho Clan, Grand Gedeh County; he is getting royalty and other benefits that are intended for the people of that clan,” Sen. Nyenebo claimed.

He further asserted: “Zoe Pennue has mortgaged the ‘Cavalla forest’ to a Chinese investor under the pretext that over 10,000 hectors was given to him by the people of Gborho and Niao Clans in Grand Gedeh.”

“We are fortunate that such fraudulent deed has not been signed by the President; the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) should keep a close watch on such document,” said Sen. Nyenabo.

When contacted via mobile phone, Representative Pennue rubbished the allegations levied against him and maintained that he has decided not to further comment on claims made by Sen. Nyenebo.

“I don’t want to comment on this issue again,” he said.

Meanwhile, anonymous sources at the Capitol Building have disclosed that such rift has been between the two lawmakers for several years now, but recently intensified after Rep. Pennue expressed interest to contesting the senatorial post in 2014.