Commissioner Julie Famata Russell of Wanhassa District, Lofa County has vowed not to bow to pressure from senior government officials who are reportedly demanding all local officials of the county to support the candidacy of Cllr. Joseph Kparto Jallah in pending Lofa County by-election.
The CDC despite not featuring a candidate in the traditionally opposition Unity Party stronghold, recently announced that it was supporting Jallah who hails from the Gbandi chiefdom where Commissioner Russell comes from.
Speaking to scores of reporters in the county, the lone female commissioner in Lofa said given that CDC is not fielding any candidate in the by-election she is not under any obligation to support Cllr. Jallah.
“Jallah is an independent candidate just as Hon. Momo Cyrus. I have made up my mind to support Cyrus, which is everyone’s right. If the party (CDC) was fielding a candidate that would have been a different case” she noted.
She averred that the decision or mandate for CDCIENS to support Cllr. Jallah didn’t come from President Weah whom she holds in high regard, but the decision came from politicians in the county who according to her want to show political supremacy.
Commissioner Famata Russell mentioned that though the Gbandi chiefdom and top CDC officials have resolved to support Jallah, she remain unbending in her support to Mr. Cyrus who is the CEO of Security Expert Guard Service of Liberia (SEGAL).
Liberia Public Radio cannot clearly state the relationship between Commissioner Russell and Mr. Cyrus, but we can confirmed that both are very close.
She revealed that her job has been threatened by some top officials of the CDC for her decision and feels no longer safe in the district; thus calling on the county superintendent and the LNP to provide security.
Amidst all this tension in the Madam Russell further maintained that if supporting Independent candidate Momo Cyrus will lead to her dismissal, then she is willing to bear the full consequences.
Petition to remove her surface on Superintendent Desk
Recently youths, women, men and some elders of the district partitioned the national government through Lofa County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba pushing a vote of no confidence in Commissioner Russell’s leadership
Major amongst the allegations levied against Commissioner Russell includes; her failure to stay in the district since her appointment, her refusal to support a son of the Gbandi chiefdom and is forcing some of her subordinates to support her favor candidate and her alleged failure to account for L$ 1million given by President Weah during his tour of the county.
Responding to the allegations the Wanhassa District commissioner except for her support to Mr. Cyrus, all the other allegations against her are false
She also dismissed claim that her office is forcing people to support her candidate
Russell explained that her absence from the district at times is due to poor health nothing that county and district authorities are knowledgeable about her condition.
Commenting on the L$1M madam Russell said except for the amount spent with proper documentation, and district authorities were aware that the balance is in safekeeping.
“They have refused to give me audience, all I want is a conducive and secured environment to make my financial report, I have mismanaged no public fund. I come from a family with integrity,” she angrily cried.
