Virginia – The second annual sitting of Montserrado County Electoral District 17 was overshadowed by chaos as a violence clash ensued between ‘students’ from the district and supporters of Representative Bernard Blue Benson.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
A district sitting is a platform that provides an opportunity for direct interactions between a lawmaker and his constituents (citizens/residents) on developmental initiatives of that august.
At such occasion, the district’s lawmaker presents his/her full legislative report inclusive of bill/resolution submitted and signed, a number of projects undertaken, completed or earmarked during the year under review as well as other key progress made and challenges encountered during the reporting period.
Same was the purpose of the District 17 sitting; however, the gathering was soon overtaken by violence – scene marred by sounding of mixed political slogans, throwing of invectives, fighting with chairs and running halter helter-skelter.
The Chaotic Scene
As gathered, a group of guys, who identified themselves as students of the district, most of whom have been seriously critical of Rep. Benson’s leadership in the district first stormed the program hall and chanted anti-Rep. Blue’s slogan.
They later left the main hall and gathered around the entrance of the main program hall with placards of different inscriptions in opposition of the Montserrado County’s lawmaker, but were countered with stiff resistance from another group of young men loyal to the Montserrado County District 17 lawmaker.
The tension intensified as the lawmaker’s supporters, dressed in sky blue T-shirts attacked the ‘students’ with plastic chairs resulting to the reported injury of one Dauda Lumeh Paasewe, who is said to be the head of the student union in the district.
Student Passawe’s Account, Lawmaker Accused of Initiating Violence
Passawe, the head of the protesting students, who suffered physical injuries during a demonstration posted a video after the incident to display bodily wounds and torn clothing, alleging that individuals used blunt objects to assault those gathered.
He expressed deep frustration with Rep. Blue, whom he claimed, failed to provide necessary educational facilities for the youth.
Instead of supporting the community, Student Passawe accused the Montserrado County lawmaker of using young people to instigate violence and protect illegal businesses.
In his opinion, the district therefore needs a new arrowhead for accountability and better management of resources within what he believes is a neglected district.
Rep. Benson Describes Situation Planned And Calculated Attempt By His Opposition to Dissuade Public
When contacted, the Montserrado County Electoral District #17 Representative described the ‘so-called’ students’ protest as a politically motivated plan orchestrated by detractors to dissuade public attention from the real good things that are happening in the district under his regime.
Contrary to claims, Rep. Blue bragged that he has done a lot towards educational uplifting in the district – providing numerous scholarships amounting to over a million Liberian dollars.
He pointed the group was being organized by those detractors, some of whom he defeated in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections for purpose of entirely disturbing the reporting period so that the people would not hear from their lawmaker.
“From what you saw for yourself, this was not a peaceful protesters by just any kind of student group – it was well planned and calculated. These guys who claimed to be students, were planted to just disturb our sitting. For the matter of fact, it was posted days to our gathering,” stated the lawmaker.
“We know who did it. As a matter of fact, the ‘pekin dem’ posted that they were going to do that.”
In an earlier post, dated four days to sitting, Student Leader Dauda Passawe indicated, “OPERATION DISU ATTENDS DISTRICT SITTING MAY 23, RUN IN THE HALL.” DISU is the acronym of District Seventeen Student Union.
In a move to allow the meeting proceed as planned, Rep. Blue revealed that his supporters couldn’t have sat there and do nothing; hence, they ‘radically’ responded to the demonstrators.
“Those are my people. Those children who are so loyal to me will fix their own clothes to show me loyalty. I am not going to shy away from them; they are my people; those are my supporters. You think my supporters will be right over then and see another group blocking the door that nobody cannot enter, you think it will be well with them? For me, that is just another political something. The police were not allowed to allow an opposing force to come in the midst of that kind of program. The police sat across the road when all this happened, and they did nothing, so my people responded,” he added.
