By Linus Aleke, Abuja
Member of Parliament (MP), of Community Parliament of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), otherwise known as ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr has urged African leaders to address the root cause of coup d’etat in the continent, especially in Franchophone West Africa.
Senator Snowe Jr also said that coups should be condemned but the problem is not just the military, adding there is the need to focus on addressing problems that lead to coups.
The Liberian Senator, who Chairs ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), noted that there seems to be one generic problem with the recent coups, stating that all successful coups in the region come from French colonies.
These countries, he said, want independence from France because till date, they still pay rent to the French Government for their presidential palace.
He further observed that their reserves are in France not in their country, adding that the exchange rate is determined by France; the culture heritage everything is subjected to the will of the French government.
He said that the coups are more of revolutions, in Franchophone West Africa.
Senator Snowe Jr who made these observations while addressing Liberian electorates at a partisan forum in Bomi County told his constituents to support the reelection bid of President George Weah.
Speaking on the deplorable nature of road network in Bomi County, Senator Snowe Jr who represents the County at the Liberian Parliament told his supporters that George Weah who is seeking a second term in office, has promised that Bomi roads will be given a priority in his second term, hence the need to cast their ballots for him.
He however, took a swipe on the candidates joisting to replace him in the Liberian Senate, stressing that one cannot perform badly and hide behind the popularity of President Weah to become a Senator.
Presidential election, he said, is different from the Legislative elections, adding that everybody will account for his or her stewardship.
He noted that if the people who elected him as an independent candidate do not believe in a candidate, he will not support that fellow.
“Bomi, nobody should think they will hide behind the popularity of anyone and get elected; you will be elected on your own merit. President George Weah is my friend but I am not a member of his party, the CDC, I am an independent but I support George Weah; but it does not mean if you want to do the wrong thing in Bomi he will support you,” he said.
He concluded that he had a meeting with his coordinators and whoever they ask him to support for the parliamentary elections, he will.
