Othello Sarweh Nimely
MONROVIA–President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s 2026 State of the Nation Handle (SONA) has sparked widespread criticism from some opposition lawmakers and residents with a number of describing the deal with as deceptive and disconnected from the realities on the bottom.
The President, talking earlier than a joint session of the Nationwide Legislature on Monday, outlined his administration’s achievements since assuming workplace in 2024 and introduced his administration’s plans for nationwide growth, together with enhancements in electrical energy provide, job creation, and the feeding of schoolchildren.
Nonetheless, shortly after the deal with, two lawmakers, Consultant Frank Saa Foko of Montserrado County and Consultant Matthew Joe of Grand Bassa County District #3 took to the media to strongly problem a number of claims made by the President.
Consultant Foko accused President Boakai of delivering what he described as a message “full of false data,” alleging that the ruling Unity Social gathering continues to depend on propaganda moderately than details.
“The Unity Social gathering is understood for pretend propaganda and what the President delivered at present is not any completely different,” Foko stated. “Liberians are usually not feeling what he’s speaking about.”
Addressing the President’s declare that his administration has expanded electrical energy entry to further houses, Rep. Foko dismissed the assertion as unfaithful, describing the nation’s electrical energy provide as unreliable. “Electrical energy continues to be ‘on and off.’ he confused.
Foko additionally criticized the President’s assertion on the feeding of schoolchildren, calling it “a giant lie.” In accordance with the lawmaker, even within the President’s house village, many schoolchildren stay with out fundamental studying amenities.
“Youngsters are nonetheless sitting on the ground. There aren’t any desks, no correct feeding. So the place is he speaking about?” Foko questioned.
Becoming a member of the talk was Grand Bassa County District #3 Consultant Matthew Joe, who strongly disagreed with the President’s declare that his authorities has created over 70,000 jobs for Liberians.
“The fact is that Liberians are nonetheless jobless,” Rep. Joe stated. “I don’t know the place these 70,000 jobs are as a result of the individuals I characterize are nonetheless struggling.” Rep. Joe additional disputed the President’s feedback on electrical energy enlargement, stating that his district stays with out energy. “Buchanan Metropolis, the place I characterize, continues to be in complete darkness. No electrical energy has reached us,” he lamented.
Past lawmakers, the President’s deal with additionally triggered heated reactions on social media, notably Fb, the place many Liberians expressed frustration and disappointment.
One Fb person, below the Nation Tv put up, wrote: “This speech sounded good, nevertheless it doesn’t replicate what we’re seeing in our communities. No mild, no jobs, and costs are nonetheless excessive.”
Alphonso Toweh
Has been within the occupation for over twenty years. He has labored for a lot of worldwide media shops together with: West Africa Journal, Africa Week Journal, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Instances, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He’s the present correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in Worldwide Relations and a candidate for second grasp in Worldwide Peace research and Battle Decision from the College of Liberia.
