By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
River Gee County Superintendent, Mr. Mike Swengbe has termed as false, misleading, and diabolical lies accusations against him, River Gee County Senators Jonathan Boye Charles Sogbie, and Francis Dopoh, regarding alleged siphoning of funds entrusted to their care during the county meet competition.
The men have also been accused of politicizing the victory celebration, which was planned to be held in the county, something which prompted calls for them to account for the entrusted funds.
Superintendent Swengbe was serving as Sports Staring Committee Chairperson of the team but later resigned following his appointment by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai as Superintendent of the county, something which led to Mr. Barradji McCarthy’s occupation.
But, responding to the allegations in an interview with Journalists in Monrovia over the weekend, Superintendent Swengbe described the allegations as a calculated plan that was politically motivated to ruin their high-earned reputation, undermine the county’s unity campaign, and derail the effort of the team which led the county to its first victory.
Superintendent Swengbe added that they can’t squander funds belongings to the team when in fact they were using their funds to fill in gaps whenever the team shortfall.
He described those who bring such allegations as an element of distractor which should not be taken seriously due to their selfish political interest.
“I want to make this very clear. The accusation brought against us is misleading and diabolical lies from the distractor. At no point in time did we misappropriate money donated or provided to the sport steering committee for our personal use” he debunked.
The former River Gee County Sports Staring Committee Chairperson said that those spewing such misinformation are those he claimed with political interest who are jealous and yet to understand the strategy, blueprint, and philosophy they used to bring the county victory in a heated competition.
Superintendent Swengbe lamented that the major issue is the financial report and they will provide the public with the comprehensive financial report will be ready soon as the activities leading to the celebration of the victory have finally climaxed.
“We couldn’t provide a financial report to the public or the county without the conclusion of the project or activities the commemorate the victory. We have a series of activities which includes a celebration in Monrovia and a tour of the South East. We are done with that and so, we will provide the report. We believe in transparency and accountability therefore, there is nothing to hide” Superintendent Swengbe stated.
He adds that funds were given to the team and cataloged in two dimensions, particularly individuals with political interests who donated to the team directly and those who donated to the County Sports Staring committee.
Superintendent Swengbe asserted that those funds that were given to the team directly through its coach and Team Manager will not be accounted for in the report because it was a bonus for the players rather than those funds that were given to the County Sports Staring committee that he once chairs.
Commenting on the conflict of interest theory introduced by what he described as detractors soliciting money from River Gee citizens in the diaspora, he said that it’s true that citizens in the diaspora provided money to him but it was done on the basis that he is a member and has direct contact with them.
He clarified that every cent that was provided to him was later delivered to the starting committee and was properly spent on the team, something he believes brought about the immediate victory.
Speaking on the politicization of the county meet, he debunked the allegation and said that they provided open space and an invitation to all citizens or the county and its stakeholders.
However, he adds that some individuals due to political interest decided not to attend and began presenting them as if they enclosed the celebration process when it was opened, describing them as disunifiers and Political cowards.
The River Gee County Superintendent, however, urged citizens to desist from undermining the progress and unity of the county, stating that disunity has the potential and propensity to hinder development.
“When I took over as Superintendent, I saw huge disunity and we have been working to address that within consonant with President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s agenda. But, there are some citizens of the county due to political reasons don’t want to wake up to the truth and fight for the progress and unity of the county. We are open to working with all citizens and we hope they embrace this new Liberia” he concluded.
