Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah launched a blistering attack on Bong County District #3 Representative Josiah Marvin Cole, branding his remarks on the Jewel Howard Taylor case as “reckless and irresponsible.”
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on September 1, 2026, Piah accused the outspoken lawmaker of deliberately spreading falsehoods and stoking tribal sentiments to inflame Bong County residents against the Unity Party led government ahead of the 2029 elections.
According to the minister, Representative Cole has been urging constituents to resist the ongoing judicial process, claiming the government is targeting former Vice President Howard Taylor simply because she is “a Kpelle woman and a daughter of Bong County.” Piah dismissed the allegation outright, insisting that the former Vice President is facing trial over alleged links to narcotics trafficking, specifically in connection with Liberia’s historic US$317 million cocaine seizure.
The information minister warned that Cole’s rhetoric, steeped in tribal and sectional undertones, poses a dangerous threat to Liberia’s fragile peace. He reminded the nation that tribalism, regionalism, and sectionalism were among the root causes of Liberia’s devastating 14-year civil war, cautioning that irresponsible statements from public officials’ risk reopening old wounds.
“Such divisive language undermines national unity and erodes the democratic values we are striving to protect,” Piah declared, urging leaders to rise above parochial politics and embrace a culture of accountability and respect for the rule of law.
Piah further emphasized that Liberia’s judiciary must be allowed to operate independently, free from political manipulation or tribal interference. He underscored that the government remains committed to ensuring that anyone found culpable in drug trafficking will face justice, regardless of status or background.
In a stern admonition, the Minister called on Representative Cole to desist from what he described as “irresponsible statements” and to conduct himself in a manner befitting a national leader. “Public officials must set the tone for responsible discourse,” he said, adding that Liberia’s future depends on leaders who prioritize unity over division.
Observers note that Piah’s sharp rebuke signals the government’s determination to push back against narratives that exploit tribal identity for political gain. With the Howard Taylor case already commanding national attention, the clash between the information minister and the Bong lawmaker underscores the volatile intersection of law, politics, and ethnicity in Liberia’s evolving democracy.
