The last straw

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has dismissed her youthful Labor Minister Atty Neto Lighe giving some hash reasons for his sacking. Atty Lighe whose dismissal takes immediate effect, according to the Executive Mansion release issued Friday December 2, 2017, is due to “continued gross disrespect and participation in wicked attack and false accusations levied against the presidency”.

This is the first time the Office of the President has given reasons for a dismissed official, something which suggests that the youthful minister’s action may have been out of proportion.

Lighe, is a strong ally of the ruling Unity Party’s or UP chairman emeritus, Cllr. Varney Sherman. He is also the current Senior National Vice Chairman of the UP and a diehard supporter of Vice President Joseph N. Boakai’s 2017 presidential candidate.

Atty Lighe in his social media post said it was “time to move on,” while appreciating the opportunity he has had to serve his country. “7 years ago, through a presidential appointment, I entered mainstream government as an Assistant Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 2 years later, I was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister and then Minister of Labor..

There’s no singular honor than serving your country and I’m proud of the opportunity extended me to serve my country. Today, 7 years after, my service in government has come to an end.

I want to use this occasion, on behalf of my family to extend my profound thanks and appreciation to Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for the opportunity extended me. To all my colleagues in government and employees at the Ministry of Labor, thanks for your cooperation and service during my stay. It is now time to move on,” He said on his social media page.