GANTA, Nimba — Tension is rising between District Four lawmaker, Garrison Yealue, and three prominent Nimba residents. Teeko Yorlay, Prince Gbieu, and John Barlea have accused the lawmaker of threatening to kill them.

In separate interviews on the Voice of Gompa radio station, the three individuals said Yealue threatened them based on his suspicions that they were disseminating false information on social media about the lawmaker’s personal life.

Gbieu said that they are paying close attention to this matter.  “We are very serious about this; this is about a human life,” he said.

Garison Yealue, Representative for Nimba’s district four. Photo: Legislature of Liberia

Further, Gbieu said that the men had alerted key individuals of the county, both in Monrovia and Nimba County, about the situation. As is typically done in highly politicized conflicts, Gbieu said he has called the elders of the Tweh River District to look into the matter.

“After we informed our elders in the district about the situation, they contacted all parties for a meeting in the district, precisely in Karnplay. Unfortunately, he did not attend the first meeting and the re-scheduled meeting,” Gbieu said.

According to the elders, the lawmaker had a meeting with the president at the time of the first meeting and on the second meeting, he had no money for fuel to make the trip to Nimba.

Yorlay was previously a development superintendent for Nimba and is rumored to be preparing to compete for a seat in the lower house in 2017. Gbieu and Barlea have been involved in development work around the district.

Attempts to reach Yealue for comments on the allegations were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the elders are attempting to arrange another meeting between the lawmaker and his accusers.

Featured photo: Flickr’s Jbdodane