By: Godgift Harris
Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe has issued a stern warning over what he described as the growing dominance of power politics over governance in Liberia, cautioning that both the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition risk alienating the public, if political maneuvering continues to eclipse service delivery.
Speaking on OK Morning Conversation, Senator Snowe accused the ruling party of exhibiting what he termed an intensified desperation for political control, arguing that the appetite for power once associated with the Unity Party during its years in opposition has re-emerged under its current administration.
“The desperation and hunger for power we saw in the Unity Party in opposition, we are now seeing it again only this time in government,” Snowe said.
He noted that the ruling party appeared “more desperate for 2029 than the opposition,” despite holding state power.
Snowe further criticized what he described as a legacy of propaganda and fabrication that characterized political messaging during the Unity Party’s opposition years, warning that a similar approach is again shaping national discourse.
He cautioned that continued emphasis on political messaging without corresponding delivery could deepen public frustration and erode trust in state institutions.
The senator, however, also turned his criticism toward the opposition, including his own Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
He described the opposition as weak and divided, arguing that the absence of early unity would make any credible challenge in the 2029 elections unlikely.
“If the opposition cannot unite now, let them forget about 2029,” he said.
Addressing the so-called “Rescue Boys,” Snowe dismissed their political rhetoric as disconnected from the everyday realities facing ordinary Liberians, describing their claims as exaggerated and lacking substance.
On economic governance and public sector welfare, Snowe challenged narratives surrounding salary harmonization, particularly among civil servants.
He noted that the US$1.2 billion FY2026 national budget passed by the Legislature did not reverse the harmonization policy nor provide meaningful salary increases.
“Your so-called rescue government did not reverse harmonization, and it did not increase your salaries,” he said, adding that any future adjustments, if they occur, may be driven more by electoral considerations than policy commitment.
Snowe’s comments have reignited national debate over governance priorities, opposition cohesion, and the increasing influence of early 2029 electioneering on public policy.
His remarks seemed to underscore broader concerns about whether Liberia’s political leadership is focused on addressing the daily struggles of citizens or primarily positioning for future electoral advantage.