Foeday Zinnah, a native son of Margibi currently pursuing a PhD at Utah State University in the United States, has sparked controversy with his recent public remarks targeting key political figures from his home county. In a strongly worded statement, Zinnah labeled two prominent Margibi politicians, Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill and Senator J. Emmanuel Nuquay, as “state criminals” and identified them as the “real big problems” facing Margibi County.
Zinnah, who is an activist and former Executive Director of the Youth Alliance for Rural Development (YARD) in Liberia, did not hold back in his criticism. While he explicitly excluded Hon. Ivar K. Jones from the category of “state criminals,” he nevertheless accused Jones of complicity. According to Zinnah, Jones “sold our county to criminals who he supported during the election,” implicating him in the county’s ongoing political and social troubles.
In a passionate expression of frustration, Zinnah condemned what he described as “blind loyalty” among Margibi residents, saying it is “sick to see how we keep affiliating ourselves with people whose only verbs they know how to conjugate are ‘I eat,’ ‘I am eating,’ ‘I will eat,’ ‘I steal to eat,’ ‘I will keep stealing to eat,’ and ‘I stole to eat!’” This biting metaphor was aimed at accusing some political leaders of corruption, greed, and self-enrichment at the expense of the people they serve.
Zinnah’s remarks have ignited a debate on social media and within political circles in Margibi. Supporters praise his courage in speaking out against entrenched corruption, while critics argue his comments are divisive and unproductive.
As a scholar and activist, Zinnah’s words carry weight beyond mere political rhetoric. His statement reflects a broader concern among Liberians in the diaspora who watch closely as issues of governance and accountability unfold back home.
The controversy surrounding these accusations raises important questions about leadership and loyalty in Margibi County, a region that continues to grapple with development challenges amid a complex political landscape. Whether Zinnah’s call for accountability will spur action remains to be seen, but his critique has undoubtedly put the spotlight on key figures in Margibi’s political arena.
