Monrovia, Liberia – Montserrado County Senator Darius Dillon, a strong supporter of the Unity Party government has publicly apologized for utilizing private jet disinformation against former President George Weah in 2023. Dillon and others from the Unity Party criticised the former president for using private plane, claiming it was a waste of government funds.
One year into the Joseph Boakai-led government. Boakai and his Vice President, Jeremiah Koung, have been observed regularly flying private aircraft to international activities outside of the country, prompting Dillon to apologize to Weah.
Boakai, like Weah, and his vice president have denied using taxpayer funds to fly private flights. In his own defense, Koung stated that on one occasion, the private jet he flew was not hired by him; rather, he was offered a lift by a Ghanaian businessman who was also traveling from Monrovia to Accra.
The president told Liberians two months ago that he would travel commercial unless someone sent him a private plane. However, a few days later, President Boakai was observed boarding a private plane with the tail number CN-SYA heading for Guinea Bissau.
Since then, President Boakai and Vice President Koung have utilized private planes for the majority of overseas visits. Dillon apologized to former President Weah for not recognizing the amount of restraints a president has while flying without a private plane during his appearance on the OK Conversation on Monday.
The senator from Montserrado County further stated: “We did not understand the constraints, the reasons and the justifications for using private jet by the President of Liberia, we condemned former President Weah.”
“Dillon stated that it is important to confess one’s mistakes in order to fix them. We see a need, and I will state it now, for the President of Liberia to use private jets.”
The Montserrado County Senator maintained that Liberia, as a country, should have its own jet for the President and other dignitaries.
“The thing that can solve the private jet issue is for us to procure a Presidential jet for Liberia for the use of the president and for official use. We did not understand, we condemned former President Weah and we used it as one of the counts to remove him. The usage of private planes is essential, especially now. Within the African region, it is only fair that someone find the strength to apologize to former President Weah; there is no reason to defend.”
