Liberian lawyer, Cllr. Moriah Yeakula Korkpor, has criticized House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa for what she described as an “ill-advised” Facebook post, titled “The Alamo,” amid fire outbreak at the Capitol Building.
The post, which Koffa published on his official page, sparked widespread backlash due to its negative connotations. Historically, The Alamo refers to a pivotal 1836 battle in Texas, where a small group of Texans fighting for independence was defeated by Mexican forces.
While the battle is often associated with bravery and sacrifice, it is also a symbol of loss, futility, and political controversy—raising concerns over Speaker Koffa’s intent in invoking such a reference during a national crisis.
Initially, Cllr. Korkpor believed that the Facebook post was fabricated by the opposition Unity Party (UP) as part of a propaganda campaign to shift blame onto Speaker Koffa for the Capitol fire.
She even pointed to examples of how easily fake posts could be created to mislead the public. However, after Koffa confirmed that the post was authentic, Korkpor’s position changed.
“The post is not FAKE, and his confirmation changes my position,” she said. While Korkpor maintained that she does not share the Unity Party’s accusations that Koffa is responsible for the fire without any investigation, she stated that his post was “ill-advised and wrongly timed.” She warned that public officials must be cautious about their social media activities, especially during periods of chaos, as posts like this could easily be misinterpreted and linked to ongoing crises.
Korkpor also apologized for initially dismissing the authenticity of the post, acknowledging how propaganda has long been used to manipulate public sentiment in Liberia. “For too long, we’ve fallen prey to propaganda in this country. So I hold my convictions until evidence to the contrary is provided,” she stated.
She urged the government to prioritize a speedy investigation into the Capitol fire and called on public officials to avoid inflammatory accusations and controversial statements.
Additionally, Korkpor advised Speaker Koffa to seek professional guidance in managing his social media presence, stating, “This post was very triggering at this time.”
