Representative Moima Briggs Mensah has sharply criticized a Nigerian member of the ECOWAS Parliament during a heated debate over Liberia’s political and security situation, accusing him of hypocrisy and selective criticism.
Speaking during a parliamentary session of the Economic Community of West African States, Briggs Mensah fired back at Nigerian lawmaker Awaji Abiante after he questioned why the Liberian delegation failed to include the Guinea-Liberia border tension and the expulsion controversy involving Representative Yekeh Kolubah in its report.
Abiante reportedly described the omitted issues as significant national concerns and challenged Liberia’s presentation before the regional body. In response, Briggs Mensah accused the Nigerian delegation of double standards, arguing that Nigeria itself faces serious security and governance challenges that were not fully addressed.
“When you look in Kaduna and other places, kidnapping is going on every day. People cannot go there. No security issue there?” she said during the debate. The outspoken Bong County District 6 lawmaker also referenced the detention of a Nigerian blogger and questioned the country’s commitment to freedom of speech, while criticizing Nigeria’s influence within the ECOWAS bloc.
“He who comes with equity must come with clean hands,” Briggs Mensah declared, drawing applause from some delegates during the tense exchange. She further questioned Nigeria’s financial obligations to ECOWAS, alleging that previous parliamentary constraints were linked to unpaid contributions by the regional powerhouse. The exchange underscored growing tensions within the ECOWAS Parliament as lawmakers continue debating democracy, governance, and regional security across West Africa.
