Cape Town – A junior minister, James Emmanuel Potter, has provoked anger amongst Liberians after a video of him splashing expensive champaign on a luxury vehicle he reportedly bought for his wife emerged on social media.
The incident that happened last week, was described by many as “a reckless display of wealth”.
Potter had reportedly bought the vehicle as a birthday gift for his wife.
According to BBC, young supporters of the ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) said Potter’s action contradicted “the principles and ideology on which the party was established”.
The youths accused him of being insensitive to the “reality of the time, in one of Africa’s poorest countries”, the report said.
Potter, however, hit back at his critics, saying he was “working and earning a salary” and, therefore, should “enjoy the fullest of life as God wants it to be”.
One social media user criticised the minister saying:”That’s one reason they’re poor after government job. They live in luxury at the expense of the suffering poor people!”
Another, however, said: “There is no big deal about a husband buying a car for wife. He is working and I truly believe his income can afford this little vehicle. Stop this hate !”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu