Gbarnga, Bong County – Bong County’s Motorcycle Union (BMU) has petitioned one of its colleagues, Allen Bornor, commonly known as ‘’Apache’’ to contest the senatorial seat being vacated by Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, now Liberia’s incoming Vice President.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Bornor is now one of nine people who names have pooped up to contest the seat.
The other candidates include: Jeremiah Sulunteh, Liberia’s former Ambassador to the United States of America and former vice standard bearer to Alexander Cummings, of the Alternative National Congress; Dr. Henrique Tokpah, Internal Affairs Minister, Fairnoh Gbilah, former Liaison Officer between the states of Maryland in the United States of America and Bong County; and Emmanuel Lomax, former campaign manager of Liberty Party in the 2017 presidential election.
Other are: Bong County Superintendent Selena Polson-Mappy; Lester Paye, outgoing District Four representative, who lost his seat to Robert Womba of Unity Party and businessman Orando Zarwolo, who lost his bid for District 3 seat in the October 2017 elections.
The motorcyclist petitioned Bornor because they need representation in the legislative caucus of Bong County.
Bornor hopes to run on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
“We have been used by politicians during elections and have not gotten nothing in return that’s why we have decided to support one of our own,” said Naway Gorlormator, one of the petitioners.
Samuel Elliot, the union’s president, added that there are over 10,000 registered motorcyclists in the county, which means the union have a massive membership base.
Chris Kollie, a motorcyclist and Bornor’s spokesperson, said their decision to petitioned Bornor came after consulting motorcyclists across the county.
“We have been touring the 15 administrative districts in Bong County and we have received words of encouragement from motorcyclists,” he said.
In addition to the support from the motorcyclists, Bornor has also received support from market women, shoeshine boys, gas sellers and other prominent citizens.
“Everywhere we go the momentum is growing by the minute,’’ Kollie said. ‘’People are joining us in their numbers and contributing cash.’’
Bornor, 31, is a senior student of the Dolokelen Gboveh high school.
He was amongst the group of motorcyclists that petitioned former Gbarnga City Mayor Marvin Cole to contest the electoral District 3 election, which he won in the October 10 elections, defeating incumbent George Mulbah.
The native of Yellequelleh District said he began a commercial motorcyclist in 2000 and after he generated sufficient profits, he built a three-bed room house and bought two cars for commercial transportation.
“I have nine bikes in traffic now that my friends are using to make their living. That’s what I have been doing to empower my colleagues,” Bornor said.
He has vowed to create opportunities for more youth, mainly motorcyclists.
“When you look around us, people see motorcyclists as marginalized people, and if elected, I will help them realize their potentials through vocational (training),” he said.
Mercy Kermue, a student of Gboveh high, vowed will support her colleague.
“Apache will be my candidate in the senatorial election.
“We want someone of our own and I feel I can rely on Apache for development than the master’s degree holders that we have around here,” she said.
Abraham Bedell, another Gboveh student, said he would not support Bornor because he is not qualified for the job.
“Let’s be serious in Bong County,’’ Bedell said. “Why should we be thinking about electing a motorcyclist who is still in grade school?”
The motorcyclists union has played a major role in Bong County elections since the 2011 presidential and senatorial elections.
They were influential in the election of Henry Yallah, a former Bong County student leader, who defeated then Superintendent Rennie Jackson.
During the 2014 senatorial election, the motorcyclists campaigned massively for Jewel Howard-Taylor, who was reelected.