Henry Karmo (0886522495)[email protected]
Congo Town, Monrovia-Dr. Toga McIntosh, the man who earlier this year expressed his desire to challenge Vice President Joseph Boakai for the standard bearer position of the ruling Unity Party in the pending convention has resigned from the party and withdrawn from the process.
Dr. McIntosh, considered by many as the man favored by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf among the two to take the party to elections, announced on Wednesday at his Congo Town residence that he has withdrawn his membership from the party, though he said he remains active in the pending 2017 general and presidential elections.
“The basic principle of Unity that we once cherished so dearly in UP is now questionable,” he said. “In light of this, it is with a heavy heart that I officially announce my membership withdrawal from the Unity Party. I have submitted a letter to the Party’s officials to that effect.”
Falling short of stating which political party is his new home, he promised he will not contest as an independent candidate. At a press conference, the Liberian economist said his decision to leave the party is due to the manner partisans’ grievances are handled.
He said the handling of matters in the party have fallen short of the manner in which the pioneers and founding fathers would have wanted in order to maintain the cohesive bond within the party.
“Although departing, I would like to state that I am proud to have been a Unity Party Partisan and the role I played in ensuring its success over the years. I sincerely wish the best for all those partisans vying for leadership positions at the upcoming convention and hope that the party is prosperous in future endeavors”, he said.
He assured Liberians that despite his withdrawal of membership from the UP, his desired commitment, and faith to be a viable candidate for the 2017 Presidential elections remains resolute more than ever.
“Analyzing the nation’s current state of affairs, I would like to reiterate that I truly believe that I have the requisite competency, capabilities, experiences together with vision and determination to take our great country to the next level of sustained economic growth, human development, and national transformation.”
As far back as more than four months ago, Dr. McIntosh expressed that he was going into the process open-minded but will not relent to take decision such as sitting back when there is cheating.
Early objection
With the ruling party convention about two weeks away, Dr. McIntosh expressed his objection to the appointment of chair and co-chair of the elections subcommittee recently. In a letter dated June 20, 2016, addressed to Cllr. Sherman, Chairman of the party, Dr. McIntosh said the chair and co-chair have both endorsed Vice President Boakai in the past and as such their appointments to the position mean they will not be impartial.
“I present my compliments and would like to officially tender my objection to the appointment of the Chair and Co-Chair of the Elections Sub-committee as constituted. We take note, with deep concern, the fact that both appointees have publicly demonstrated support for my competitor. Given the pivotal role both posts entails in the electoral process, it is our firm belief that their appointments leave much to be desired over the process”, Dr. McIntosh stated in the letter.
House Speaker, Alex Tyler, Representative Moses Kollie, and others who left from the party also blamed the lack of consultation and proper coordination by the hierarchy including President Sirleaf as some of the reasons for their departure. Adding to the mix, the party has experienced an in-house rift in recent years with some partisans pledging loyalty to Senator Sherman and others to President Sirleaf.
In the absence of convention, President Sirleaf has since endorsed Vice President Joseph Boakai to succeed her but with a caution that the Vice President will have to fight for the presidency the same way she did. President Sirleaf bluntly told FrontPage Africa in an interview months ago that anyone wishing to succeed her will have to lead their campaign and direct how they want to proceed at the same time welcoming democracy within the party.
It was not long when Dr. McIntosh who has also enjoyed long close relationship with the President holding high profile positions in government-Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs before he was nominated to represent Liberia at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared that he was putting up a challenge against Vice President Boakai for the party standard bearer position. In declaring his intention, Dr. McIntosh disclosed that he discussed his ambition to become President with Madam Sirleaf several years ago and it is now time to realize his dream since Madam Sirleaf is no longer contesting the Presidency.
Of No Interest-UP Secretary General says
In response to the resignation of Dr. McIntosh, UP Secrtery Wilmot Paye said it is of no interest.
“Well, the withdrawal of McIntosh is not of interest to me and the party. Notwithstanding, the question of Dr. McIntosh, he chose to come to say that he wants to seek the nomination of the party standard bearer-ship, he is the same person who has chosen to withdraw, so it is his right We respect that, we cannot say anything further than that”, said Paye.
The Unity Party Secretary General added “I think one of the things that you need to understand is that we are aware that members of his campaign team—the entire campaign team—have approached him and told him, because after they have gone all across this country they came to the conclusion that the Vice President and Vice Standard Bearer were entrenched and party members were already resolved. Probably, most probably, that might have prompted his latest decision; but for us, whatever the situation is, it is his right to decide whatever course he wants to pursue but we are resolved to take our party to convention and come from convention to win the national election in 2017. That is our focus right now.”