Monrovia – Dr. Sakui Malakapa offers a flattering portrait of Liberia’s Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai in his biography, “From Foya to the Capitol.
Report by Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
“Because of George Weah’s towering popularity, Joe Boakai’s young advisers thought the best thing to do was to join Weah.
They were convinced by working closely with Weah, with Boakai at the back of their minds, they could persuade Weah to allow someone with experience to lead his troops” Excerpts – From Foya to the Capitol by Dr. Sakui Malakpa, a biography of Vice President Joseph Boakai
The book, published by Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, chronicles a bare-footed young Boakai from his upbringing in his birth-village of Worsonga in Foya, Lofa County to his rise into government, politics and the vice presidency.
Readers will find some interesting revelations regarding the moments leading to Boakai being picked as Vice President by Sirleaf including courtships with football legend George Weah and Winston Tubman ahead of the 2005 presidential race.
In the Biography, Malakpa reveals that Boakai was first approached to launch a presidential bid by his current Chief of Staff Sam Steve Quoah, his nephew son, Jake Kabakollie and Mickey Gray
Courting Weah Without Luck
The team promised Boakai that they would raise the money for his campaign. But the dream was short-lived with the emergence of George Weah as a candidate.
“The three young men told Joe that the race was over; with Oppong’s popularity, he was bound to win hands down. After all this great football player had an impressive history, and as such a huge following, especially amongst the youth.”
But Malakpa later reveals that effort was made for Boakai to court Weah. “Because of George Weah’s towering popularity, Joe Boakai’s young advisers thought the best thing to do was to join Weah.
They were convinced by working closely with Weah, with Boakai at the back of their minds, they could persuade Weah to allow someone with experience to lead his troops.”
Besides Weah, the book also reveals the Ambassador Winston Tubman also had his eyes set on Boakai. While Boakai’s young supporters were working with Weah, it seemed Councillor Winston Tubman was eyeing Joe seriously.
He wanted Joe to join him in Ghana and travel to Nigeria and to Liberia together.
In retrospect, the VP thinks Tubman was sure he would score a huge political point if people saw him exiting the plane and eventually the airport with Joe Boakai. Joe did not go to Ghana.”
Additionally, the book reveals the the Liberia Action Party, also directly and indirectly sought Joe Boakai.
“The late Charles Gyude Bryant, head of the National Transitional Government of Liberia as also chairman of LAP. When he decided to tour Lofa, he wanted Joe to be there when he arrived. Obviously, he too wanted to be seen with Joe Boakai.”
How EJS Picked Joe
Malakpa’s biography reveals that Boakai sensed that he was being wooed by Ellen Sirleaf. “While Joe was being wooed, a number of his Loma nephews, including Victor Lamin and Forkpa Gizzie, wanted him to become VP of the Unity Party.
If this was possible, Joe was not sure initially, but somehow, he noticed a strange but consistent seating arrangement. Although Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had not asked him to be her running mate, each time he went to a Unity Party meeting, a seat was always prepared for him next to her.
His friend and classmate, Ambassador Francis Karpeh noticed the consistency of this seating arrangement, and that was enough to convince him to join the Unity Party.”
According to the biography several individuals were considering running for the Senate but were counting on Boakai to make up his mind. So he finally confronted Sirleaf that he had a chance to become Senator but wanted to know her thoughts relative to a running mate.
“She did not definitely commit, but only said she was eyeing him. However in Saclapea, Nimba County she clearly and openly disclosed that her choice for a Vice Presidential candidate was Joe Boakai. From Lofa County.”
The pair went on to win the presidency.
On the eve of what is anticipated to be a brutal and aggressive 2017 presidential elections, critics and opponents of the ruling Unity Party’s choice for the presidency will find little here to pick on in terms of criticism or negatives of the Vice President.
The author makes this point clear when he writes:
“We want to make it clear that this work is not an appraisal or critique of Honorable Boakai’s Vice Presidency. Rather, while inevitably multiple references will be made to his role as Vice President, the work focuses on his family background, how he struggled to get to the capitol, his vision for Liberia and Africa, as well as a delineation of his unique personality traits and characteristics that may inspire others.”
Humble Beginnings Portrayed in Biography
What the book offers is a glowing portrait of Mr. Boakai from his humble but rugged beginning to more than 37 years in service to Liberia and journey into politics.
Dr. Malakpa goes to great length in trying to address a major criticism surrounding Mr. Boakai’s subordinate role and whether he has the full package to rise into the presidency. In doing so, the author delves into some behind-the-scenes moves that led to Mr. Boakai’s selection as Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s running mate in 2005.
Sirleaf, who wrote the foreword to the book offers a simple explanation:
“Success is assured when such relationships are rooted deeply in integrity, effective communication, mutual respect, and selfless determination to accomplish goals and objectives regardless of who claims it. I selected Honourable Joseph Nyuma Boakai as my running mate because of these shared values.”
The President suggests that Boakai is often misunderstood as a weakness: “Yes, Joe Boakai stood for his right and still does so, but in a different way, a way often misunderstood. He can disagree without being boisterous.
He can make his point strongly and forcefully without being rambunctious. He can advocate strongly and diligently without yelling or being rancorous. He can negotiate firmly and fearlessly, but always in faith and fairness.”
The President adds: “He is always easy going but never an easy pullover. He listens quietly and intently, but such should never be misinterpreted as inattentiveness and certainly not a lack of understanding.
He is diligent and always deeply concerned about others, but never deceptive. Moreover, he can accomplish a lot with his deep sense of humor, one of his hidden qualities many do not know.”
Dr. Malakpa’s intertwining of events in Mr. Boakai’s life effectively captures the struggles of the Vice President’s education sojourn, starting with the difficulties he encountered funding his way through the College of West Africa where he was forced to fend for himself with the help of his older brother Tamba and a job as a dishwasher at Rivoli Cinema.
The CWA Years – lessons Learned
Despite his struggles, Boakai defeated John T. Richardson as Student Council President marking his entry into politics, at least at the high school level.
The book recalls a tough matchup pitting the young, bright but inexperience Boakai against the popular Richardson. “Richardson didn’t only have the name recognition but he was popular among the girls,” Malakpa writes.
“On the other hand, Joe as head student in the dormitory, had the support of students on the hostel.
These students were mixed in that a number of them were from the Monrovia area, while others transferred to CWA from Ganta and Gbarnga Methodist Missions, feeder schools to CWA.”
Seward Cooper, most recently chairman of the board of the National Oil Company of Liberia and legal advisor to the President was campaign manager for Boakai and is quoted in the book as recalling a tough race between the pair. “Indeed it was a tough one; the results showed Joe won 112-111 votes.
The book presents Boakai’s CWA years as a learning curve for what is unfolding in his quest for the presidency. “From the race for the CWA presidency, Joe learned three crucial lessons. First, he learned the obvious; that is, as he himself puts it, “when God wants something to happen, it will.”