Salala, Bong County – The emergence of Bong County Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor as the vice presidential candidate of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has been generating a lot of mixed reactions.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Reactions trailing the emergence of the Weah-Taylor ticket in Bong County are hardly unanimous on what it portends for the coalition.
Taylor’s emergence came just at a time chiefs, religious leaders and prominent citizens in Bong County were negotiating to come up with a ‘consensus’ candidate to support in October this year.
Many prominent citizens – mainly partisans of Howard-Taylor’s National Patriotic Party – have described the senator’s decision to form a coalition without the consent of the county as unilateral, threatening to reject the decision at the ballot box in October.
Long before Howard-Taylor’s selection as running mate to Senator Weah, her political relevance appeared not as strong as it was prior to her re-election in 2014. No doubt, Howard-Taylor’s influence in 2014 played a vital part in her re-election election. However, since then, things haven’t gone as well as she would have hoped.
Claims of failed 2014 campaign promises and the ongoing rift between she and Rep. Prince Moye, is compounding Senator Taylor’s political woes.
It may take some more time to know how much Howard-Taylor’s influence in Bong County has depreciated. However, in the meantime, this year’s presidential election could be yet another litmus test and opportunity for the Bong County senator to test her popularity and relevance.
Until then, according to pundits, her political hold and assertion in Bong County remain in doubt.
FrontPageAfrica has been sampling the opinions of citizens regarding Howard-Taylor’s choice as vice running mate to Ambassador George Weah.
Marie Sumo: “From what I am seeing in the county it would be difficult for the CDC. How can we win when we chose a running mate who is fighting to make the country to a Christian nation?
And you know in Bong County, though Senator Taylor won in 2014 but she got low votes from the Muslim population and I see a repeat of that. Who told her that the Muslims will take risk to elect such a person?
Who told her that the Muslims are stupid to think she has forgotten her agenda? How do we merge in the run off when every single party doesn’t trust us as a party?”
Sheikh Sheriff, Businessman: “The ticket of Senator George Weah and Senator Taylor is already a failed one. First of all, Senator Weah has contradicted himself for the fact he said he believe in reconciliation, how can he choose a vice running mate who doesn’t support his agenda? Senator Taylor has proven that she is a trabalist.
Her recent post “I on my way to work for the Kpelle people mehn” and her unrelenting quest to make Liberia a Christian state is a testament of my claims against her. Also, her selection as vice running mate was done in Monrovia without the consent of the people of the county.
I strongly believe when we (residents of Bong County) shall have concluded our meeting on which of our sons to carry as consensus candidate, Senator Taylor will be left in the cold. We can’t be fooled this time around as a county. I think Senator has had enough from us as a county.”
Isaiah Kerkulah, Farmer: “If choosing Senator Taylor is a strategy to win Bong then in my mind it won’t work. That could have worked had our senator fulfilled her campaign pledge she made to the people of Karyarta.
Since her re-election we have been trying to see if we can get to her but it has been impossible. I think Senator Taylor needs to give other sons and daughters of the county to try in the interest of power sharing.
We have already given her eighteen years as senator then what does she want. For us in Karyarta, we have already made our decision for the presidential election and just waiting for the appropriate time. Thank you for interviewing me my son.”
Kusee Armstrong, Advocate: Senator Taylor’s selection by the coalition will have no effect on the voting population in Bong County. Going by the 2014 special senatorial election, Howard-Taylor won disputably because of the huge Lofa County population residing in the Gbarnga and Totota communities.
But with the presence of the Vice Boakai in the race as a presidential candidate, Lofa County citizens residing in the county are said to be gravitating towards Boakai with their support – in Octoer this year.
Another factor that may undermine Howard-Taylor’s influence in the county is the presence of two of Bong County’s prominent sons: Dr. Henrique Tokpa and Ambassador Jeremiah Sulunteh. No doubt if anyone of these two is selected as a running mate to any candidate, there are high prospects that citizens of the county will support that ticket against Jewel in the county.”
Jefferson Gbaryan, Manager, Bong County Service Center: “What does Senator Taylor really want from Bong County? I think we have to resist her this time around. You cried on us 2014 for us to re-elect you and we did with the hope that you will unite the county as our mother but it now shows that you are the source of conflict in the county. So it means you are the only educated person in Bong County? We say no to you Senator Taylor.
This time around, you will not get our support. We will mobilize to ensure that the coalition fails in Bong County. We got prominent sons of the county whom we feel can contribute positively in this direction. Rest and enjoy your eighteen years, Senator Taylor.”
Gerald George, Businessman: “Senator Taylor’s pick as a running mate to Ambassador George Weah is wrong and an unfortunate one. The wish of the people of Bong was that the coalition was going to be a strong opposition but to my surprise, the choice of Howard-Taylor is dead on arrival.
The only thing I can remember Senator Taylor for all her fake campaign promises made to us during the 2014 election. We are no longer stupid!! It is so unfortunate that at a time we’re looking towards having a better country, the coalition is trying to miss that mark. George Weah has lost our support.”
Peter Gorlormator, Farmer: “In my mind it will be difficult for Jewel to succeed this time around because the people against her are many. In Samay here, the number of people against her are many. I don’t see any chance for the CDC ticket.
Already our lawmaker Prince Moye has started telling us to not support Jewel because she’s power greed who wants to divide citizens of the county and so we are waiting for him to direct us in October.”
Mamie Padmore, Farmer: “For me, I have been a strong supporter of the National Patriotic Party. I voted for the party in 2005, 2011 and voted for Jewel in 2014 senatorial election. But this time I have decided to not support the NPP. Jewel has not done anything for us since Charles Taylor left the country. All the promises she gave us in Suakoko during the 2014 election nothing has been fulfilled so this time around I am tired voting for her. I will try someone else.”
Gorma McGill, Farmer: “To be elected for eighteen years and still doesn’t have a house in Bong County shows that Senator Taylor lacks love of Bong County. Many of us have now gotten to understand this and because of that we are planning to reward her in October this year. You can’t be serving as senator of a county and haven’t constructed a house – that in itself is alarming.
In my mind she did this to undermine the county’s impending decision to reduce the number of candidates from the county to one through engagement and consensus building among potential and influential sons and daughters of the county.”
Ma Younger Pelemensiah, Farmer: “The CDC is free to make its choice. I am not in the CDC and so, it is not relevant to me. My concern now is which name would come up from the meetings we as citizens of the county have been organizing to carry as unanimous candidate. Is about time we put the interest of the county first over personal ambition.”
Jerry Mccauley, Suakoko district: “Senator Taylor has proven to have very less interest in Bong County as it relates to even infrastructure development. Why should we always support her? Look at all of our leaders. All of our lawmakers have properties in Bong unlike Senator Taylor. That doesn’t show love for county. After electing you for eighteen years you can’t construct a hut in a county you profess to love? I am not going to support Senator Taylor this time around!”
Josiah Marvin Cole, District #3 aspirants: “The choice of Howard-Taylor as vice running mate is also leaving us much stronger for the task ahead. I commend CDC and other leaders of the coalition for arriving at a choice that is bound to strengthen our ticket.
Regardless of what skeptics are saying the CDC is set to run an issue-based campaign and carry along every segment of the society in the electoral process that would culminate in CDC emerging victorious at the October presidential election.”
Obediah Weahweah, Intellectual: “The people of Bong County can’t afford to elect Senator Taylor as vice standard bearer because the people need fair judgment here. Senator Taylor has been given eighteen years as Senator at the expense of others eminent citizens of the county. And in fact, she is not the only permanent and educated citizen of the county.
Another point is going as running mate to Senator George Weah is a decision by her party NPP not Bong County citizens, the people were not consulted, there was no meeting with citizens of the county. She can’t get this one, trust me my brother!”
Jutumo Mulbah, Youth leader: “The Weah-Jewel will not succeed in Bong. In 2014, Senator Taylor won a disputed election that created division amongst supporters of other contestants.
In fact, she has failed to follow-up on most of her supporters with the saying that “I’m unable to address all of the multiple problems people have.” And besides, Senator Taylor seems uncooperative with her colleagues in the caucus, in her own party and the local County leadership.
The fight in the Bong legislative caucus will affect the coalition in Bong County. Additionally, Senator Taylor’s unwavering religious and tribal quest over Christian state could also affect the CDC.”
Aaron Vallah, Student, Cuttington University: I believe in the Weah-Jewel ticket because Senator Taylor against all the odds in 2014 won Bong County to get re-elected. Anyone doubting that Senator Taylor’s popularity has depreciated is saying that out of mere envy.
How can that be in less than three years after winning with over twenty five thousand votes. I think the combination will be good to sell not just in Bong County but the entire country.”
Samuel Elliot, President, Bong Motorcyclist Union: “I think the people of Bong County are willing to give anybody that has sincerity and honesty the chance to lead. One thing that remains clear to everyone is the “Taylor factor”.
In 2014, we saw how ex-combatants put aside their difference with Senator Taylor to reaffirm their trust in her. I strongly believe Senator Taylor can put up a surprise in Bong County.”