Monrovia -The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has described some of its partisans who recently resigned from the party as political lunatics and neophytes who are masquerading as elders of the party.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr – [email protected]
Recently the Alternative National Congress (ANC) Annex in Sinkor was a scene of another political drama when six persons claiming to be founding members of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) crossed over to the ANC for what they described as lack of respect to the Elder Council of MOVEE.
The Chairman of the Elders Council of MOVEE, Samuel Philips, said he and his colleagues had to resign from MOVEE due to lack of party policy and disrespect to the elders.
Philips noted that Dr. Mills Jones and his party chairman are running the party outside the constitution governing that institution.
He noted that since the founding of the party, the political leader of the party is yet to be a registered member and has not been endorsed by the Elders Council like other members have done.
All six members of the Elders Council of MOVEE said they have no confidence in the leadership of Dr. Jones as he is not qualified to be president of Liberia due to his lack of policy.
Philips explained that they cannot be part of an institution that is governed by laws and the constitution of the party that is not respected by Dr. Jones and his followers.
But addressing a group of Journalists over the weekend in reaction to the resignation of the six persons at MOVEE party headquarters in Monrovia, MOVEE Vice Chairman, Mr. Robert Sammy said that the resignation of what he called “so called Elders” has no impact on the party, saying that elections around the corner so they are looking for party with gravy.
He noted that there has been no time in MOVEE record that Dr. Mills Jones has imposed himself as standard bearer of the party. Sammie said that the party went for convention in March 2016 and primary will be held early next year to elect their standard bearer.
“We are going for primary soon and if Dr. Jones does not win, no problem. Whosoever that wins will be the party standard bearer and 2017 is time for MOVEE to win and we will surely win the upcoming elections, no matter who becomes the standard bearer.” Sammy said.
He said there has been no record in MOVEE that Mr. Samuel O. Philips who claimed to be chairman for what he called” so called Council” was chairman in their political party.
He added that Dr. Jones is a member of the party like other members. “They can leave and join any party they want but we are hopeful of winning the 2017 elections.”
Sammie denied that there is a group in the MOVEE called Elder Council, saying the six men are of no use to the party and called on partisans around the country to carry on their normal party functions.
“In the first place, there is no such organ in MOVEE by the name of Elder Council. Even if there is Elder Council in MOVEE, what would be the motivational purpose for choosing Samuel Philips, Hodo Merriam, Rufus Saydee, Philip Benson and Roland B. Mathew, who do not have any record of distinction for any achievements?
Politically and even socially elder council usually comprised of people with clout, good reputation and distinction in community and society. These people do not fall in such category,” he noted.
“Having said that, we want to deal with these few points directly: They said Dr. J. Mills Jones is not a member of the Party and he is imposing himself as Standard-bearer of the Party, this shows their naivety of how MOVEE is structured, how one becomes member and how an individual becomes a standard bearer. I wonder these so called elders are the custodians of MOVEE membership roster; therefore, they can tell the World who is a member of MOVEE,” he noted.
Sammie also noted that the Party has mechanisms in place for election of its standard bearer and officials.
He said to date, the party, during its first national convention held in March 2016, elected national officers, saying, the party shall in due course hold primaries across Liberia for the purpose of electing its representative and presidential candidates for the forthcoming 2017 elections.
“Let it be known to all that MOVEE is a party that adheres to democratic virtues and principles as enshrined in its by-laws and constitution.
They also said Dr. Jones is usurping the functions of the National Chairman of the Party to show that these so called elders do not understand how MOVEE as a political party is structured and worked.
The chairman of the Party is the principal and senior administrative officer of the party responsible for the coordination, supervision and effective implementation of party programs, policies as well as serving as chief liaison between registered political parties, NEC, civil society and Government of Liberia,” he noted.
He said the Chairman of MOVEE oversees all administrative and operational activities of the party daily, saying these functions are in no way being hindered as insinuated by the so-called elders.
According to him the standard bearer of the party has no administrative or operational role to play in the administration and management of the party.
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