Monrovia-FrontPageAfrica has reliably learned from well-placed Unity Party sources that Dr. Toga McIntosh has decided to abandon his quest to contest for the standard bearer ship of the Unity Party to eventually pursue his dream in another political institution.
According to a source who asked not to be named, Dr. McIntosh has told his supporters that in the wake of the Global witness report which he claims could impact the Party image he cannot continue his ambition to contest for the standard bear ship against Vice President Joseph Boakai and wants his supporters to follow him to his new political home but the new party, is yet to be announced.
“Almost all of us are saying we cannot go with him anywhere so if he suspends his campaign tomorrow it automatically means Boakai will be going on white ballot but there has been no deflection. We are working together as a team but this report I am completely against it, said some supporters.
“If he is continuing his agenda but elsewhere for me there is no elsewhere and for those who have worked on the Co-team it is only one way context in the party so once he is contemplating that decision it means we cannot be with him so it automatically means Boakai will go on white Ballot so if Boakai goes on white ballot as loyal partisans we have to support him,” our source said.
FrontPageAfrica also learned that supporters of Dr. McIntosh, the man who has publicly vowed to contest against Vice President for the standard bearer ship of the party are deflecting to support Vice President Boakai because their candidate is not willing to spend money on his supporters.
All efforts to contact Dr. McIntosh through text messages did not materialize.
Days after President Ellen Johnson told FrontPageAfrica in an interview few months ago that anybody wanting to succeed her will have to fight for the position; the same way she did, Dr. McIntosh emerged to battle Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, who is viewed as the clear favorite to contest on the Unity Party ticket to succeed President Sirleaf come 2017.
McIntosh Says He Has Discussed Plan with EJS
The former Minister of Planning, who recently represented Liberia at the regional grouping, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stepped up, declaring that he will contest the primary of the Unity Party to battle Vice President Boakai for the standard bearer position.
A confident of McIntosh appearing on state radio, LBS talk show on Monday, once again expressed however said he McIntosh still intends to challenge Boakai for the Unity Party primary in order to pursue his Presidential ambition; which he said he has been nurturing since 1991.
With Boakai already enjoying some public support from Unity Party officials including Cllr. Varney Sherman, President Sirleaf and others, McIntosh says the Unity Party standard bearer position is still up for grabs and saying he has already discussed his ambition with President Sirleaf and is ready to put up a fight against the Vice President.
“As far as I am concerned between now and the time of our primary, I have 344 or more people or whatever the number is to concentrate on and get my message to them”, said McIntosh.
Aspirant McIntosh received public support from influential members of the Party including Representative Worlea Dunah of Nimba County. In an exclusive interview with FrontPageAfrica, last month, Representative Dunah said his decision to support Dr. McIntosh is in the best interest of the country, adding that the former Foreign Minister is the best for the party’s leadership.
“I have assessed both candidates and their capacities to lead us to election and to victory which is very critical,” he said. “And in that process, we have come to look at what their strengths are to convince the Liberian people as Madam Sirleaf has done in two elections because it is important to continue the agenda that has come this far”, said the lawmaker.
He continued “I am calling on all partisans of the Unity Party in Liberia and the diaspora, all leaders of the Unity Party in Liberia and diaspora, that today I, Representative Worlea Saywah Dunah, declare that I am wholly—more than one hundred percent—supporting the veteran economist, international civil servant, the former dean of the cabinet, Dr. Toga McIntosh for the standard bearer ship of the Unity Party and that we will do everything in our power to ensure that he wins the standard bearer ship.”
When Vice President Boakai accepted a petition from citizens of Lofa County to contest the presidency many thought it was an easy affair for him to win the Unity Party slot but recent developments are looking the other way.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]