MONROVIA – On Sunday, former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai joined numerous well-wishers from Liberia and around the world in celebrating the 85th birth anniversary of his once long-standing political ally, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Ambassador Boakai paid a visit to Madam Sirleaf at her residence and present her with a bouquet of flowers.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
Ambassador Boakai and former President Sirleaf shared a harmonious political relationship spanning over a decade, with the former serving as Vice President under the latter’s leadership for more than 12 years.
However, tensions arose between the two after the 2017 elections, as Madam Sirleaf declined to endorse Ambassador Boakai’s presidential bid, choosing to remain neutral. She has maintained the same stance for the 2023 elections, refusing to back her former Vice President. As a result, the two have rarely been seen together in public since 2017.
Nevertheless, on the eve of his former boss’ birthday, 78-year-old Ambassador Boakai, accompanied by Macdella Cooper, a prominent member of the Unity Party Alliance, paid a visit to Madam Sirleaf to convey his best wishes as she marked her 85th birthday.
After the meeting, Madam Cooper took to her Facebook and wrote: “Today, His Excellency, Joseph Nyuma Boakai (our incoming President) visited Madam Sirleaf (Former President) and brought a beautiful bokay of locally grown flowers.                                   Putting Liberia First in all we do. Happy 85th Birthday Madam Sirleaf.                          #JNB_JKK #ejs #rescuemission2023 #macdellacooper.”
A Possible Reconciliation and Endorsement underway?
While no formal statements have been issued by either party regarding Ambassador Boakai’s visit, observers believe that his gesture may be an olive branch extended to his former boss as the crucial presidential runoff election looms. This runoff election pits him against his archrival, President George Weah, in what appears to be a rematch of the 2017 poll.
The two candidates are gearing up for the second round of the October 10 presidential election, which failed to produce an outright winner. With both candidates nearly neck and neck, President Weah secured a slim lead with 43.83 percent of the votes, while Ambassador Boakai closely trailed at 43.44 percent.
As they form alliances and reach out to influential politicians to garner support for the November 14 runoff, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s potential endorsement of her former political ally, observers say, could significantly boost Ambassador Boakai’s presidential bid.
