Monrovia – Senator Henrique Tokpah, a former President of the Cuttington University (CU) for over 13 years, has said that presidents of universities around the world are politicians, too.
Report by Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Sen. Tokpah backed his comments by dispelling what he called misconceptions that university presidents are not politicians.
According to the Bong Senator, university presidents in many Africa countries are called vice chancellor and the presidents are chancellors at many universities.
“It is a political position base on technical knowhow. It is a misconception that university presidents are not politicians,” he emphasized.
According to him, as president of CU, he had to know how to navigate his way through the Legislature in order to get subsidy for his institution.
“So as a president of a university, you have to know how to navigate your way through the legislature. I had to know the workings of the Legislature as President of the University to get subsidy. I was prepared so I am very comfortable here.”
The Bong County Senator’s comments were in response to question as to whether the Senate or Legislature was a familiar terrain for him.
Running on a Platform of Reconciliation
Tokpah contested in 2014 but didn’t win according to the National Elections Commission (NEC). He challenged the process at the Supreme Court and the NEC was mandated to conduct a rerun and after some back door negotiation, he surrendered to Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, who was his main rival in the Bong senatorial race.
According to him, his goal is to reconcile the people of Bong County. It was clear that Vice President Jewel didn’t support him in the 2018 senatorial by-election to replace her. She preferred newcomer Malvin Cole, who had just been elected in the House of Representatives replacing Rep. George Mulbah of District #5.
The election created serious division amongst the Caucus of Bong County with majority including Deputy Speaker Prince Moye joining the campaign team of Dr. Tokpah. At some point, Vice President Taylor in one of her campaign speeches, branded the Tokpah camp anti-Weah presidency. To Sen. Tokpah those comments no longer count; adding: “She did it to get her candidate elected.”
“I ran on a platform to bring reconciliation to the county because of differences and other issues. The caucus was fragmented, people had personal differences. I do not record any beef with me and the VP. My relation with her has always been cordial. She is our Vice President. In 2014 I had issues with the NEC not her.”
Baffle over Calls to Divide Bong
“My concern has always been where the boundary is? As a child, I was born in Lower Bong. It starts from Cuttington. If you have read about the history of Liberia you will know that Jorkorleh and Grand Kru were the two last areas the government was able to capture and extend domination but to do that they had to past through Suakoko, then Suakoko was in Lower Bong.”
According to Tokpah, history shows that when the Government of Liberia decided to develop institutions including Cuttington, Phebe in late 1950s, and CARI in the early 1940s, the chiefs of Upper Bong sent them to Suakako because they said Madam Suakoko allowed them because they could not accept Americo-Liberian rule.
“CARI took more than 3000 acres of farm land from Madam Suakoko and her people. Cuttington took 1500 acres and Phebe took 2000 acres. That was in attempt to punish Madam Suakoko.
“As it turns out, these institutions are providing jobs and services so if your argument is all the development are in Upper Bong than its false and if you accept that the boundary of Cuttington is the traditional legal boundary, then accept for the Bong Technical College all developments are in Lower Bong.
“No one has convinced me. Some old people have acknowledged it. I am a senator for Bong County. There are others who want to breakaway, I am not sure it will be in our interest to divide up but those proffering it have their arguments.”