Gbarnga, Bong County – The 2017 Presidential election in Liberia is drawing mixed variables which combination could be suitable for some candidates.
Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]
One of such emerging variable is the Central Alliance, which is being heralded by chiefs, elders and stakeholders from Bong, Margibi, Nimba and Lofa Counties.
A new campaign tool has emerged for the Joseph Boakai-Emmanuel Nuquay ticket with a Bassa Chief from Kokoyah District in Bong County rallying his kinsmen that they should hands in forming the central collaboration to overwhelmingly support the Boakai-Nuquay ticket.
Paramount Chief Togar Glaybo speaking Saturday when citizens of Bong County reaffirmed their support to the Boakai-Nuquay ticket said it is time for the Bassa and Kpelle from Margibi to join ranks with those from Lofa to give the Boakai-Nuquay ticket a first round victory.
“All the Bassa people from Margibi and Bong, let us join our brothers and sisters from Lofa to make this one round”, Chief Glaybo said.
Glaybo’s stance was also buttressed by Chief Flomo Barwolor who spoke on behalf of Bong County during the ceremony.
Chief Barworlor said there was no question about Bong County support to the Boakai-Nuquay ticket and it is only time from others to join in supporting the two sons of Margibi and Lofa counties.
“We are already resolved as a county and people to support the Boakai-Nuquay team,” he said.
Bong County Senator, Henry Yallah, Governing Chairman of the People’s Unification Party (PUP) that has now brought Nuquay to the bigger political limelight, said the nomination of Nuquay by Vice President Boakai is a fulfillment of the purpose for which the PUP was formed.
Mandate from the chiefs
Senator Yallah disclosed that chiefs from the three central counties during a meeting in Gbarnga in 2016 mandated political leaders of the four counties to ensure that a prominent son of the region is supported to become either President or vice President.
“The dream of our elders and chiefs has now been fulfilled with the selection of Nuquay as vice standard bearer of the ruling Unity Party”, said Senator Yallah.
According to him during the meeting where the chiefs and elders gave the mandate, symbolic broom and cutlass were offered to pave the way for a political success for any individual selected from the central region.
No vacancy
Yallah said at the moment, there is no vacancy for other political parties in Bong besides the Boakai-Nuquay due to the level of unity subsisting between the people of the county.
“If you think the kpelle people are divided then try and see this October. No vacancy in Bong for any political parties besides the Boakai-Nuquay ticket. Whether you are a vice running mate from Bong County or not, the people of Bong County are resolved to support the Boakai-Nuquay,” Yallah said.
This is the first time political leaders of the county have united to support a party in an election year since the election of former President Charles Taylor, who won Bong County in the 1997 election with 89 per cent of the votes, according to the National Election Commission.
Why central alliance could aid Nuquay?
The central counties have a lot in common ranging from the same tribes, activities and close traditional ties.
In all four counties two tribes cut across-Kpelle and Bassa with people from these tribes accounting for a good number of the population of these counties.
Margibi is shared in good portion by Kpelle and Bassa and a collaboration of the two tribes as expressed by chiefs from both sides rallying support for Boakai-Nuquay is a good signal, according to political observer Weah Sondah.
“This new political formulation could pay off for the Boakai-Nuquay team because these counties share something in common,” he said.
Also in Lofa County, an entire district – Salayea – is dominated by the Kpelle and along with those from other parts of the county; the mandate by the chiefs to their people is a big boost to the Boakai-Nuquay ticket, Sondah added.
Heavy lawmakers support to Nuquay from all three counties is another major factor in favor of the Boakai-Nuquay ticket.
Lawmakers from other political parties seem to be firmed on their support to the Boakai-Nuquay party irrespective of political party affiliation.
At the program, nearly all Bong County lawmakers were present. According to Representative Prince Moye (Unity Party District #2) Nuquay’s style of leadership at the House of Representatives has enabled him to woo lawmakers from other political parties to the PUP.
”Nuquay has proven to be a leader who is selfless and a team player that is why his presence continues to attract our peers to the PUP,” Rep. Moye said.
Also, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) was dealt a big blow when one of its lawmakers, George S. Mulbah, defected from the National Patriotic Party – one of three political parties that formed the coalition – to the PUP.
Another lawmaker, Edward Karfiah, who served as Campaign Manager for Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, now Vice Standard Bearer of the CDC, during the 2014 Special Senatorial Election, has also joined the PUP.
Representative Tokpah Mulbah, who also won two successive elections on the ticket of Congress for Democratic Change, is another lawmaker who has now joined the PUP.
These defections, according to political pundits, come at a big cost to the opposition and huge benefit to the Boakai-Nuquay ticket.
Strange political ties
Followers of Bong County politics have indicated that the 2017 election is proving to be a strange political mixture in the county’s history.
According to one political observer, Sheik Sheriff, this is the first time for more than five lawmakers from Bong County to support a common cause.
Lawmakers contesting against each other are for the first time in the county firmed on supporting the same Presidential ticket despite their political difference over the representative seat.
This could see representatives candidates campaign for their election separately and telling their respective supporters to vote the same Presidential ticket.
Former Bong County Senator, Franklin Siakor, who is supporting the candidacy of Boakai, is supporting district two representative aspirant Matthew Siakor at the disadvantage of incumbent Prince Moye.
It is acclaimed to Representatives candidates supporting a common cause in Boakai-Nuquay.
Nuquay accepts petition
Received the petition, a visibly elated Nuquay praised citizens of the county for the petition and said it didn’t come as a surprise.
He said he was glad that the people of Bong County have understood the essence of their numerical strength to unite with one voice in the October election.
“I am very grateful with the petition today. Is about time we in the central region unite for change. Let’s fulfill the dreams of Gabriel Kpolleh, former Bong County superintendent.”
Sky is the limit
Speaker Nuquay, addressing the mammoth crowd, said when the central region is united; the sky is the limit in achieving political success.
He said the region has the unique opportunity to make history and prove many things wrong.
“For years people held this perception that people from the Central region cannot hold, because we are envious of each other but this 2017 political season has proven that perception wrong”, he added.
The Unity Party vice standard bearer said the 2017 Presidential election is about time to take the unification of the country highly.
He alluded that the unity from the lawmakers of the central region propelled him to the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“I would like to appreciate lawmakers from Bong, Nimba, Margibi counties for the unity they exhibited in making me Speaker.”
“Had it not been for such unity I would not have been Speaker,” he added.
‘Boakai is a unifier’
Speaker Nuquay described Vice President Boakai as a unifier based on the level of endorsements he has received in almost all of Liberia’s 15 counties.
“Boakai is a symbol of unification, so why worry about unification when you have Boakai. Why also worry about development when you have a selfless person in Boakai?” he noted.
He described the long journey by Boakai from Foya in Lofa County to the Capitol in Monrovia as an indication of the kind of person that is heading for the presidency.
He challenged the central region to make maximum use of its numerical strength to ensure a first round victory come October.