BONG COUNTY – The midterm special senatorial by-election has taken a new turn. What all thought was a two-horse race has become a three-man race.
Council of Patriots acting chairman, Menipakei Dumoe shifting the playing field with his captivating messages around unity and eradicating corruption. He has branded his main opponents as an evil twin of greed and failure.
Dumoe insists that his victory will bring about unity in the county. Speaking at the Malian Atayee center in Gbarnga, Dumoe told his audience that the main thing keeping the county poor and backward is the lack of unity; a divided legislative caucus and in ability of leaders to support and work along with the current vice president who is the most senior public official from the county.
The reputable Independent Grassroots Movement (IGRM) resolved at it’s executive meeting to endorse Dumoe’s candidacy over the weekend. Speaking to thousands of IGRM executives attending the crucial meeting, Hon. Menipakei Dumoe assured the gathering that there will be no witch hunt on his watch. He said ‘people should not be punished for who they supported during an election. Hon. Dumoe furthered; ‘ I believe that only a United Bong County can prosper. We have to love each other and stop undermining each other in order for us to develop as a county’
Although earlier dismissed, Dumoe’s call for the release of former Liberian President Charles Taylor is becoming a huge driving force. The message about freeing Taylor has peddled him to the full front of voters’ minds in Bong County. If the reception Dumoe received on his return to the county last weekend is anything to go by, then he is clearly the dark horse of the Bong County Senatorial race.
The Bong County Senatorial aspirant drove through the county last weekend with vehicle carrying the picture of the former Liberian President, Charles G. Taylor with the inscription: ‘Dumoe says free GHANKAY’. The Ford Ranger of Hon. Dumoe drew crowd everywhere it turned and a full-blown debate has been sparked in every corner of the county’s intellectual community.
It remains to be seen just how much impact Dumoe make in terms of actually getting votes but there is just too much talk of the new comer to write him off. Incumbent Senator Henry Yallah and Prince Moye will if ignore the Dumoe ground swell of support at their own peril as the writing is very much on the wall in Bong County; an upset is in the making.