Monrovia – An Executive Committee member of the former ruling National Patriotic Party (NPP), Senator Sando Dazoe Johnson, has disclosed that executives and partisans of the party are disenchanted with President George Manneh Weah over his alleged delay in affording them the opportunity to work in government.
Report by Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
Senator Johnson is representing the people of Bomi County in the 54th National Legislature.
The former governing National Patriotic Party (NPP) of ex-President Charles Ghankay Taylor, is one of the three political parties that make up the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), that brought President Weah to power in 2018.
The remaining two political parties that form part of the Coalition are the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), and the Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP).
Speaking in an interview with FrontPageAfrica on Wednesday, October 16, via telephone, Senator Johnson said many executives and members of the NPP have consistently threatened to leave the party and coalition respectively due to the failure of the President to appreciate their efforts.
He claimed that though the NPP executives and partisans are qualified Liberians, who canvassed vigorously across the country to ensure the election of President Weah, their appointments in government remain uncertain.
He maintained that the latest defeat of the CDC’s candidate in the Montserrado County Senatorial election is a clear indication that partisans of the NPP are not happy with the President.
According to Senator Johnson, most members and partisans of the NPP boycotted the voting process, because of disenchantment.
“We saw the senatorial by-election in Montserrado County. The CDC didn’t pull enough votes. It was a protest by itself. I am sure that the government understands that our partisans are not happy and that’s why they didn’t vote,
Names Submitted to President on ice
“Most of our partisans and Executive members of the NPP cannot see their way clear to be appointed in government. They are not happy to be left out. They are disenchanted because of this.”
– Senator Sando Johnson, Executive Member National Patriotic Party of the Ruling Coalition for Democratic Change
Senator Johnson pointed out that the NPP, through its Standard Bearer, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, submitted names and qualifications of scores of its partisans and executives to the President for consideration.
He maintained that though the party is cognizant that it is the constitutional responsibility of the President to make appointments in government, the names of some partisans and executives of NPP should also be considered for appointment, too.
“Most of our partisans and Executive members of the NPP cannot see their way clear to be appointed in government. They are not happy to be left out. They are disenchanted because of this,” he added.
“I am adding my voice to this to say even though the government will not give all of our partisans jobs or its own partisans jobs, they must appreciate the efforts of these people,” he noted
Discussions Underway
The Bomi County lawmaker pointed out that discussions are underway to request VP Howard-Taylor to engage President Weah on the mounting concerns being expressed by executives and partisans of the NPP.
“We know that some of our people are qualified and we will engage the President,” he added.
He said the engagement with the Liberian Chief Executive is intended to ensure that peace and unity continues among executives and members of political parties that are part of the coalition.
Plea to Remain Peaceful
Meanwhile, Senator Johnson has urged executives and supporters of the former ruling party to remain calm and peaceful.
He noted that despite the disenchantment, aggrieved NPP executives and partisans should remain courageous and avoid engaging into unlawful acts that would cause confusion in the country.
“I will not want us to be violent. We will continue talking. If nothing happens, this too is a political institution, they can find their way out and find another thing to do,” he stated.