MONROVIA – Sinoe County Senator J. Milton Teahjay, known for his political inconsistency, says he will support former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the opposition Unity Party in the pending November 14, 2023 runoff elections.
By Henry Karmo, [email protected]
Teahjay, who recently contested for re-election in the Sinoe County senatorial election, was defeated by Mr. Crayton Duncan, a candidate from the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), by a significant margin.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as we approach the November 14 runoff elections and after extensive consultations, we have arrived at the conclusion of officially endorsing Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, the Standard Bearer of the Unity Party. He is a statesman of immense patience, character, and the ability to lead Liberia while redirecting the course of governance for the benefit of all Liberians.
“We call upon all our fellow citizens of Sinoe County and all Liberians to join us in this mission for the pursuit of a better Liberia.”
Teahjay’s decision comes in the wake of five years of support for the CDC agenda during his role as Senator of Sinoe County. Like many other Senators, he has publicly supported the George Weah government by the way they have voted on legislation favoring the Government.
In his endorsement statement, he extended heartfelt appreciation to the people of Sinoe County, who bestowed upon him the singular honor and privilege of serving as their Senator for a total of nine years, spanning both the 53rd and 54th Legislative sessions of the Republic of Liberia.
“Following the pivotal 2017 legislative and presidential elections, I wholeheartedly dedicated six years of my political career within the legislature to assist the CDC in fulfilling the mandate of the people of Sine County. Regrettably, after contributing to President Weah’s development agenda in the legislature and observing the initial results of the 2023 elections, it is abundantly clear that the CDC is ill-equipped to lead this nation for the next six years.”
According to Teahjay, in the later years of the CDC administration, he held the premature hope that the government would capitalize on the substantial gains made across various sectors under the previous UP government. However, to his dismay, the CDC has not demonstrated a willingness to harness the crucial political capital it was entrusted with.
He also said it is disheartening to witness a government that rose on a populist platform lacking the trust, credibility, and the ability to bring together national political leaders to stabilize the country. Instead, the nation has witnessed the marginalization and alienation of the political class, often encouraging chaos and, in some instances, even being linked to the tragic murders of individuals who refused to submit to the whims of the Weah administration.
“Reflecting on the wisdom imparted to me during my political apprenticeship under the late struggle icons G. Gabriel Matthew and Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, I consider it a political betrayal to abandon the values of multi-party democracy, social justice, and economic freedom.
In these trying times when our people are facing complex socio-economic challenges, I recall the words of Martin Luther King, “our people will remember not the words of their enemies but the silence of their friends.” I have chosen not to remain silent, for our people expect us to speak out and provide guidance in selecting leaders based on competence, experience, and a genuine commitment to serving and protecting their well-being.
Teahjay, known for preaching Kru and Sarpo politics in Sinoe County, told journalists he has adamantly refused to engage in what seems to be a divisive tribal chorus echoing throughout the country’s political landscape, as it threatens to pit one region against the rest.
As a Senator and a prominent leader of our beloved Sinoe County, I have faithfully followed the mandates of our people over the past six years. The question that lingers now is: What have our people gained from their loyalty during these past six years?
Currently, the southeastern counties are among the most neglected, impoverished, and destitute positions at an alarming rate, contributing to the dire state of the healthcare system in the southeastern region.
After six years of marriage with the CDC government, the outspoken senator has realized that schools in the southeast lack basic supplies, with many instructors not receiving their salaries in a timely manner.
“Some junior high schools in the southeast have just two instructors, which is an affront to the loyalty of our people and a disgrace to our educational system.”
