Monrovia – Solidifying his base to contest as standard-bearer against Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toga Gaywea McIntosh, paid a courtesy call on members of the party’s legislative caucus at the Legislature Wednesday.
Dr. McIntosh is poised to face a stiff challenge in the primary against the vice President who has received public support from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Unity Party national Chairman, Senator Varney Sherman.
In an FPA interview, President Sirleaf said while she supports Vice President Boakai’s bid, he must work tirelessly to get what he wants. “Anybody who gets it will get it the way I got it,” she said. “They will go and they will campaign for it and they will fight for it, they will set their targets and they will get it.”
Dr. McIntosh has repeatedly said he is aware of the challenges ahead in the party primary especially against the VP. He said it is the beauty of democracy, adding that the manner and form in which the primary will be conducted would determine his fate as a partisan of the Unity Party.
Visit to greet Lawmakers
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica following his visit to the Capitol, the former Foreign Minister said his visit to the Capitol was not to lobby but to greet his fellow partisans who are in the Legislature.
“I have partisans here,” he says. “I am just returning to the country, so I am just visiting with them to discuss and exchange ideas. Of course you know definitely I am contesting in the party so I don’t use the word lobby; so I just came to say hello to my partisans.”
Quizzed whether he also popped in the office of the Vice President Boakai, Dr. McIntosh said the Vice President’s schedule did not fit in his time of visit. He said he will meet the Vice President at another venue, not at the Capitol.
Though he did not specify what exactly was discussed with the lawmakers, he said one of the major things discussed was to unite the party as it prepares to go into elections with other political parties in 2017.
He downplayed rumors from critics that the party is entangled in a crisis with divided support for candidates who will represent them in the 2017 election.
“These are organizational problems; even in your home you have problems, they are not problems that will cause problems.”
Also speaking, Rep. Worlea Dunah who received Dr. McIntosh declared his intent as senior vice chair within the Unity Party in the primary, refusing to openly declare support for any candidate contesting the standard bearer position; though he has declared the advent of McIntosh as welcoming news.
Rep. Dorlea is on record for saying Vice President Boakai is aging and needs to step down.
“I am in consultation and I will be vying for the position of senior vice chair, and we will find alliance with likeminded people.”
He also failed to openly state whether or not he support his kinsman, Mr. Wilmot Paye, the current secretary General of the UP but said his support and victory will be merited on how he has guided the secretariat.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]