It appears like the home-grown wolves that ate former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Unity Party in 2017 are beginning to grow teeth again ahead of the 2023 elections due to what is being termed as his “push and start” and “scheming” tactics in decision making.
The latest criticism against the UP Standard Bearer comes from within, as some partisans, including some executives of the former governing party, are pointing to indecisiveness as the major weakness of the 76-year-old.
The outburst grows out of the former Vice President’s alleged role in covertly fomenting chaos and division in the party by undermining the report and decision of the Election Committee of the UP’s national convention, held in Gbarnga, Bong County, in late July this year.
The UP Convention Committee, following an investigation into a protest filed by Melvin Cephas, candidate for the position of National Youth Chairman, against another candidate for the same position, Lansanna Fofana, postponed the youth chair election to a later date.
Cephas had complained that Fofana is 40 years old, far above the age limit of 35 years in keeping with the Unity Party’s constitution. Election for the position of National Vice Chair for Administration of the Youth Congress was also postponed as a result of another protest.
The convention (Election Committee), in its report, recommended that a “white ballot” be cast to elect the new National Youth Chairman, but the submission of said report was delayed by the newly elected National Chairman, Rev. Dr. J. Luther Tarpeh, on ground that he needed legal advice from one of Unity Party’s lawyers, Cllr. Gloria Musu Scott, on the way forward.
Cllr. Scott advised that the Election Committee’s report (recommendation) be upheld and that the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) go ahead to set the date for the “White Ballot”, but several attempts by the NCC to convene and decide on the matter have consistently been disrupted by some youthful supporters of Lansanna Fofana.
The concerned UP partisans, who prefer anonymity for now, accused former VP Boakai of once again displaying his indecisiveness by failing to exercise leadership as Standard Bearer and Political Leader of the party, amidst persistent claims that he, Boakai, and Chairman Luther Tarpeh prefer and support Fofana, who was accordingly denied for proved age falsification.
The disappointed and concerned UP partisans expressed frustration over VP Boakai’s apparent weakness and scheming tactics in addressing issues that border on the reputation and political future of the Unity Party.
They expressed fear that one of the major mistakes that cost Ambassador Boakai and the UP the 2017 election, which is his inability or slow pace in making decision, could be reappearing ahead of the much-anticipated 2023 elections.
Several key members of the former governing party are said to be angry and frustrated with their Political Leader and Standard Bearer for allegedly placing the interest of a single individual, Fofana, over the interest of the party and his (Boakai’s) political interest.
The concerned UP partisans, including diaspora members, are reportedly close to issuing a major position statement to call their Standard Bearer to order and action.
It can be recalled that the delay by former VP Boakai to name his running mate in 2017 was viewed as one of the mistakes that negatively impacted momentum for his presidential campaign and drove away key members of the party and some influential supporters of his.
Already, there is growing uneasiness in the ranks of the Unity Party and supporters of VP Boakai over whom he will select as his running mate for the ensuing 2023 election, and when he will make that decision and pronouncement, amidst growing anxiety within the opposition community.
The concerned UP partisans warned VP Boakai to prove his critics wrong by exerting himself as a statesman seeking to lead his nation, and respect the laws of his party.
They cautioned him to also be mindful of individuals they referred to as “wolves in sheep’s clothing” as he endeavors to make crucial decisions on the governing of the Unity Party and his journey towards 2023.