About 25 Disgruntled Unity Party Officials Resigned

About twenty-five disgruntled executives of the governing Unity Party (UP) have tendered in their resignations from the UP to join other political parties, in the wake of the popularity and likability of the party appeared to be diminishing. The mass resignation of executives and strong partisans is circuitously going to affect the chances of Vice President Joseph Baokai ambition for the 2017 presidential election to replace President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

The ruling UP which has won successive presidential elections of 2005 and 2011 as well as the 2014 Senatorial Bye-election, has been experiencing a serious political rebelling within its ranks and files, thus prompting a mass resignations from the party.

The ruling UP Vice Standard-Bearer, Veep Joseph Baokai has since declared his intention to replace the party’s first partisan, President Johnson-Sirleaf comes 2017 presidential election but unfolding development in the party signal a trouble time for Vice President Boakai. The critical voices of the UP have gone into perpetual silence, something which speaks volume of negativity of the ruling party in the 2017 election.

It still remains doubtful if Vice President Baokai has the popularity and influence to win the admirations of his partisans and would-be-voters to contest the 2017 election? Political institutions especially parties in the country are built around individuals, such is the case of the governing Unity Party which democratically took state power through the congeniality and popularity of President Johnson-Sirleaf.

The same goes to CDC, Liberty Party, NPP, NDPL and several others. Whenever these individuals whose influences and financial power provided these parties to operate are no more around, such parties are doomed and soon get struck in the cold. This is evident because this has been the case with several political parties.

For instance, two former ruling parties-NDPL and NPP were exclusively centered on the financial supports and influences of ex-presidents Samuel K. Doe and Charles Taylor. This situation is not only limited to political parties but also extended to organizations and institutions in the country.

Many persons have expressed fears that the departure of President Sirleaf from the political scene will ultimately be the end of the ruling Unity Party, at the end of her state power thereby passing the torch of leadership to another party or individual.

Until political parties and institutions in the country can be prepared to smoothly operate outside the sways and pockets of individuals, Liberia’s political system is doomed to suffer a downward trail.

The first group of UP “rebel” partisans to resigned included former Senators of Gbarpolu, Bomi and Lofa Counties-Theodora Momo, Lahai Lassana, Sumo Kupee and Mr. Jefferson Gbaryan, former Chairman of UP Bong County Branch. These defeated senatorial candidates following their resignation from the party contested the 2014 Senatorial By-election on other political parties’ tickets.

The second group of executives to leave the party includes the Speaker of the National Legislature, Alex Tyler and Lofa County district Four Representative, Moses Kollie and Wesseh Blamo, of Grand Kru County District One. Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper and and Morias Waylee has also resigned from the UP.

The latest batch of persons to resign from the party is 18 executive members from Bomi County include the County Chairman, Mr. Richard B. Devine. Others are Maima B. Free County Chairlady; Miatta A. Monger, County Treasurer; Edwin B.G. Kpingba, County Chaplain; and Morris B. Sayou County Mobilization Chairman, among others.

The spokesman of the former partisans of UP, Mr. Devine said they are still searching for a better party to join, adding that “I wish to state that since we have resigned jointly we will also join another party together, and in numbers, for the mutual benefit of Bomi County,” Mr. Devine said.

In their letter to the Chairman of the Party who is also Senator of Grand Cape Mount County, Varney G. Sherman dated October 26 the defectors said their resignations were due to dissatisfaction “over the ill manner the Party has treated Bomi County.”

Propounding their frustration, the former Up partisans said for over 10 years, they have found themselves defending the failed policies of Unity Party to citizens and the opposition with promises that Bomi County would rise again under the Party’s leadership.

“The slogan ‘you do me, I do you’ remains the epitome of our deception to Bomi. Ten years have gone and we and the opposition have seen nothing, but economic regression in poverty and a silent government to our plight,” the letter said.

They alleged that “campaign promises are unfulfilled to the extent that we have become the mockery of other counties that are progressing. When we joined UP and campaigned for the leadership of this country, we did so believing that our party was the most qualified to bring development to our county.

“Ten years on, we now join the opposition to believe that this conviction of ours is false. Our county remains as backward as it was ten years ago,” the letter continued.

“As a result of the foregoing and several other reasons that we refrain to cite here, we have chosen this moment to discontinue our membership with the Unity Party. Please let this communication as our official resignation from the Unity Party.”