By Lincoln G. Peters
Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence’s supporters in Grand Bassa County are said to have vowed to reject former Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s presidential bid if he fails to pick her as running mate.
The fight for Boakai’s running mate has been tense among opposition parties and potential strongholds, with more names surfacing daily.
There’s no official account regarding whom Boakai might pick. However, the Liberty Party political leader, Sen. Karnga-Lawrence has recently been joined by the political leader of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Koung, as possible leading candidates.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday, 30 March 2023 in Monrovia, a son of Bassa, Togar Alexander Bealded said the people of Grand Bassa County hope that Amb. Boakai will pick their daughter Nyonblee as his running.
Mr. Bealded said he hopes that Amb. Boakai will not make a similar mistake he made in 2017 when he picked someone from Margibi over a son of Bassa, former Senate President Pro-tempore Gbehzohngar Findley.
“In the same year, he also denied access to deceased Cllr Charles Walker Brumskine and Amb. Toga Gayewea McIntosh, [other sons] of Grand Bassa County,” said Bealded.
He lamented that the Unity Party standard bearer denied three persons from the Bassa belt in the 2017 presidential and legislative elections.
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He said Koung from Nimba County has now appeared, reminding Amb. Boakai that Senator Karnga-Lawrence comes with a vast experience.
Bealded argued that Senator Karnga-Lawrence is serving her second term at the Liberian Senate, saying it is expedient Amb. Boakai chose her as his running mate.
He alleged that Amb. Boakai is denying the people of Bassa the glorious opportunity to serve their country, warning that if that happens, Unity Party should not think about campaigning in Grand Bassa County.
“What Amb. Boakai will be doing is to show to the people of Liberia that Grand Bassa County remains insignificant to the developmental drive and the body politics of the country,” Bealded alleged.
He continued that any attempt for Amb. Boakai to deny Senator Karnga-Lawrence, the Unity Party should forget about the people of Grand Bassa and find different counties to canvas for votes.
“We are following the politics and inducements. We know the hands that have been placed behind the scenes to make … unknown figures running mate to Amb. Boakai,” Bealded alleged.
He claimed that the issue of becoming running to somebody is not about what the person places on the table. According to Bealded, to be hearing that people want to induce Amb. Boakai with US$30 million just picking them as running mates is unacceptable.
He noted that Bassa is putting a cent on the table because it deserves the slot.
He warned Amb. Boakai that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) supported Senator Koung’s senatorial bid in Nimba and he won.
He emphasized that Koung was a CDC candidate in the 2020 senatorial election against the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) ticket.
He wondered how then can people think that Senator Koung can be discussed in an arrangement of opposition political parties.
People discuss Boakai as da his birthright to be prehsident, and no body else. Lehme hear in my ear. whole day Boakai Boakai people can hear. da his birthright to be prehsident?