I cannot join the ‘wicket ticket’

As politics in Liberia takes a dramatic turn, the Vice Standard Bearer of the All Liberian Party (ALP) Alexander Nyonkon Duopu parts company with his standard bearer Mr. Benoni Urey, and gives his support to Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate George Weah for the November 7th runoff election, saying he does not want to join the “wicked ticket” of Vice President Joseph Boakai and Speaker Emmanuel Nuquay of the governing Unity Party.

Mr. Doupu made the public declaration on Tuesday, 31 October when he appeared on Power Exchange, a live talk show hosted by Power FM in Monrovia. The professional classroom teacher-turned politician says it is unimaginable that the ALP Standard Bearer, who criticized the Unity Party led-government for creating unemployment and poor health care delivery to the people, would suddenly support the ruling establishment.

According to him, the Boakai-Nuquor Ticket witnessed the removal from government payroll names of the President of the Health Workers Association of Liberia and all heads of the National Teachers Association of Liberia in the various counties for several months thereby, denying them finance to cater to their respective families.

Duopu continues that days after he declared his support for Senator George Weah, Mr. Urey allegedly sent people to his house to retrieve a vehicle he claims the ALP Standard Bearer bought as a gift for him, but says instead of turning the vehicle over to Urey’s men, he instead presented it to Deputy Police Inspector General for Operations, Col. Abraham Kromah.

The defected ALP Vice Standard notes that he did not ask Mr. Urey for a car when he joins the party, but was approached by the Standard Bearer, who informed him that he had a gift for him, which is the vehicle in question.According to him, Mr. Urey did not consult officials of the party, its National Executive Committee, which has oversight responsibility to daily party operations.

He alleges that few days ago, he received calls from an official of the ruling Unity Party, one Peter Solo, who allegedly threatened him and based on the graveness of the threat, he has informed the deputy police boss, A.B. Kromah. He however assured that the people of Nimba County will definitely elect the Coalition for Democratic Change, come next Tuesday to usher in the next government of Liberia.

By Emmanuel Mondaye