McIntosh Warns UP Leadership

A contender for the Political Leadership of ruling Unity Party has warned stalwarts and the entire leadership of the party that he will not accept any result not transparent, free and fair during the party’s upcoming convention.

Dr. Toga Gaywea McIntosh, at an intellectual forum on Carey Street in Central Monrovia recently, said while he accepts the fact that both National Chairman Varney Sherman and Secretary General Wilmot Paye have pledged their unflinching support to Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, he will not be part of a process that will be marred by fraud and not allow such undemocratic practice to go unregistered legally.

According to one of the main supporters of Dr. McIntosh, Nimba County Representative Saywah Worlea Dunah, they expect a clear and transparent process without ‘cheating’ in any manner or form. He said they would pursue and utilize what he called the rightful procedurals.

Rep. Dunah told this paper last evening that the Unity Party is a responsible party that believes in the tendencies of good governance and fair play, but if the convention went to the contrary, the ‘McIntosh block’ would strongly resist the process through democratic means.

Dr. McIntosh, the man determined to challenge Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for the standard bearer post of the governing Unity Party, called for rebranding of the UP if it should make a greater impact in the 2017 Presidential and Representatives elections.

Dr. Gaywea told the NewDawn in an exclusive interview recently at his Congo Town residence outside Monrovia that rebranding the Unity Party will not affect its flag, symbol or color, but some policy issues such as cleaning the party politically and resolving long-standing internal crisis which had led some influential stalwarts to exit.

He said it is saddening to see key partisans leaving because of internal crisis, and promised to work closely with the current leadership in making sure those partisans who left, return onboard, as well as recruit new partisans to make the UP once more a force to reckon with.

Dr. McIntosh is ex-minister of Foreign Affairs and former Vice President of ECOWAS. He indicated that the rebranding exercise would unite partisans and see newcomers joining the Unity Party’s wagon for the presidency.

He vowed to challenge Vice President Joseph Boakai in the ensuing national convention. Recently, Dr. McIntosh complained that Vice President Boakai had refused to meet with him. Such claims bring to light the speculation about internal fight within the ruling Unity Party.

Former Foreign Minister Toga Gayewea McIntosh had also claimed that upon his return to the country recently from an ECOWAS Mission in Nigeria, he attempted every available means to sit with Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai – his main rival in the party, but his effort proved fruitless.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Edited by George Barpeen