PUP eyes Boakai, Weah

The People’s Unification Party or PUP, one of Liberia’s 20 registered political parties says it is closely watching between Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of the governing Unity Party and Senator George Manneh Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change for a possible meager ahead of the 2017 presidential and representative elections.

Speaking to reporters recently in Wohn, Gibi District in Margibi County, a member of the governing council of the PUP Representative Emmanuel Nuquay said the party is keenly looking at the two personalities to decide which side to go.

He said Vice President Boakai and Sen. Weah are two indigenous sons of Liberia, who share the philosophy of the PUP wanting to produce an indigenous president. Rep. Nuquay: “You know PUP was established to ensure indigenous presidency; Ambassador Boakai is an indigenous man very close to the presidency; besides Ambassador Boakai, you also have Ambassador Weah, who is an indigenous son of the country, who also wants to be president as well; so for now, we have two indigenous leaders in line with the philosophy of the PUP wanting to produce an indigenous president. So we have those two indigenous sons to look at to vet and to see which side we can go.”

However, he said it is left with the executive committee of the party and partisans in general to decide which of the two political leaders to pick. The Margibi County Lawmaker also disclosed the PUP is as well considering either the Minister of Internal Affairs Dr. Henrique Flomo Tokpa or Ambassador Jeremiah Solunteh to represent its interest in national leadership, adding that the party is not inclined to produce a standard bearer for now.

He said all partisans of the PUP should be thinking of meager because one political party cannot win the presidency in 2017. Meanwhile, amidst huge criticisms by most Liberians that the Unity Party-led government has failed, Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who has declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2017, says one day Liberians will know what the UP means to Liberia.

Vice President Boakai made the statement in Kakata, Margibi County recently when he spoke to reporters after the induction of the Wings of Boakai, a pro-campaign group. When asked what difference he is bringing onboard after working with the UP for over 10 years, the 71 years old VP responded: “One day your will know what the UP means to this country; your will know.” Many Margibians continue to ask what does he really mean.