PYJ, Urey coalition faces hitches

There appears to be hitches emerging in a developing coalition arrangement among three opposition parties here including Sen. Prince Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR, businessman turned – politician Benoni Urey’s All Liberian Party or ALP and Mr. Nathaniel Blamah’s Liberia National Union.

Nimba lawmaker Sen. Johnson who is alleged to have earlier made a verbal commitment to go as vice running mate to Mr. Urey is now said to have declined to take the slot on grounds that he had tasted elections and would be standard bearer of the coalition.

But reports gathered by this paper say following a meeting held Thursday, 20 April in CongoTown, Senator Johnson made a shocking U-turn on the proposed deal on grounds that he cannot bow to Mr. Urey and the rest of the aspirants in the coalition.

He claims that it would be childish on his part to go as running mate to someone with no experience in electioneering process. While Sen. Johnson is being earmarked to be Mr. Urey’s running mate, the emerging coalition is said to have also earmarked Mr. Blamah as the national chairman for the coalition.
Sen. Johnson who became kingmaker here in the 2011 presidential runoff that was snatched away by incumbent President Ellen Johnson -Sirleaf after siding with her, has argued that he will not bow to businessman turned – politician Mr. Urey and the rest of the aspirants in the coalition.
There are claims that Mr. Urey was offered the standard bearer post on the basis of financial might while Sen. Johnson was awarded the vice standard bearer post for his vote – rich Nimba County.

But in making a U-turn, Sen. Johnson is alleged to have argued that at no time had he ever agree to occupy the vice standard bearer position. Mr. Johnson says the only option for him to remain with the coalition is for the three political parties to give him the standard bearer post and Mr. Urey takes the vice standard bearer post.

According to him, Mr. Urey and the rest of the politicians want to ride on he (Johnson’s) and his follower’s popularity, reflecting on his countless effort in the forward march of democracy and collaboration here.

On the emerging coalition, Mr. Theodore Momo of the ALP serves as the vice chairman for administration and Wilfred Bangura takes the national secretary general post.
Efforts to get comments from Coalition officials including Mr. Nathaniel Blamah of Liberia National Union and Mr. Wilfred Bangura proved futile as both officials could not take their respective calls.
By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Winston W. Parley