Sulunteh abandons senatorial ambition

Liberia’s former Ambassador to the U.S. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh is reported to have abandoned his quest to contest in a senatorial by – election, after ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole’s declaration of intent to contest the by – election.

The NewDawn’s Bong County correspondent says Mr. Othello Frank, National Chairman of the Friends of Sulunteh announced on a local radio via mobile phone over the weekend that Amb. Sulunteh’s decision to step aside from the pending senatorial by – election followed several consultations with stakeholders and supporters in the county.

Amb. Sulunteh’s close allies have hinted our correspondent that the ALternative National Congress (ANC), the party ticket he ran on in 2017 as Vice Standard Bearer has allegedly decided to support a former student leader Mr. Farnioh Teo Gblah in the senatorial by – election, thus worsening the matter for the former Liberian envoy.

Montserrado and Bong Counties are due to go to by – elections to fill vacant seats left following the election of President George Manneh Weah and Vice President Taylor, both of whom were Senators before being elected last year to the presidency and and vice presidency.

There are speculations in Bong County that Rep. Cole’s declaration of intent to contest the senatorial by-election gives Amb. Sulunteh a narrow chance to win the polls.

Ruling CDC’s Bong County chair Rep. Cole reportedly told journalists recently that those who belong to the classroom should remain in the class and leave politics with politicians.

Rep. Cole’s comment appears to have ended speculation that the CDC through Vice President Taylor would have supported Amb. Sulunteh in the pending by-election in Bong.

Amb. Sulunteh is reported to have earlier made claims that he was the favorite in the county to succeed Vice President Taylor in the senatorial by – election.

But his supporter Mr. Othello Frank argues that his boss did not take the decision due to fear of other aspirants, claiming it is due to “Bong County Agenda” which he did not explain.

Mr. Frank insists that Amb. Sulunteh had a better chance of winning the senatorial by-election from all indications, but he is giving way to the most favorite in the County.

According to Mr. Frank, Amb. Sulunteh will be making a decision regarding who to give his support to in the next few weeks for the common good of the county.

It is not yet clear why the ANC appears to be abandoning Amb. Sulunteh in the senatorial by – election, but there are claims however that the former envoy had earlier told the ANC that he would have been supported by the ruling CDC.

By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong–Edited by Winston W. Parley