PHOTO: UP Standard Bearer Joe Boakai
By William Selmah, wselmah@gmail.com
Former Vice President Joseph Boakai, has broken ranks with youths of his former ruling Unity Party (UP) over stance on President George Weah’s visit to Lofa County on the fourth leg of his nationwide tour.
Mr. Boakai on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 differed with Unity Party’s National Youth Congress over President Weah’s pending citizens’ engagement visit to Boakai’s home county.
The UP Standard Bearer called for the Liberian leader’s visit to be embraced said Lofaians are peace-loving people on the eve of the visit, in the wake of speculation that the President will not be welcomed to Lofa County is unfounded and untrue.
However, the Youth Wing of Boakai’s party and its political leader on the same Wednesday of this week issued conflicting statements on President Weah’s visit to Lofa County.
Addressing a news conference, the Unity Party National Youth Congress called on the people of Lofa to downplay the Chief Executive’s visit if he fails to speak to the delay in certificating senators of the Collaborating Party (CPP) of whom (J. Brownie Samukai) is the county’s senator elect.
Samukai’s certification is being challenged over acts of corruption when he served as Defense Minister in the erstwhile Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government. He won the Lofa seat, while Simeon Taylor emerged victorious in Grand Cape Mount County during the Special Senatorial election.
“Mr. President, no matter how long you would have postponed your visit to Lofa, we were always sure that the time was going to come. The time is finally here. To the people of Lofa, don’t grace his visit with too much pomp and pageantry until he addresses the matter”, the youth wing’s statement read by Lassana Fofana said.
But in contrast, Boakai issued a statement the same day urging the people of Lofa to give the President and entourage a rousing welcome.
He said claims and speculations that President Weah will not be welcomed in Lofa were unfounded and untrue.
Boakai described the people of Lofa as hospitable and peace loving people, urging them to “do everything to make the visit of the President and entourage to Lofa comfortable”.
Meanwhile, Lofa County Superintendent William Kamba says all is set for the President’s citizens’ engagement visit to the county and that the citizens are in support of his tour.