J. Koung (the VP), in my opinion, is NOT preaching tribal politics in Nimba. He’s not-Jonathan Paye-Layleh
OP-ED By Jonathan Paye-Layleh on his Facebook page
PHOTO: The Author Jonathan Paye-Layleh
VP KOUNG & THE NIMBA BY-ELECTION
Let’s get something right about the Nimba senatorial by-election. This is how I see things.
J. Koung (the VP), in my opinion, is NOT preaching tribal politics in Nimba. He’s not.
On the contrary, I think Koung is fighting hard to ensure that Nimba doesn’t degenerate in a county of tribal politics. I believe what he’s saying is: If you have two of the senators to be Manos, the Dans (Gios) will definitely regroup and come back as a tribe in 2029 to try to remove the current Mano senator, Nya Twayen. This could be the beginning of tribal politics that could turn nasty. This has to be avoided.
But some non-Nimbaians don’t seem to understand the complexities and dangers Koung is trying to prevent.
If a Mano candidate wins, it means the two senators (Nya Twayen and that other senator) will not only be Manos, but they will both come from two neighboring and sisterly districts, Districts 8 and 9.
Nya is from District 8. The two Mano candidates in the race, Edith and Tingban, are from next door District 9, a Mano district.
The two districts (8 & 9) only have a river dividing them. So definitely if the two senators are from the Mano side of Nimba, the Dans (Gios) will not sit to see their side not being represented in the Senate. This is my reading into what the Vice President is doing.
People who are talking should also understand that through the endorsement and influence of J. Koung, the Dans (Gios) voted overwhelmingly last year to elect Nya Twayen to replace him (Koung). They wanted to strike a balance between the two big tribes (Mano and Dan) in the Senate. The way to pay them (Dans) back is not to deny them a seat in the Senate. If they are denied a seat in the Senate, it’s only the Mano side that will be represented.
What the VP is doing instead is to ensure that there is peace and harmony between and among the tribes in Nimba. This is my understanding of what he’s doing.
Through the understanding and cordiality that he’s fostering, even the other smaller tribes of the county, which are also very important, can be asked to nominate senatorial candidates in future elections and we all can support those candidates for them to be senators of Nimba. This is doable.
So people who are misinterpreting the Vice President’s move and action in Nimba should stop. He’s not fueling any tribal politics. He is instead fighting to ensure that there is no tribal politics in Nimba moving forward.
Some people simply want to use the by-election controversy to create division in Nimba ahead of 2029. But, God first, this will not happen.
This is my personal analysis of the debate surrounding the Nimba by-election and the role of the Vice President.
I wish the people of Nimba a peaceful by-election. We are stronger together.