By Bill W. Cooper
Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has expressed serious fear that the leadership of Liberia might fall in the hands of Nimba County Senator, Prince Johnson if the Unity Party (UP) standard bearer, Joseph Boakai is elected President and ‘dies’ in office.
Recently, Ambassador Boakai announced Senator Johnson’s political leader Jeremiah Koung of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) as his running mate for October’s Presidential and Legislative elections.
There are mixed reactions that Sen. Koung might be influenced and control by Sen. Johnson when Koung is elected Vice President of Liberia because of their personal relationship.
Buttressing concerns raised by some Liberians, Madam Taylor described as “worrisome and a mistake” that UP Boakai selected Sen. Koung as running mate amidst his loyalty to Sen. Johnson who is recorded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for partaking in Liberia’s 14-year of civil conflict.
She said, “I am seriously worried about the future of this country and it is not something that we should pretend and play blind eyes to. I am saying this because this decision is bad and a miscalculation on the part of the former VP to select Koung who owed his loyalty to Sen. Johnson as his running mate.”
“Because selecting a running mate requires certain things that has to do with loyalty, commitment, respect, trust and preparedness to take over the mantle of authority in the event of future calamity but it was not the case with the Boakai and I am worried that a Prince Johnson who be President when Boakai is elected and dies in office,” she reiterated.
According to her, former VP Boakai is old, sick and might be unable to rule the country for the next six years if given the opportunity by Liberians during the 2023 polls and as such, Liberians should reject the Boakai-Koung ticket in order to save the future of Liberia.
She made the remark Thursday, May 18, 2023, in the joint chamber of the Legislature where employees calling themselves “Majority Staffers of the National Legislature” issued a statement in support of President Weah’s reelection and also called for action to be taken against their colleagues who had earlier pledged their support to the presidential bid of Boakai.
Throwing more jibes on the former VP, Madam Howard-Taylor also questioned the sincerity of the UP’s slogan of being on a “rescue mission” intended to vote from power the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government of President Weah.
She asked rhetorically, “What are they trying to rescue? Is it the country or themselves because there is nothing to be rescued as claimed by the already failed and frustrated opposition especially the Unity Party who was given 12 years but failed to deliver during their tenure.”
“In fact, how will you say you are on a rescue mission but has nothing tangible to show with all of your public sector experience? So, I am just confused to hear the former VP Boakia saying that he wants to rescues Liberia when in fact his UP government had 12 uninterrupted years but failed to address those things being criticized by them.
“And you will not even believe that the man who says he wants to rescued Liberia does not even have home in his own Lofa County instead his home is in Bomi where he has no link and in one of our neighboring countries. Isn’t that a deception? the Veep expressed.
“Because if you talking about rescue mission or professing yourself to be a rescuer, you need to have records of improving the lives of people and other initiatives you under took while serving in government and Boakia or anyone of them cannot show,” she added.
Madam Taylor urged Liberians to reject the Boakai-Koung ticket and reelect President Weah to continue his vision of transforming Liberia.
