“CAN RESCUE 1 AND 2 ALONG WITH RESCUE MOTHER RESCUE THE RESCUE SHIP?”

By John H.T.Stewart

According to reliable sources, trouble is brewing aboard the Rescue ship with a mere four months left to elections.

And it concerns the candidacies of incumbent Lofa County Senator Steve Zargo of the Liberty Party pitted against former Lofa County Superintendent Galakpai Kortimai and until his resignation recently, Chairman Lofa County branch of the Unity Party.

The deal that saw Senator Nyonblee Karnga declaring her support for the Joseph Boakai-Jeremiah Koung ticket also included incumbent Lofa County Senator Zargo of the Liberty Party who is seeking a second term of office however this time on the ticket of the Unity Party.

This was done in order to avoid legal entanglements because according to a Supreme Court ruling, Musa Bility remains the Chairman of the Liberty Party. Senator Zargo belongs to the Nyonblee Karnga faction of the party which has been embroiled in a bitter feud with the Musa Bility faction.

Apparently feeling let down by the leadership of the Unity Party which effectively threw cold water on his aspirations to contest a senatorial seat the very seat occupied by incumbent Steve Zargo, Kortimai resigned his position as Chairman of the Unity Party, Lofa County branch and declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate.

Lest it be forgotten, Kortimai was a Unity Party candidate in the last elections in which he lost to his CDC challenger Joseph K. Jallah in a very contentious and controversial race. Although it was widely expected that the Unity Party would have challenged the results, it failed to do so to the disappointment of many.

And so officially, Steve Zargo has a guaranteed slot on the ticket of the Unity Party. But according to informed sources, some key figures in the party are allegedly, however, canvassing support for Galakpai Kortimai.

Further, according to sources, known Unity Party stalwarts including former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai have been canvassing and assuring locals in the Gizima area that Kortimai allegedly has the blessings of Unity Party political leader, Joseph Boakai.

According to sources from Zorzor, former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai’s recent sleepover in Zolowo town where it is alleged he had been soliciting support for Kortimai was a hot topic of discussion recently on Radio Zorlayea, a local radio station based in Zorzor.

From all indications, it appears that this development is something which neither Senator Steve Zargo nor Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence is going to take lightly.

This is because it means that Zargo’s candidacy and his aspirations to maintain his seat are for all purposes doomed granted nothing is done to address the situation. But just can be done remains an enigma.

This is because Samukai and others have made no secret of their intentions and actions. So far Unity Party Political leader Joseph Boakai has maintained sealed lips on the matter.

Equally so has Nyonblee since she has yet to officially comment on the matter. According to sources Zargo feels a sense of betrayal given his huge contribution, material and financial to Kortimai’s recent senatorial quest in which he lost to Joseph K. Jallah of the CDC.

Zargo was at the time an active official of the Liberty Party yet he opted to support Kortimai of the Unity Party.

But Kortimai had since then been nursing an ambition to contest in the October 2023 elections apparently on the ticket of the Unity Party not having then the slightest inkling of what has now unfolded as a marriage between one faction of the Liberty Party(Karnga Lawrence), former warlord Prince Johnson’s Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction and the Liberty Party.

What now remains to be seen is just how “Rescue Mother” Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence is going to react to these developments. As “Rescue Mother” can she along with “Rescue Father” Joseph Boakai rescue Zargo’s candidacy and if so by what means the public want to ask?

From all appearances, it is open warfare and cracks seem to be appearing in the hull of the Rescue Ship and may likely widen given current outlook.

This is a serious matter which ought to claim the attention of opposition front-runner “Rescue Father”, Joseph Boakai. Questions are being asked whether he has taken cognizance of the danger posed to his candidacy with such private battles being waged in his name against his alliance partner Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence.

Questions are also being asked as to whether the embattled Liberty Party political leader Nyonblee Karnga has taken stock and seize of this development.

Will she for example bolt from the electoral pact in case she acting alone or in concert with “Rescue Father” fail to seal the cracks?

Given reports from Lofa suggesting that Kortimai enjoys a groundswell of popular support, it appears unlikely that Zargo could reverse this serious threat to his quest to maintain his grip on the senatorial seat.

Also, questions are being asked just how Senator Zargo is going to react to this development. According to informed sources Zargo sees this as a stab in the back by the Unity Party Political leader Joseph Boakai he has failed to rein in rogue elements bent on wrecking the Alliance.

According to some of his (Zargo’s) supporters, as leader of his Party, Joseph Boakai should not have been driven by self-interest and that he should have included both Zargo and Kortimai in talks to seal the Alliance deal.

Apparently, little or no attention was paid to those nursing political ambitions. And it has now come to haunt.

But this is a challenge for the Alliance(Rescue Ship) which cannot be sidestepped. Moreover, it is a test of leadership of the Captain at the helm of the Rescue Ship. Cracks now appeared in the hull of the Great “RESCUE SHIP” which, if not repaired in time, could likely see the Ship either sink or run aground.

The question now is can Rescue 1, 2 along with Rescue Mother rescue the Rescue Ship? QUESTION!!!!!