MONROVIA – Barely a day after her denigrating comments against former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai (JNB) presidential ambition dubbed the “Rescue Mission”, the former chairperson of the JNB Tact Team-2023, a political support group in support of a Joe Boakai presidency, Ms. Telia J. Urey, has come under oral and written aggravated attacks, Smart News Liberia (SNL) has reliably gathered.
On Thursday, Telia took to Facebook and among others, wrote that Joe Bokai’s “Rescue Mission” train has lost direction, inferring that she would no more support the Unity Party (UP) standard bearer to become Liberia’s next president.
Like her father, business mogul cum politician Benoni Urey and controversial talk radio presenter Henry Costa, all of the All Liberian Party (ALP), who believe JNB and the Unity Party erred in picking Senator Jeremiah Koung, as vice presidential running-mate to the standard bearer of the UP, Telia indicated that she would not bear the burden of nobody who makes mistakes and bad choices.
“Nobody’s mistakes or bad choices will be my bondage. I will support a team that my conscience tells me is best for Liberia in the short and medium term. Not a team or train that has lost its direction,” she wrote.
“In the October elections, I will support whoever I believe is best for Liberia. I fear nobody and will not be intimidated by any group of people either,” Telia further wrote, discounting assertions attributed to partisans and supporters of the UP that if someone doesn’t support the former ruling party, such person is going against Liberia, as being a “false narrative”, which she labeled as being toxic, divisive, and out-rightly ridiculous.
Throwing a jibe at Joe Boakai’s supporters for seemingly exuding a feeling of entitlement that the former VP is entitled to the country’s presidency, Telia, a top-notch political strategist wrote that political parties and leaders earned trust and support, but they don’t demand and feel entitled to same.
“We are too advanced in our thinking to subscribe to this,” wrote Telia, who cautioned partisans and supporters of JNB to develop a more strategic campaign plan and message if they are serious about winning the 10 October presidential election.
Howbeit, Telia did not end her Facebook write-up without preempting that her social media post would have attracted some unkind replies including insults.
True to Telia’s apprehensions, the former chairperson of the JNB Tact Team-2023, has been receiving barrage of backlashes from several quarters within the Liberian society, with many of those doing so mostly using the same medium she used, to pay her back in her own coin.
Following Telia’s Facebook outburst against JNB and the UP, like many other Liberians, Lincoln Saah Kpoto replied to the ex-chairperson of the JNB Tact Team-2023, suggesting that she doesn’t have principle.
Kpoto’s assertion comes amid tons of previous advocacies by Telia that Boakai is the best man to assume the Liberian presidency following the 2023 elctions.
Smart News Liberia recalls that aside from previous pro-Boakai advocacies, just in April of this year, Telia asserted that if elected president, Joe Boakai would restore dignity to the office of president of the Republic of Liberia.
At the time, Telia averred that in order to change the trajectory Liberia is currently going in under the reign of retired footballer George Weah, JNB, with a wealth of experience, is the obvious choice for president, as far as taking the country from where it is to where it needs to be are concerned.
“JNB is someone that has vision to transform Liberia. His experience is one thing, and using that experience that he has, to change the trajectory that the country is going in right now, JNB is the obvious choice,” Telia stated, when she appeared as guest on the live radio and TV show, “The Closing Argument.”
Telia further advocating for a Boakai presidency on The Closing Argument claimed: “His disposition as a humble and servant-leader, after all of these years in office, it is something that we all look at and we all believe that Liberia needs.”
But with her latest capitulation on her previous assertions and advocacies for a JNB presidency, now indicating that she would no longer support Boakai’s presidential quest because he’s a man who makes errors and bad choices, Kpoto is of the belief that as far as politics is concerned, Telia is not principle minded.
“Telia Urey, you don’t have principles and standards that guide your political life. This is why your uncle failed in politics, your father also failed, your brother almost failing or failed already and yourself about to kill your political dream because of self interest,” Kpoto wrote on Facebook.
He claims Telia is withdrawing support from Boakai and she’s allegedly on her way to pledge support for incumbent President George Weah’s second term bid.
“Go and follow George Weah who promised never for Urey family to win election in Liberia as [long] he is president of Liberia… Yes it hurts!! bcoz no Urey will win any position in Liberia, so say Weah,” Kpoto wrote.
He added, although without stating definitively why, but that God will punish Telia – “Weah, said the thing and she will never be elected. Your political career is over,” Kpoto emphasized.
Under the thread of Kpoto’s post slamming Telia, other Liberians joined in, with many concurring with him.
Mulbah Richards wrote: “I can’t believe she’s supporting the people that almost kill her.
Ezekiel Johnny wrote: “But the Urey’s family are serious-minded people in Liberia seh? My name ooooooh ehhhhhh because your mouth then naaaaa open to abuse me now.”
Francis Varney Hill, for his part, hailed Kpoto for his retort against Telia, indicating, “Thank, well said let her go anywhere!!”
For Forkpawu Gayflor Darlington Kolubah, he’s of the opinion that Telia’s rant against Joe Boakai and the Unity Party is predicated upon the ex-VP’s refusal to have picked Henry Costa, who he referered to as Telia’s brother, as vice presidential running-mate to the UP man.
Boakai and the UP turned down a request from Telia, her father, Benoni Urey, Henry Costa, and some unidentified financial backers, who offered JNB’s campaign US$30 million, with the precondition that the UP standard bearer picked Costa as his vice standard bearer for the 10 October presidential election.’
Following JNB’s refusal to have picked the controversal talk show host; Costa, Benoni Urey and their party, the ALP that had for well over five years supported Boakai’s presidential ambition until their ‘Costa for VP manuevers’ went south, angrily withdrew their support and claimed they were betrayed by the elderly statesman, Joe Boakai.
So, in his reaction to Telia’s share of the ALP’s outrage against Boakai and the Unity Party, Forkpawu Gayflor Darlington Kolubah observed that “If Costa was chosen as running mate, she couldn’t [have] posted such. The decision of JNB selecting Koung is deeply paining the Ureys.”
J.Kla Wisner, Jr.: “Tell her again bro. They thought their family’s gimmicks would’ve worked on JNB. So so greedy hunters.”
For his part, J. Roosevelt Wahdah Kpoto taunted telia, indicating, “Sorry ya ma….. your papa deceptive politics could never work for UP and JNB..…”
Beyan P. Williams wrote: “I respect your right to choose who you support, Miss Urey. That’s democracy at work. Just remember Weah swore that, as long as he’s at the helm of political power in Liberia, you and your dad will never win an elective position. How democratic that statement is, is what baffles me, to say the least. Good luck with your one vote, Miss Urey. But, to borrow from your dad, “We’re not stupid.”
Josepth O. Howard concurs with Beyan P. Williams, and he writes: “Can’t agree with you more my brother. How deceptive these people can be? Is it because of personal interest? Anyway, it’s probably their definition of democracy.”
Daniel Bassa Boy Johnson, for his part, believes by attacking former warlord, now Nimba Senator Prince Y. Johnson (PYJ) for Liberia’s internecine rebel war and leaving out her father Benoni Urey, Telia slipped politically.
“How can a Telia Urey talk about PYJ [being] a warlord but forgets to talk about her father Mr. Urey though I don’t celebrate none of them?” Daniel Bassa Boy Johnson wrote.
He added: “Telia Urey, you are enjoying everything today because your father purchased guns to kill our people. You don’t have the character to attack any warlord instead, only us the victims should condemn your father and every warlords.”
Fred King: “Telia, you have forgotten so soon, your inconsistency will lead you to nowhere in the body politics of Liberia, no one cares who you will support, you have your right, but remember that making decisions that will lead the county astray, prosperity will judge you. Many are now out because of greed, but what will it profit an individual if he sells his birthright for little of nothing, and then suffers the consequences later.”
Kumba Saah: “You think that Liberia is just for you guys? you have nothing to worry about life because, you have all your needs. You guys should go but Liberian will vote for their country.”
As for Lawrence Wallace, he wants the former campigner for a JNB presidency to come clean, indicting, “Just make it known, and stop beating about the bush…” – while Aaron manneh wrote; “Stop the intimidation!!! Liberian people will be fine on what side you pick. Just be informed that the Urey’s family will be on the wrong side of history. Your anger for not picking Henry Costa being underlined reasons why you are breaking the Alliance. Granted that picking a running mate was sole prerogative of the Standard Bearer with no coercion by external influence which you did . Any other reasons of boycotting become bogus. The Liberian people are the judges.”
Peter Lamin: “We are not sleeping you need to rethink you are lying no one insult you and the train is still on track.you think you and your Dad can control JNB because of blood money your have? Your need to go back to the station the train is there waiting and your space is still reserve.”
Leeneh Leeneh: “Some Liberian started calling you Iron Lady but you ain’t…..some Liberian almost died because of you when Weah wanted you dead. You have forgotten so soon.”
Aaron Siafa: “Telia Urey and would-be surrogates. You’re not more intelligent than the many Liberians who risked their lives in District 15 to protect you. You’re only benefitting for the situation created in the country of which your father is a part and parcel. You said no one should blame you for the wrong choice they made; the right choice for you could have been someone your father wanted, Henry P. Costa correct? You now know that you, Henry P. Costa, your father, Benoni Urey were ONLY supporting Ambassador Boakai in what you guys could benefit. Don’t use PYJ as an excuse for you to return to the CDC. If you no longer support the Unity party, bow out with respect or else, you’re going to be destroyed on this Blue App. This is not a threat to you, but a cautionary warning.”
Inferring that JNB is Telia’s savior, Paul N. Cooper wrote: “You have now made your savior as your enemy and you are now supporting your true enemy. Telia Urey is a complete joke.”
He added: “Telia Urey is admitting that Up people insulted Weah and CDCian for wanting to kill her but she’s now fighting the very UP people, laughable.”
Peter Harris: “Telia Uery wants to talk about the role PYJ played in the Liberian Civil war? Go ask your father who was buying arms for Taylor.”
Political Jackson Kpangbah: “Pauuuuh! Let the Urey’s shullor! Ur Pa contested, le beat him, Ur brother contested, le beat him, Urself contested, le flock u!”
He continued: “Hayaka! Da la hypocrisy of Ben and Telia Urey, they supported the Killer-in-chief Charles G. Taylor but turned JKK as bad choice.”
Ellen Johnson, Gbehzongar Findley, Alex Cummings, Amin Modad, Henry Costa, Nyonblee Karngar, Benoni Urey, Telia Urey, Yekeh Kolubah, Arnold Kandakai (land). What Do All These People Have in Common? They all trusted Joseph Boakai for years and worked with him – in good faith. In the end, they were all USED, DUPED, & DUMPED by Boakai. I suspect there may be many more. Those who choose to work with him today and think that tomorrow is certain, should go back and take another look at this list. Trusting Joseph Boakai has only one way to end…with your name being added to this already growing list. By the time you get to the point of “if I had known”, precious time and good amount of money have been wasted. The only thing you will be left with will be deep deep regret. It’s almost clear he’s also using PYJ, J.Koung and & others. But if I were Joe Boakai, I think twice before trying to deceive PYJ. I mean this guy is a cold-blooded killer. Unlike the other people, he’s not the kinda guy that will “leave his own with God”. JNB you need to “Check PYJ history” and advise yourself accordingly. It may be your last bus stop in your long list of betrayals.