By Olando Testimony Zeongar
MONROVIA – Former Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Amara Mohammed Konneh, has thrown a gibe at Unity Party Standard Bearer, ex-Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai (JNB), over who becomes the latter’s pick for running-mate in the ensuing presidential elections slated for 10 October this year.
With barely six months to the conduct of general and presidential elections later this year, and the conspicuous delay on the part of JNB to pick his vice presidential running-mate, former Minister Konneh has inferred that the Unity Party Standard Bearer’s focus should be on the ability of who he chooses as his running-mate, to be capable of effectively succeeding the UP man, in the event he assumes the presidency.
Konneh’s assertions come amid wide-spread report that JNB is poised to dump his long-time ally, Liberty Party’s Political Leader and Grand Bassa Senator, Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, and instead pick Senator Jeremiah Koung of vote-rich Numba County, as his vice presidential running-mate for the 10 October polls.
Konneh, who was Minister of Finance during the regime of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, when JNB served as Vice President for two consecutive six-year terms, took to social media Thursday taunting the UP Standard Bearer over his running-mate pick, indicating among other things that the main criterion for a running mate is the person’s ability to be president on what he referred to as “Day 1.”
He averred that in picking a vice presidential running-mate for national governance purposes, as in the case of the decision Boakai is faced with, experience is vital, and not necessarily whether or not such person comes from a certain populated geographical location.
Konneh wrote: “Vote-rich” should be secondary. Presidential candidates should have the popularity & capacity to move voters on their own!”
Mr. Konneh has said truth about matter regarding running mate for any presidential hopeful, it’s paramount having someone as help mate to take herculen tasks of running a modern state & not only for the choosing. Liberians ought to understand that our goal for real change is moving nation forward to bring Lib to speed & acquire amenities for fuller living, and just democratically removing one for another waste of resources & decadence, or remaking of same incompetence & thievery.
Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe could be the best Presidential aspirant among all the others to replace George Weah because of his relative youth, incorruptibility, and dynamism. However, if that’s not possible, JNB would do himself and the country good if he should choose Tiawon as his running mate. He will be one that will be very well prepared to step in if the old man, for one reason or the other, gets to the point in his first tenure where he cannot make it any longer. Just a forthright advice.
Tiawan Gongle is 1000 times better than JNB. Liberians should be honest with themselves The Liberian presidency is not a birthright. JNB has no birthright to the Liberian presidency. He should pick his VP from Unity Party. It makes no sense whatsoever to pick someone who is not a member of your party – unless both of you are in a merger or a coalition. Its open secret JNB took the UP out of the CPP because JNB wanted to be standard bearer without going through a primary. JNB needs a UP VP pick. Leave other parties aspirants alone.