By Olando Testimony Zeongar
MONROVIA – As the wait for former Vice President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai (JNB) to pick who goes on the ticket as his running mate in the 10 October presidential election later this year lingers, a senior staff in the former Veep’s office, has outlined why the decision for a pick of who goes as vice presidential running mate to the UP flag-bearer is crucial and is not to be taken haphazardly.
Like the 2017 presidential election, which Boakai contested, and named his running mate, former Deputy House Speaker and now Senator of Margibi County, Emmanuel Nuquay rather very late, the UP standard bearer is once again being accused by many for threading such path, as they have charged him of dragging his feet in naming his pick to fill the vice presidential slot on the UP ticket for October’s election.
Contrary to widely circulated reports from UP insiders that JNB would have announced his vice presidential running mate last weekend in vote-rich Nimba County, nothing of such took place, as speculations are rife about the UP standard bearer’s list of who he’s likely to pick being narrowed down to three individuals; Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung, and Montserrado County senatorial aspirant, controversial talk radio presenter Henry Pedro Costa.
Howbeit, in a recent article, a longtime staff in the private office of former VP Boakai, Attorney George K. Saah, argues that the issue regarding who becomes JNB’s pick for vice president on the opposition Unity Party’s ticket for October polls, is not according to him, just about who is best suited for the post, but also who is extremely well qualified with strong credentials, geographically balanced, circumspect, disciplined, and not a loose cannon.
He opined that the vice presidency is perhaps the most difficult job in the government of the Republic of Liberia, noting that the bottom line is that loyalty to the president is key, and that it’s expected of whoever is picked as vice president to Boakai, must never be mistaken about who is the boss.
Even with less than seven months to the October elections, Attorney Saah pointed out why Boakai must thread cautiously in selecting his vice presidential running mate, warning that such process is a time of crucial decision-making, and must be handled with care.
“The vague and overly ambiguous terms of reference enshrined in the last sentence of Article Fifty One (51) of the 1986 Constitution demands a great deal of experience and qualifications from a vice presidential candidate,” Saah emphasized.
Saah, quoting Article 51 of the Liberian constitution as his reliance, inferred that it is expected of anyone selected as JNB’s running mate, to be in what he termed as the shadows, adding, “like the heart, unseen, pulling the strings for things to happen, and for which he/she may not get the credit.”
“All credits go to the president; always, every time,” he maintained.
Without stating the name of any specific individual desiring to be Boakai’s running mate, Saah quipped, “are you prepared to be a workaholic and not get credit? That’s the litmus test for a vice presidential candidate. That’s the work of the vice president: be prepared to work without recognition. Or, alternatively, pretend to be a submissive character in the beginning, only to show your ugly head (or true colors in the middle of the term), and come face to face with the president over policy differences, thus stalling the functions of the Government to the dismay of the people – what a tragedy this would be.”
He noted that it’s unlikely that the UP standard bearer would pick a toxic individual for his running mate, indicating, “you don’t want to pick a running mate who will keep you busy fighting him/her, while the state is left unattended to.”
He called on anyone desirous of assuming the job of vice presidential running mate to Boakai, to comprehensively read Article 51 of Liberia’s Constitution before accepting to assume such responsibility.
“Before you accept the position of vice running mate, read Article Fifty One (51) of our Constitution with absolute arrest of your understanding and comprehension,” Saah warned, outlining some attributes of a good running mate as an individual who understands the vision of the standard bearer, as well as the party’s manifesto.
He added that a pick for the vice presidency must be knowledgeable of the party’s manifesto because, according to him, the manifesto or platform details the plan regarding the course the country takes in terms of national development.
“Therefore, it is important to pick a person who is patient enough to “wait for power,” added Saah, who is of the opinion that whoever becomes Boakai’s running mate, should be fully equipped to become president in the event JNB becomes president and is later faced with any situation that would constrain him to vacate office before his term expires.
He urged that in the quest to selecting a running mate, Boakai avoids an overly ambitious person who is in a hurry to become president, noting that anything contrary to this, the UP standard bearer’s authority, should he be elected president, would be undermined.
“Pick a person outside your home province, but a person with a national character, a person who can help you amass votes. Cast your net wide! But pull it in with a close watch,” Saah further urged Boakai.
He stressed that if Boakai’s decision to select a running mate is carelessly made, the UP presidential candidate is likely to find himself defending the credentials and character of his running mate, instead of performing the job for which such person would be selected.
“No presidential aspirant hopes for this kind of scenario,” Saah indicated.
Boakai is not a leader and has never been a leader. People are too busy trying to make him a leader, but sadly he is not.