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The Inquirer (Monrovia)

Liberia: UP Crisis Deepens

Sebo Daniels

25 March 2008

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It seems as though the crisis within the ruling Unity party (UP) led government is escalating as some executive members have begun giving diversified views regarding the stand-off between the youths and the Standard Bearer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

At a jammed-packed Executive meeting yesterday at the party headquarters on Broad Street, one of the numerous speakers who captured the attention of the executive members, Mr. Ennish Fahnbulleh urged the gathering to use the Malawians experience by expelling the UP standard bearer if she fails to cooperate with them.

Although, he did not elaborate further on the Malawians situation but, he pointed out that no one individual has the capacity to hold the party hostage and called on the executive to remain steadfast by voicing out the truth to their standard bearers.

Speaking further, Mr. Fahnbulleh challenged his colleagues not to behave like sycophants, but to be bold with Mrs. Sirleaf by telling her the truth about unfolding incidents in the party.

Mr. Fahnbulleh who is the Chairman of the Unity Party (UP) branch in Grand Cape Mount County further told the gathering that this time he will not 'eat his crab with shame' indicating that he maintains his posture for the party to take such a giant step by expelling the Standard Bearer if she remains defiant to partisans' requests.

Senator John Ballout of Maryland County who later took the stand received standing ovation from his fellow partisans reiterating his previous statement that the Standard Bearer, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Vice Standard Bearer, Dr. Joseph N.Boakai including some executives and him failed the party miserably for the past two years.

Speaking in an angry tone he told the gathering that he will not relent until sanity is restored to the party in the shortest possible time in preparations for the 2012 election.

A one time Justice Minister of the Republic of Liberia, Mr. Peter Bonner Jallah who took the stand also, reminded the UP first partisan, Mrs. Sirleaf to be mindful of those she has surrounding her and feeding her with ill advice to see reason to prevail by joining her partisans as soon as possible.

Cllr. Jallah who spoke indirectly about some Liberians who see government jobs as a means of getting wealthy are still perambulating in the Liberian society making ends meet to get rich faster at the detriment of the ordinary people.

"I have been around for long and I know what it takes to be in government because if things do not go well, situations may turn out to be bad," Jallah said.

He said when situations turn bad, it would affect all government officials as well as innocent partisans including those that are affiliated with them.

Following the presentation of former Justice Minister Jallah, series of other speakers called for the best way out in resolving the crisis.

Some proposed for a committee to be set up to review most of the partisans' demand so as to put forth same before the first partisan for redress.

At that juncture it was unanimously agreed that partisans set-up their various groups beginning from the youths, Legislature of the party, the executive and the women wings among others.

Following the meeting which was chaired by the Chairman of the party, Dr. Charles Clarke, called on all partisans to remain calm as they are about to go to work for the benefit of the party.

It can be recalled that recently Maryland County Senator, Mr. John Ballout frowned on the Standard Bearer and some executives for failing their partisans.

Few days later the youths of the party besieged the party headquarters in demand of some campaign promises during the 2005 election which brought President Sirleaf to power.

They demanded scholarships, micro-loan scheme and many other things that could propel the party for 2012 election.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Youth for the Transformation of the Ruling Unity Party says it has understood that the problem within the Unity Party is not the Chairman, but rather the demarcation between the party and the government, something which it said serves as a hindrance to the survival of the party.

In a statement released by the group under the signature of the Youth Coordinator of District Number 10 and Spokesman of the organization, it said in the wake of these concerns raised within the party, it remains committed to the reform process in the party. The group added in the statement that a pending meeting with the party's standard bearer would take place.

However, according to our reporter, executives of the party who attended yesterday's meeting expected President Sirleaf to show up for the meeting but to their utmost surprise, she didn't.

But when the President's office was contacted yesterday to ascertain as to whether she was due to attend the meeting and if so, why she failed to attend, Presidential Secretary, Cyrus Badio said the President's itinerary for yesterday did not say that she would attend the meeting of the party.

He stated that although there are times when some impromptu events do occur, where there is a change in the official schedule but he could not say whether the President was really invited or not to the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Executive Mansion has sharply reacted to the statement attributed to Senator John Ballout that President Sirleaf, officials and executives of the party as well as himself failed the partisans of the party including the youths.

In its reaction to the statement yesterday when he addressed the press, Presidential Spokesman, Badio said Senator Ballout has the right to his opinion but what should be understood is that the government belongs to all Liberians and not just UP partisans alone. He said consultations are on-going and that the President would listen to all sides.

On the issue as to what the President's position is relative to calls to have the party's chairman removed is being demanded by some of the youths, Mr. Badio, who clearly stated that he is not a member of the UP said the party will discuss that but that he was not sure that the party would want to discuss its internal wrangling with in the press.

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