The Inquirer (Monrovia)
24 April 2008
The Vice President of Liberia, Joseph N. Boakai on Wednesday described as 'unfounded' a report that was published in the Wednesday, April 23 edition of the Chronicle Newspaper, under the caption "In President Sirleaf's House: Troubling Disclosure."
In the article sub-titled -Dinner Table Makes Major Political Decisions, the Chronicle claimed that Aunt Jenny, the elder sister of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, last Wednesday, April 16, informed Vice President Boakai at a dinner table that the President would not be contesting the presidency for the second term.
The Chronicle, in its report said that Aunt Jenny asked the Vice President and other stakeholders to begin to search for a new Standard Bearer to lead the Unity Party to the next elections because the President was overworked, frustrated and sick.
"This information has spread like wild fire among UP elites, sending chills down the spines of higher-ups in the ruling party," the paper said.
But in his rebuttal, Vice President Boakai said there was no meeting on April 16 between him and the President's sister or any other member of the Sirleaf family to discuss a political decision or any other matter, as claimed by the Chronicle.
Vice President Boakai described the publication as tactics being employed by detractors to divert attention from the mammoth reconstruction effort.
"The Unity Party led by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been more concerned about the mandate given it by the Liberian people to rebuild the devastated country. It is too early to begin thinking about succession or retention of power," Vice President Boakai emphasized.
He added that it is left with the Liberian people to decide at the appropriate time, if they want the Unity party to succeed itself.
Vice President Boakai added that President Johnson Sirleaf has made it clear that her current trip to the United States is in the interest of the Liberian people and to seek her routine medical check-up.
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