Monrovia – The once formidable ruling Unity Party (UP) has been cold since the end of the 2017 presidential elections in which it suffered a brutal loss to soccer legend George ‘Opong’ Weah. However, the party seems to be calibrating itself to fit its new role as an opposition political party.
A post-election retreat in Buchanan in April this year enabled members of the party to determine where they went wrong and strategize how to move on to build a stronger political force.
Apparently, the tough-talking chairman, Wilmot Paye, was identified as the ‘curse’ – prompting a call for his resignation by some, while others, being merciful, called for his temporary recusal while investigation is conducted on how he conducted the affairs of the party.
A statement issued by the UP Sunday morning to some extent corroborated rumors that the Unity Party was contemplating moving forward without Paye’s leadership.
The UP statement disclosing some of the outcome of the April 2018 Buchanan retreat noted, “The committee also recommended that Chairman Paye recuses himself from the chairmanship during the duration of the inquiry. Chairman Wilmot Paye has accepted the decision of the National Executive Committee and will abide by the recommendations of the Cllr. Cherue Committee.”
Reasons prompting the call for his investigation was not detailed in the press statement. Officials of the party declined to give further details when contacted by FrontPageAfrica, but Paye is generally known as a controversial figure in the UP.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that the decision to request Paye recuse and subject himself to investigation emanated from numerous calls that he should resign the chairman with many believing that he’s the ‘curse’ on the party.
An official of the party who asked for anonymity said, “By consensus, it is clear that Wilmot Paye is the problem of the party. That man damaged a lot of things. He’s arrogant; he doesn’t listen to anyone and feels he’s always right. This party cannot continue on this path. We must forge ahead, and we believe that we cannot forge ahead while he is still in leadership. Unity Party is not about Paye…”
Paye, The Controversial Figure
The 2017 elections campaign by observation wasn’t quite smooth for the Unity Party. The party was engulfed in its own internal wrangling which perhaps, interfered with the party’s ability to effectively strategize for the election.
Paye’s strains with former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was no secret, his words, each time he spoke about her, said it all.
In August 2017, Paye ‘boycotted’ an executive meeting that prompted the intervention of former President Sirleaf after two key members at the time, Eugene Nagbe and Tornorlah Varpillah were barred entry to the party’s Congo Town headquarters.
Mr. Paye, it can be recalled triggered strains back in the November 2014 Senatorial elections when he slammed the candidacy of President Sirleaf’s son, Robert Sirleaf who was going up against Weah (now President).
Paye, at the time said, Sirleaf’s son, who was running as an independent, lacked the moral credibility to get the support of the party.
“We are convinced that while this Sirleaf may have become rich overnight, he lacks the moral credential and credibility to earn our Party’s trust. Therefore, any member (whether local officer or member of the National Executive Committee) pledging support to him is doing so at his or her own risk.”
Bringing the Enmity to the 2017 Election
Partisans and mere observers wondered by Madam Sirleaf was not active with the campaign activities of the Unity Party last year. The Unity Party under Paye’s chairmanship on several occasions accused former President Sirleaf of supporting opposition parties at the time and arming them against the Unity Party. Evidence was not adduced to support this allegation, however. And Madam Sirleaf maintained that the party’s standard-bearer, Joseph Boakai, who served as her vice president for her 12-year presidency, was her choice candidate.
Many political pundits saw the move by the UP as a gross mistake that could hamper their gains in the election.
Indeed EJS Kept Her Distance
Boakai’s campaign launch was massive but lacked the presence of a formidable figure – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Madam Sirleaf on that day preferred breaking ground for a clinic in Bomi to joining her Unity Party to garner votes for Boakai. Her decision, though surprising, did not come as a shock considering the rigmarole she had had with the party, particularly the chairman Paye and former Chairman Varney G. Sherman.
Sources within that party confided to FPA that Madam Sirleaf had requested recusal of Paye, were she to get involved with the campaign activities. Such was quite a tough decision for Boakai as the new standard bearer.
The Birthday Gift Ellen Never Expected
On October 29 last year, Madam Sirleaf’s birthday, she got a shocking birthday treat from the party that gave her the presidency. During a press conference held by the Unity Party in collaboration with other major opposition political parties, except for the CDC, Chairman Wilmot Paye openly accused Madam Sirleaf of rigging the election for the CDC.
In that press conference, without mincing his words, Chairman Paye accused President Sirleaf of breeding corruption, waste, mismanagement and selective justice over the 12-year period she led the country.
Vice President Boakai remained quiet while Presidential Press Secretary, Jerolinmek M. Piah, debunked the allegations.
Boakai Admitted Guilt by Association
But Paye was not the only one going strong on ex-president Sirleaf, the Chairman emeritus, Cllr. Varney Sherman (Senator of Grand Cape Mount County), who pulled resources together for President Sirleaf’s 2011 campaign, was part of the 2017 election problem.
Boakai admitted to this during the course of the campaign when he spoke on the famous Costa Show.
“I am guilty by association; that is the only crime I have committed against my long-time friend Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.”
“My association with Cllr. Sherman and Party Chairman Wilmot Paye, who won the chairmanship on white ballot, is the only crime I have committed,” he said.
He told the Costa Show host, Henry Costa and Liberians, that it was former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who told him that his association with the pair was the cause of President Sirleaf’s cold shoulder towards his presidential bid.
UP’s New Direction
Rising from the ashes of defeat, the Unity Party now looks forward to forming a coalition that would beef up its strength and bring fresh ideas and resources on board to keep the party afloat at least for the next six years.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that Mr. Benoni Urey’s All Liberian Party (ALP) is the preferred political party which the UP is looking forward to forming an alliance with.
While Paye undergoes investigation, Senior National Vice Chair, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, has been designated to act as Chairman.
Atty. B. Miller Catakaw has been appointed as Acting National Secretary General.
Representative Prince Moye is head the Inquiry Committee to which Paye has reportedly agreed to submit to.
