MONROVIA – A renowned Liberian scholar, communication expert and publisher, Dr. Abdoulaye Dukule, says the former ruling party needs to question itself for losing the just-ended Lofa County senatorial by-election in its main stronghold where political bookmakers had heavily hedged their bets on Unity Party Candidate Galakpai Kortimai to sweepingly win. Dr. Dukule then wondered whether the Unity Party will field the same campaign team in 2023.
“One may want to dismiss it, but it is a matter that deserves serious attention. The Unity Party’s loss in the Lofa senatorial by-election should bring the leadership of the party to ask itself some serious questions. The first question would be: who made the decision to contest an election when you have no confidence in the referee? The second question: Lofa almost went to war to get that seat filled. When given the opportunity, they chose the person they wanted. Someone failed to appreciate the situation and dropped the ball. Cllr. Jallah is as good as anyone to be Lofa senator. But with the political godfather campaigning against him with all the collaboration, he shouldn’t have come even close to winning.
“What happened to the UP machine? Will this same campaign team run the national campaign in 2023? This is one election it should have won. Has UP grown out of the 2017 pit? Nefarious ghosts still lurking in the dark. There might be a need to clean the closets,” Professor Dukule intimated.
Making the comments in a social media post recently which he titled “Random Thoughts”, Dr. Dukule says he harbors serious doubts about any chance of the constituent members of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) putting aside their acrimonious differences and reunite as the main alternative force that could unseat the Weah regime in 2023.
“ANC Alex Cummings delivered a speech that called for reconciliation. Courageous. He said they (politicians) must put their differences aside and unite for the good of the country. He said only through unity can they defeat President George M. Weah.
“Reconciliation. Maybe. A united ticket? That would be a tall order. Lot of blood was spilled in courts and in the media. We are fond of “let bygones be bygones.” Sweep everything under the mat. We did it until things blew in our faces. 1979. 1980. 1984. 1985. 1989. 1996. 2003. Reconciliation is not an event; it is a process. It will take lots of baby steps to restore the broken confidence. Pursuing the same goal does not imply following the same path.
“But George Manneh Weah (GMW) has challenges of his own. With an educated electorate, he would be gone, long before the first ballot is cast. But as Lofa has shown us, anything is possible. Weah has a lot to explain. Too many to list. Millions, billions disappearing in thin air. Corrupt officials indicted by state integrity agencies but still working in government. How can GMW ever convince anyone that he won any election when he maintains in office an indicted Chairperson?
“I feel like asking this question: Have you no shame? Take public funds and distribute it to your family and friends? Have you no honor or integrity? Saying ‘others did worse before us’ is not an adequate response as you promised hope and change, not to make things worse. Kleptocracy is a systemic phenomenon. Everyone steals. For food. For fun, or because of the virus “kleptomania – who can steal more.
“She said: It’s our time to chop. You Chop I Chop (CIC),” an apparently frustrated Dukule remarked caustically.
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