New Democrat (Monrovia)
26 May 2011
Barely 4 months to legislative and presidential elections, the ruling Unity Party is marred with intense rivalries and bickering that threaten its cohesiveness as both home and US-based enclaves deepen their heels for supremacy.
According to an Executive Mansion press release, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in the US to speak at her prestigious Harvard University, has intervened between 2 rivals UP factions claiming legitimacy against one another.
The release: “The UP members have been embroiled in a leadership dispute involving two rival groups, one headed Mr. Gayah Fahnbulleh and the other by Mr. Sam Gibson.
“The President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, commended members of the Unity Party-USA branch for the level of support for the policies and programs of the Government. Their support, the President said, has been crucial to the overall success the government has achieved.
“The President urged members of the group to work together to achieve the objective of the party and avoid distraction which may undermine the unity and cohesiveness of the UP USA-branch.
“The Unity Party Standard Bearer directed the two groups to work out a compromise arrangement which would bring the leadership of both sides under one structure. The contending parties agreed to work together in the interest of the party and the State to reach an amicable resolution of the leadership feud within the USA-branch of the Unity Party, in keeping with the directives of the Standard bearer.
The contending rivals welcomed the President’s intervention and assured her of their willingness to work together in harmony for the betterment of the UP-USA branch.”
Meanwhile, the party’s Legislative Caucus, after weeks of acrimonious disagreement over its chair, Rep. Bhofal Chambers of Maryland County, Wednesday dumped him without giving reasons in its terse press release.
But Rep. Chambers, who produced his pre-dated resignation letter following news that he has been kicked out, had decided to contest the scheduled elections as an independent.
Disagreement over contract politics in Maryland, with Rep. Chambers claiming a company he favours citing its bigger investment agenda in the County, has been rejected without reasons over another with far smaller capital investment.
He has also been a whistleblower in recent times, pointing out that laws the Legislature had passed had emerged with different versions from the Executive. He said relations between him and the President have been sour over the months.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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United Party’s Rivalries