UP Bleeds

Barely a day following the resignation of two Unity Party (UP) stalwarts, former Liberia’s Ambassador to United States, Canada and Mexico, Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, has officially quit from the ruling party. Political observers say the recently exodus from the UP is not a good sign for the party as the October elections is just about eight months away. Amb. Sulunteh also served as senior national vice chairman that successfully concluded with the re-election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.Mr. Harrison S. Karnwea Sr, Managing Director of the Forest Development Authority (FDA) and Dr. Kadiker Rex Dahn tendered in their respective resignation the UP earlier this week, joining Musa Hassan Bility, who joined the opposition Liberty Party (LP) from UP late last year. In his letter of resignation, dated February 15, Sulunteh told UP National Chairman Wilmot Paye that his decision to quit the party is predicated on the need for him to have an independent mind to focus on his future endeavors.“I present sincere greetings and best wishes from my family to you, the executive committee, officials and members of the Unity Party informing you of my decision to disengage with the party effective immediately as of the date,” Sulunteh told Paye.He said political parties are institutions where people gather with a shared vision and common goal, and therefore Sulunteh did not fail to tell his former chairman how well he enjoyed his relationship with the party. “It was a real pleasure to have worked and served over the years and to have been a proud member of the team that elected the leadership of President Sirleaf in two successive elections,” he said.Sulunteh said for the sake of unity in Bong County, and in order to save the soul of the UP, “we have come to withdraw our membership from the party with immediate effect.”He then thanked President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the opportunity to support the party for the past 12 years.He did not reveal his next move, but there have been recent speculations that he is to join ranks with the Alternative National Congress (ANC) as running mate to businessman Alexander Cummings, a report Sulunteh denied.However, political pundits said his departure from the UP stemmed from the party’s failure to elect him as delegate during the July 2016 National Convention in Gbarnga. Sulunteh’s exit from the party will also provide time for the Vice President Joseph Boakai to name his running mate as standard bearer of UP.Sulunteh told journalists in Monrovia yesterday that during his campaign for the position of senior national vice chairman of the UP, he promised to work with other party leaders to ensure the aspirations of the silent majority are addressed.Over the years, however, as in the case of other political institutions, the UP has also experienced lapses in the implementation of its own promises. “When some of us pointed to these lapses and proffered suggestions, we were branded as internal opposition in the party,” Sulunteh added.Meanwhile, many political observers, having learned of Sulunteh’s quitting the UP, have described it as a blow, because for the last eleven years, he has enjoyed a close working relationship with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)