Koung: Boakai is the Clear Favorite in Liberian Election
Monrovia – For the first time since being selected as the running mate to former Vice President Joseph Nyumah-Boakai, who is the standard-bearer of the former ruling Unity Party (UP), Nimba County Senator Jeremiah Koung appeared on the media on Monday to give his reasons for accepting the offer.
Appearing on the Spoon FM nighttime radio program, Koung, who is also the political leader of the Movement for Development and Reconstruction (MDR), turned down a request from Mr. Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) to run with him because, according to Koung, Liberians are “leaning towards Boakai.”
“In November 2022, while in Nimba County, I received a call from the hierarchy of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) that they wanted to meet with me in Monrovia. Upon my return, I met with Mr. George Wisner, who informed me that Mr. Alexander Cummings wanted me to be his running mate, and I asked for time to think about it.
“On the same day, I received a call from Mr. Musa Hassan Bility, who also informed me that Mr. Cummings wanted me to be his running mate, and I told him the same thing: that I needed time to think about it. After consulting my team and constituents, I realized Liberians are ‘lining towards JNB.‘”
He also believes he is the right man to replace incumbent President George Weah and put Liberia on the path of transformation and growth because, according to him, being in leadership for the past six years, Liberia has declined in every sector, and if nothing is done to address the situation and rescue the country, things could get worse.
He also told the public that he sees Amb. Boakai not as a saint but an honest man who has worked in government for years with no tainted records of corruption. “Boakai doesn’t have money because 12 years as Vice President he didn’t steal, and as President for the next 12 years, he will be broke because he will not steal public money.”
Since his nomination, there has been a barrage of criticism about his alignment with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), with whom he had a political relationship a few months ago, and questions about his commitment to the opposition. Many have described him as Senator Prince Johnson’s henchman, but he has responded by stating he is his own person.
“I am not Jeremiah Johnson; I am Jeremiah Koung. I am a senator for Nimba County like Senator Prince Johnson. If you have personal issues with Senator Johnson, take it up with him, not me, because I am my own person.”
His loyalty to the nation over Senator Prince Johnson has come under serious scrutiny by some members of the public who believe that because of the father and son relationship between him and Senator Johnson, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to stand in favor of anything that will come against the indicted former rebel general in Liberia.
Source: Front Page Africa