Kogar, whose political credential is “jumped over PYJ’s dead body, should not firt Koug…..this is na gud for de konty.” Kogar: “The VP should not consider me as his bag boy, I am a siting senator…..” The political fight in Nimba County, is said to have just began, “because Senator Samuel Kogar is of the opinion that Vice President, Jeremiah Koung, wants to kill him. On this allegation, some may think, it is power greed or plenty money bisnay, Kogar is going against the VP (both Nimbaians), but the reality is yet to show face. Just this week, Kogar, whose political credential is “jumped over the corpse of Senator Prince Y. Johnson, accused and blasted VP Koung. Kogar: “The VP should not consider me as his bag boy, I am a siting senator with records of political achievements.” Kogar has accused VP Koung of straining their relationship by entertaining ‘gossips’ that he, Kogar, harbors ambitions to become vice president. While Koung is yet to officially react, a Koung supporter reversely said: Kogar is the father of cheap gossips, including someone’s personal life.” Kogar, who spoke on BKS TV on Monday, August 25, said VP Koung has increasingly relied on hearsay rather than the trust and political solidarity they once shared. BKS TV is based in Buutuo, a town near the Liberian/Ivorian border in northern Nimba County. “The vice president is listening to people gossiping to him that Kogar wants to be vice president,” he said. “But he is not looking at the time he himself became representative and the things we used to do together. People now who want to get close to him, he is listening to them more.” Kogar can gossip and listens to gossips, almost every day in his life, so, for wetin he fortin Koung?” one of their supports inquired.
Appointments and Betrayals
Kogar cried that despite their long-standing alliance, he has been shut out of key appointments and decisions in the county since Koung took office. “Since he got his seat as vice president, how many persons have I recommended in this government as presidential appointee? Zero,” Kogar said. “Every appointment in Nimba was done by him.” To this statement, a political analyst remarked: “so, no more CSA, but Kogar-Koung employed?” Kogar accused Koung of bypassing him on candidates they had discussed privately, leaving him embarrassed before his own constituents. “When we agree on something, he deviates from it,” Kogar noted.
A Rift in Nimba Politics
Kogar warned that the discord risks undermining unity in the country second most populous county, a key battleground in national politics. “We’re supposed to be knocking our chest and saying, we will turn Nimba County over to our political party,” he said. “If the Vice President wants to treat me like a bag boy, I won’t agree. I was duly elected by the people of Nimba, not by the VP or the President.”
Hurt, but not undermining
Despite his frustration, Kogar said, he has no intention of undermining Koung or the ruling Unity Party. So for wetin dey fortin na? “I will never undermine anybody in my life. When you do me wrong, I’ll tell you straight,” he said. “But on the contrary, they will not see my face, because I’m not happy with the way I’ve been treated.” In the just-ended district #5 by-election, Kogar was supporting Bories Barlea through the many text messages urging voters to elect him, while Koung was reportedly supporting Kortor Kwagrue, the winner. Kogar reconfirmed his commitment to serve Nimba with “dignity,” but warned that continued marginalization could fracture the county political bloc and weaken the party national standing.
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