A wave of quiet concern rippled through Unity Party (UP) circles on Saturday, December 6, after President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, delivered a lengthy Special Message at the Party’s Homecoming, Fund-raising, and Headquarters Dedication Ceremony.
In his speech, Boakai did not mention former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf name among senior party figures honored for their stewardship.
Pres. Boakai paid tribute to founding fathers, fallen partisans, party chairpersons, and the National Headquarters Steering Committee for their contributions to the Party’s resilience, and growth.
But some observers and partisans noted that Madam Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president, who led the UP through three consecutive elections, and secured two national victories-did not receive similar recognition.
Party insiders say the omission was “noticeable,” especially given Sirleaf’s historic role in elevating the Unity Party to national prominence during her 12-year presidency. While the former president has maintained a more distanced relationship with the party since leaving office, analysts argue that her legacy remains deeply intertwined with the UP’s political identity.
Several partisans, who spoke quietly on the sidelines of the event, questioned why such a prominent figure in the Party’s history was not acknowledged.
“No matter the differences, former President Sirleaf’s leadership remains part of the Unity Party story,” one attendee remarked.
So far, neither the Unity Party nor Sirleaf’s office has issued a statement regarding the omission.
But as the party settles into its newly dedicated headquarters and rallies its base ahead of future political battles, questions linger over whether the oversight was accidental or a sign of ongoing internal distance between the former president and the party she once led.
Source: Tarr UB Garnett/Ablee-Jay
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