By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The governing Unity Party Standard Bearer Joseph Nyumah Boakai, opposition Liberty Party Standard Bearer, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine, main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change Standard Bearer, Senator George Manneh Weah, and the All Liberian Party of businessman turned politician Benoni Wilfred Urey and others recently boycotted the second presidential debate organized by the Deepening Democracy Coalition.
The Deepening Democracy Coalition had earlier held the first presidential debate which Benoni Urey, Charles Brumskine and Joseph Boakai attended, but the public and the organizers said they were dismayed the invitees failed to show up for the debate.
The debate was held on September 26th at the Paynesville Town Hall, and saw the Alternative National Congress of Alexander Cummings, the Movement for Economic Empowerment of Dr. Joseph Mills Jones and Liberia Restoration Party of Madam MacDella Cooper actively debated issues of national concerns including the economy, national security, infrastructure, health and education among others.
The Unity Party said in a statement that their Standard Bearer Boakai was not in attended due to the pulling out of the Press Union of Liberia from the organizing team. The PUL pulled out of the presidential debate but it is yet to explain why they pulled out.
For the flag bearer of the ALP, Mr. Urey when contacted via mobile phone told Our Correspondent in Monrovia that he’s on his campaign trail in the Southeastern region of the country.
When quizzed about his absence, he angrily said he’s not obligated to tell our Correspondent why he did not attend the debate. He said the campaign was more important and he should not be quizzed by anyone about absence.
For the Liberty Party, the National Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Sanvee, the Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Abraham Dillon and the National Secretary, Mr. Jacob Smith were contacted, they could be reached as their private cell phones rang endlessly.
-For Senator Weah, this is the second time the CDC’s standard bearer has failed to attend presidential debate. During the 2005 Presidential debate, Weah was among few presidential contenders that show up for the radio debate.
A stalwart of the CDC, Rep. Acarous Gray said on a local radio station that Weah is out of the country attending to an invitation from the European Union.
