CESTOS, River Cess – Rep. Alfred Juweh of River Cess’ first electoral district has vowed not to support Vice President Joseph Boakai in his presidential bid amid reports in a newspaper that the lawmaker had endorsed the Unity Party candidate.
Juweh’s statement comes as a rebuttal to a front-page article in the July 24 edition of the Parrot newspaper which carried the caption, “River Cess rallies behind VP Boakai.†The article contained photographs of Juweh and other River Cess lawmakers, including Senators Francis Paye and Dallas Gweh.
The paper was widely circulated in River Cess during Boakai’s visit to the county on the 24th and 25th of July.
According to the paper, four River Cess lawmakers were on a committee that organized the vice president’s endorsement rally.
“Parrot is told that VP Boakai and delegation departs Monrovia today for Cestos with all River Cess political leaders at the Legislature, including electoral district numbers one and two representatives, Alfred Juweh and Byron Zanwhea,†the article read.
Speaking to The Bush Chicken via mobile phone recently, Juweh said he is not a supporter of Boakai and was not a part of the endorsement rally.
“I am a representative for the Coalition for Democratic Change, and my presidential candidate is George Weah,†Juweh said. “I am not among those lawmakers who pledged their support to the VP and I did not attend the endorsement program either.â€
Juweh said he does not know why his photograph appeared in the paper and he would take up the issue with the newspaper’s publisher.
“They can’t just put my picture in the paper without me knowing anything about it,†Juweh said. “I am going to check it up and if this information is true, I will take the paper to court.â€
The representative said he would not support giving the country to Unity Party for 18 years.
On Tuesday, July 25, an endorsement rally for Boakai, organized by some members of the county’s legislative caucus, former superintendent Wellington Geevon Smith, and the local county administration, was held in Cestos.
The event brought together commissioners of the eight administrative districts of the county, paramount and clan chiefs, as well as some axillaries of groups in support of Boakai.
Featured photo by Eric Doue
