Gbarnga, Bong County – Former Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Jeremiah Sulunteh – a one-time strong political figure in Bong County – is now reflecting on a big decision made during the runoff election in 2017 to support the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Sulunteh’s political party, the Alternative National Congress (ANC), sat on the fence as a political institution even though several executives took their sides, pledging support to either one of the two political parties during the runoff.
For Sulunteh, who was eying the senatorial seat in Bong County in case of a CDC victory, and a possible vacancy with Madam Jewel H. Taylor excelling to the vice presidency, opted to align with the CDC during the runoff, making his intention public.
It was widely believed that with Sulunteh supporting the CDC, the party could return the favor by supporting him for the vacant senate seat after the election of Madam Howard Taylor.
Surprise Declaration Dealt Sulunteh First Blow
The political talk of the CDC supporting Sulunteh spread like wildfire in Bong County until the surprise declaration of intent by newly elected District#3 Representative, J. Marvin Cole of the CDC.
Cole was relatively unknown in Bong County politics as compare to Sulunteh until while serving as City Mayor of Gbarnga City, his dismissal set the ball rolling by bringing him to prominence.
The political newcomer upset incumbent George S. Mulbah by winning the District #3 seat but with less than three months at the Capitol, Representative Cole’s confidence has grown extensively. He now feels that he is best suited to replace Madam Taylor.
He eventually declared his intention for the senatorial seat, which was followed by an endorsement by President George M. Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor recently.
The declaration and endorsement by President Weah struck a big blow o the senatorial ambition of Sulunteh.
It became apparent that Sulunteh could take the gamble to join the CDC and subject himself to a primary with Representative Cole but again the stakes were high that it was a risky decision given lawmaker’s position as chairman of the National Patriotic Party in Bong County, a confidante of Vice President Taylor and a senatorial aspirant who has already been endorsed by President Weah.
Compelled To Abandon Political Quest
Although Sulenteh has been a household name in Bong County politics for few years now, new trend in Liberia’s body politics based on the results of the 2017 presidential and representative election where the CDC won large votes in 14 of the 15 counties of Liberia, has compelled him to abandon his senatorial ambition.
During the 2005 general and presidential election, Sulunteh delivered Bong County to the National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) where he contested on the party ticket as vice presidential candidate to Cllr. Winston Tubman.
Few years down the line, his popularity in Bong dwindled especially after he took up the post of Ambassador of Liberia to the United States of America, keeping him far away from the people.
His return to national politics was not favorable as his interest in serving as either a presidential or vice presidential candidate on the ticket of the ruling Unity Party did not materialize, leaving him to find a new political home. This landed him to the ANC but things did not work for the ANC, which performed below par.
With the performance of the ANC in Bong County fresh, Sulunteh opted not to take the risk of contesting the county senatorial…
