By Moses M. Tokpah/Margibi correspondent
Ahead of the December 8, 2020 midterm senatorial election, the hope of the former Director General of the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), James Emmanuel Nuquay getting the support of former Lawmakers in Margibi County is being dashed as all efforts applied by him did not materialize.
This is because several of those former Lawmakers who worked with him in the 52nd and 53rd National Legislatures have endorsed other Senatorial Candidates in the County despite effort by him to reconcile with them.
According to sources who confided in this Liberia Public Radio. Mr. Nuquay had a reconciliation talk with former Lawmakers in the County including former Senator Clarice A. Jah so as to win their support over but it all fell on rocky grounds.
Three of the former Lawmakers including Hon. Roland C. Caine, Hon. Kollie Sorsor Jallah and Hon. Stephen S. Kafi, Jr. are said to be supporting the senatorial bid of Margibi District #2 Representative Ivar K. Jones while Former Senator Clarice Alpha Jah has endorsed the candidacy of a US-based Liberian, Rev. Alexander B. Collins.
What is not clear yet is whether former Representative Saah Richard Gbollie will endorse or support him (Hon. Nuquay) as he remains mute on the issue.
It is only former District #2 Representative Ballah G. Zayzay who partially moves with Hon. Nuquay in District two while former Representative Roland Opee Cooper is yet to make any public statement.
Unlike former Senator Jah who publicly endorsed Rev. Collins’ candidacy giving reason for her decision, the rest of the former Lawmakers are yet to tell the Margibians why they are not supporting Hon. Nuquay, but they have been taking their candidate to their constituencies holding acquentency meetings ahead of the official opening of campaign activities.
Former Senator Jah in her endorsement statement said her decision is based on what she termed as Rev. Collins substantial and visible assets as contributions to the county and can assure the public and people of Margibi that he will make a great leader.
She indicated that the County has been greatly divided and she is hopeful that Rev. Collins could restore differences for the forward march of the county when elected December 8, 2020.
“Margibi County has diversity issues that I think he can help us solve” she added.
What surprises many Margibians is the fact that Hon. Stephen S. Kafi, Jr. who was a member of a “leadership team” that was built by Hon. Nuquay before and during the 2017 general and presidential elections in the county has now turn his back to his team leader (Nuquay).
Some Margibians who spoke to our reporter on anonymity they have the believe that Hon. Kafi’s decision not to support Hon. Nuquay’s Senatorial bid is because he (Nuquay) played a major role in supporting the current Representative of district #3 Ellen Attoh Wreh against him in the 2017 general and presidential elections.
The Margibians also narrated that they believe that former Senators Caine and Jah are not supporting Hon. Nuquay’s senatorial bid because he “fought them” when they were seeking re-election in 2011 and 2014 respectively.
It can be recalled that in 2011 Hon. Nuquay brought and supported the incumbent Senator Oscar A. Cooper against former Senator Roland C. Caine on grounds that Hon. Caine served for 12-years and as such he needed not to be given additional 9-years.
In 2014 Hon. Nuquay also brought and supported Senator Jim W. Tornorlah against former Senator Clarice A. Jah after assuring her of his support stating that he wanted to work with somebody who will listen to him and help him develop the County.
For former Representative Kollie Sorsor Jallah, the citizens said they are yet to understand why he is not supporting Hon. Nuquay.
Hon. Jallah during the 2014 midterm Senatorial election supported Senator Jim W. Tornorlah who was brought by former Speaker Nuquay.
Meanwhile, some of the former Lawmakers in a chip-chat with this writer revealed that if Hon. Nuquay wins the upcoming Senatorial election, he has nothing to offer them less to talk about the County looking at the past history.
can also be recalled that Hon. Nuquay served as chairman on the Ways, Means and Finance Committee at the House of Representatives for about 8-years and served as speaker for more than a year.
Hon. Nuquay who was elected in 2005 as independent candidate served on the Ways Means and Finance Committee as chairman for the period of eight years at the Lower House (House of Representatives) and later served as Speaker for more than a year.
