P Uriah Suah
suahuriah86@gmail.com
Ganta City, Nimba county……Nimba County Senator, Nya D. Tuayen, has stressed the critical need for numerical and tribal balance in Nimba County at the Liberian Senate, stating this as one of the reasons for supporting the senatorial bid of Representative Samuel Kogar.
Speaking on Voice of Nimba in a joint interview today, simulcast on other radio stations in Ganta, the senator emphasized that the vacant seat created by the death of Senator Prince Johnson — who was from the Dan tribe and part of the Rescue Alliance — should be filled by a Dan individual who is also a member of the Rescue Alliance, in order to uphold the tradition and governance system of the county.
Senator Tuayen emphasized that the tradition of tribal balance does not imply that the Krahn, Gbee, Kpelle, and Mandingo tribes are not important.
Instead, it is a form of leadership initiated in 1964 by the leaders of the county at the time.
He further stated that the final list of accredited candidates released by the NEC shows that only individuals from the two dominant ethnic groups registered to contest for the position.
He drew attention to the 1985 elections, which brought onboard two sons from the Dan tribe. However, out of respect for tradition and the desire to maintain unity among the two largest tribes, the county’s leadership pleaded with them to relinquish one of the senatorial seats to be occupied by a Mahn son. Eventually, Mr. Gbonblee, who came third in the election, became senator, while Kohmoo Sackor was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs by President Samuel Doe.
Senator Tuayen urged Nimbaians to uphold the tradition of the county in the upcoming by-election, while warning against a repeat of what happened in the 2011 senatorial election, which he said disrupted the county’s long-standing tradition.
Meanwhile, Senator Nya Tuayen has dismissed public claims alleging that the county’s stakeholders are refusing to support female representation at the national legislature.
He explained that it was through their advocacy that Madam Kou Miapeh Gono was appointed by the President as Superintendent. He further emphasized that Nelson Beangar, the Unity Party Chairman of Nimba County, was initially recommended to serve in the position as a senior member of the ruling establishment, but due to their commitment to gender equality, a female was selected instead.
Senator Tuayen also mentioned that the Superintendent is the Vice Juror of the President and the Governor of the County. He clarified that the responsibilities of the Superintendent cut across the county, while a Representative controls only a district, and a Senator represents the entire county at the national legislature.
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