Amid growing frustrations among grassroots members of the Unity Party over the lack of jobs and political appointments, National Chairperson Luther Tarpeh has called on supporters to remain steadfast, describing their sacrifices as acts of patriotism.
Speaking at the inauguration of a new Unity Party sub-office in Montserrado County’s District #12 on Sunday, Tarpeh addressed mounting criticism over what some see as the marginalization of long-time loyalists ~ those who actively campaigned for the party during difficult periods.
“Everything they say ~ that you were running around and that you didn’t have a job ~ tell them flushing the CDC out of power was a patriotic duty for me,” Tarpeh declared. “And when they say again that you don’t have a job, tell them the sun will soon shine on me.”
In a fiery address laced with political comparison and defiance, Tarpeh sought to boost morale among disgruntled party faithful, many of whom feel overlooked since President Joseph Boakai assumed office.
“When they say you’ll leave the party, tell them Unity Partisans are hard to die,” he added to cheers from the audience. “I am proud to be your National Chairperson because you are a reasonable people. I can assure you that President Joseph Boakai and the Unity Party have not forgotten your efforts.”
Tarpeh contrasted the current administration’s performance with that of the previous ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), criticizing the Weah-led government for alleged corruption and misplaced priorities.
“Let’s speak the truth and make the comparison,” he said. “When our men took over in 2018, what was the story? There was the sixteen-billion missing saga. At that time, their President had already built his mansion in Rehab. It is still there today.”
Highlighting what he described as tangible progress under President Boakai, Tarpeh pointed to the recently completed road to the Southeast ~ a project that had been deemed “impossible” under the previous government.
“Today, nobody is passing through Ivory Coast because that road is open,” he said, crediting Boakai’s leadership for infrastructural development and improved drug enforcement. “Drug traffickers are worried, searching for new bases in West Africa, because this government is serious about redeeming young people from addiction.”
He also noted the absence of sanctions against current officials, claiming it as a sign of integrity within the Boakai administration.
“By this time in their government, some of their ministers were already under sanctions for corruption. But in our time, nobody has been sanctioned because when anyone tries to do something funny, President Boakai simply says, ‘Go and sit down.’”
The Unity Party chair’s remarks come at a sensitive time as internal and external pressures mount on the Boakai administration to deliver on campaign promises, particularly to its loyal base. Tarpeh’s message was clear: stay the course, remain loyal, and trust in the leadership’s long-term vision.
