By: Preston Slami Panyonnoh
Tensions are mounting in Sinoe County as partisans of the Unity Party (UP) have threatened widespread and sustained protests if reports of plans to appoint Mr. Macdonald T. Wlemus as Superintendent of Sinoe County are confirmed. According to credible sources within the Sinoe Legislative Caucus, Senators Augustine S. Chea and Crayton Oldman Duncan—both elected on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)—have been actively lobbying President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to appoint Mr. Wlemus to the county’s highest local office.
This move has triggered deep resentment and fierce opposition from the Unity Party’s partisan base in the county, many of whom feel betrayed and sidelined after years of loyalty and sacrifice for the party.
An insider within the Unity Party in Sinoe, who has close ties to both the partisan base and the county legislative caucus, informed Verity Online News that the discussions around Mr. Wlemus’ possible appointment have angered many grassroots supporters and local UP executives.
“President Boakai must not listen to Senators Chea and Duncan. The people of Sinoe are not in support of their decision. We fought hard for this government. We can’t be left out while those who opposed us reap the rewards,” a disgruntled partisan stated.
Unity Party supporters argue that Mr. Wlemus is a longtime member of the CDC who openly criticized and campaigned against the Unity Party in the 2023 general elections. His loyalty, they say, lies with the opposition, and appointing him to a key local position would send the wrong message to those who worked tirelessly to deliver votes for the ruling party.
“He served as Development Superintendent before, but he also badmouthed the Unity Party during the last elections,” another source added. “Now that the party is in power, why should someone who fought against us be rewarded with such a sensitive position? There are qualified Unity Party partisans who remain unemployed and have shown patience since the ascendency of this government.”
The partisans believe that their loyalty is being taken for granted and warn that such an appointment would spark what they describe as “mass and unstoppable protests” across the county. Some even likened the situation to the Liberian proverb: “Monkey work, baboon draw”—suggesting they did all the hard work only for others to enjoy the benefits.
Several Unity Party-aligned professionals in Sinoe with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees also voiced their displeasure, indicating that competent and loyal individuals are available for the job, and therefore there is no justification for reaching across party lines to offer such a critical position to a CDC affiliate.
“This is not about tribe or region; this is about principle and fairness. The people of Sinoe County are not in support of Mr. Wlemus’ appointment, and the President must hear that loud and clear,” one local executive emphasized.
The growing backlash reflects the broader national tension within the Unity Party’s support base over appointments and recognition in key counties.
As the country continues to navigate its post-election governance agenda, President Boakai’s decision on the leadership of Sinoe County could set a tone for how political loyalty, competence, and party solidarity are rewarded.
