By: Stephen G. Fellajuah
Email fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
Concerned Members of the opposition Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), with voting rights and constituting majority members of the delegates to the Emergency Convention, have elected Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. for the position of “Political Leader” at the 17th of September, 2022’s Emergency National Convention in Monrovia.
According to the majority members, they as due paying members and officials of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), with voting rights at the first emergency convention scheduled for September 17, 2022, in the City of Monrovia, County of Montserrado, to decide who becomes Political Leader, National Chairman, and fill in other vacant positions in the party.
MOVEE is a legal political party duly registered and recognized by the Republic of Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) to participate in any political activities in Liberia.
“We have organized ourselves as “Concerned Members of MOVEE” (CMM) to seek the common interest, growth, and active participation of the party in political activities in the country. The following, which we believe have the proclivity to put the party into a state of perpetual dormancy or possible demise, are reasons for our action”, the statement noted
The concerned members further stated that since their action that compelled the resignation of the first standard bearer and subsequent sabbaticals of key partisans, the party administrative and operational structures are barely functional due to the inability of the past Chairman, to rally the necessary support to resuscitate MOVEE from collapse.
They said that the party various county structures are barely functional as a result of the national leadership gap, and this has resulted in lots of our partisans seeking political alternatives, mentioning that since Amb. Kemayah made the first deposit of thirteen thousand United States dollars (US$13,000.00), the party account has seen no substantive financial contributions or deposits, only withdrawals, and this has rendered MOVEE financially incapacitated.
Additionally, the statement further that it has come to the attention of Concerned Members of the party that MOVEE lacks the financial capacity to pay the current National Headquarters’ rental fees for the last two years and faces eviction if nothing is done to correct the situation.
“That the MOVEE statutory bank balance (US$10,000.00) at the Afriland Bank has been reduced to the bare minimum, which is an existential threat in keeping with the new regulations of the National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia.
That the current National Chairman has been outside of the bailiwick of Liberia for more than 9 months in violation of the by-laws and constitution, which brings into question his legitimacy by his absence from Liberia and results in a leadership gap.”
The group said that the records show that Amb. Kemayah has empowered partisans of the MOVEE by providing jobs to about ten partisans, and this is something that is rarely seen in leaders of today.
“That considering the forth going, we are convicted by our passion and love to see our beloved party responsibly regain its placement in the political corridors of Liberia through constructive engagement and alignment with institutions of shared political philosophy (empowering the Liberian people to empower themselves).
That we believe Senior Partisan Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. has the required technical knowhow, ingenuity, tenacity, and vigor to drive the much-needed renaissance of the Orange Revolution in the capacity of Political Leader, the nomination & petition statement emphasized further.
The election of Minister Dee-Maxwell Kamayah was done in his absence, as it remains unclear whether the Foreign Minister will accept the decision taken by his party.
In his appreciation statement following unanimous endorsement and induction of officials of the party, Robert M. Sammie, National Chairman of the MOVEE, acknowledged that Mr. Dee-Maxwell Kamayah was not at the convention because he out of the country. He said he was overwhelmed by the petition done by the majority members of the party and thanked petitioners for giving the new officials what he termed as golden opportunity to lead the party.
“MOVEE will move forward. Let stick together for what we have come together for. MOVEE is built on the foundation that Liberia should not remain poor. The party that provides alternative for the progress of Liberia”, Chairman Sammie told the gathering at the Emergency Convention held Saturday at the Crown Hotel in Paynesville.
Speaking further he said MOVEE will be an opposition political institution that will not be bitter at government but will proffer workable steps that will move Liberia forward, saying “Stop the negative propaganda against your own country. This country can never be built on bitterness.”
According to Mr. Sammie, there is a horizon that MOVEE will liberate Liberians from poverty and the party believes the government should provide for the citizens by promoting Liberian businesses.
Sammie stressed that MOVEE will never remain silent anymore, because the party believes in the economic empowerment of the people while disclosing that they will soon announce an economic program across the country.
The Convention was held under the theme: “The Stance for the Movement for Economic Empowerment Resolution Ahead of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections” Officials to stairs the affairs of the party include, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kamayah, Political Leader, Robert M. Sammie, National Chairman, Sir K. Matthew Shan, Vice Chair for Administration, Matama Kromah, Vice Chair for Resource Mobilization and Investment, Rosetta Jones, Vice Chair for Governmental Affairs among others.
The Emergency Convention was comprised of delegates from the 15 counties of Liberia.
