SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – D. Dorr Cooper, the superintendent of Nimba, has accused Vice President Joseph Boakai, the standard bearer of Unity Party, of being responsible for why the road from Ganta to Yekepa remains unpaved.

The project, which started during the administration of former Superintendent Fong G. Zuagele when Cooper was serving as assistant superintendent for development, has been at a standstill since feasibility studies were completed and the subsequent clearing areas along the road were finished.

Cooper said materials meant for the road construction were diverted to a Gbarnga to Lofa road project, which he said was ordered by the vice president. He said crushed rocks were ordered to be moved from Nimba to Lofa.

Meanwhile, Cooper has challenged Boakai to dispute his claims, although he himself has not yet provided proof of his statements.

“That’s what I’m saying, Ambassador [Joseph Boakai] himself should be coming out as a sitting vice president, who has earned the respect of the Nimba People and the Liberian people, to say no, that is not true,” Cooper said. He added that when Boakai refutes his claims, “then, I will prove that.”

Although technically a member of Unity Party, Cooper has recently annoyed the party’s ranks, skipping the party’s Nimba convention and eventually declaring his support for George Weah.

Cooper now says he is gearing up to release volumes of information about Boakai in the coming days when the campaign for the anticipated runoff is declared open.

According to the Nimba superintendent, his decision to support Weah has prompted constant insults and negative statements from members of Unity Party’s youth wing in Nimba. He added that his decision to support CDC in the coming runoff was triggered by the vice president deceiving him and the people of Nimba by not selecting a running mate from the county.

“All those who are supporting different parties today were supporting the Unity Party,” he said, “but upon hearing that the vice president did not take his running mate from Nimba, they all went to different parties.”

Cooper previously served as mayor of Ganta and assistant superintendent for development under his predecessor, Fong G. Zuagele. For both positions, he was appointed by Pres. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Featured photo courtesy of D. Dorr Cooper