Monrovia – Expelled executives of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has officially rendered apologies and admitted to wrongly accusing the party’s Political Leader Ambassador Dee Maxwell Kemayah of orchestrating their expulsion from the political institution.
By Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
For a little over six months, MOVEE has been faced with internal political differences, fights, conflicts, and divides following the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Mr. K. Mathew Shan, Mr. Jeremiah E. Paye and Patrick Karmo as executives of the party.
Serious differences regarding the political direction, structure and governance in the aftermath of the 2023 General & Presidential Elections have been at the core of the conflict in the party.
Amidst the actions of few National Executive Committee Members, including, but not limited to the Sunday, May 5, 2024 “unauthorized press statement,” led by Mr. Jeremiah Edison Paye, some members of the National Executive Committee who were out of the Country for non-MOVEE related reasons resigned, especially the former National Chairman and others, though all of them lost legitimacy for being outside the country beyond six(6) months as agreed by the National Executive Committee and in line with the specified constitutional period of MOVEE, a situation, which exacerbated the conflict in the party.
The statement maintained that these actions on the part of said NEC members, led by Jeremiah Edison Paye, were carried out without the consent and/or without consultations with the Political Leader, Ambassador Kemayah and the National Executive Committee of the party.
Based on this, the National Executive Committee took indefinite suspension and subsequent expulsion actions against Paye, Mr. K. Matew Shan, Sr. and others for issuing press statements, including, but not limited to the aforesaid May 5, 2024 press release, radio appearances and other actions, which misrepresented the party’s Political Leader, and the NEC of MOVEE.
Angered by their expulsion, Mr. Jeremiah Edison Paye and Mr. K. Matthew Shan, Sr. filed a complaint against the Political Leader, Ambassador Kemayah at the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The expelled former executives of MOVEE at the time felt Ambassador Kemayah was the one who influenced their expulsions.
But addressing a news conference on behalf of the expelled former executives of MOVEE at the party’s headquarters in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Monday, November 4, Paye admitted that they (former executives)” wrongly accused” Ambassador Kemayah.
Case thrashed
On October 21, 2024, the Hearing Officer of the National Elections Commission (NEC) dismissed the case filed against Ambassador Kemayah on procedural grounds, in compliance with Section 9.3 of the National Elections Commission Regulations Relating to Political Parties, Coalitions, Alliances, and Independent Candidates.
Section 9.3 of the NEC Regulations Relating to Political Parties, Coalitions, Alliances, and Independent Candidates states that: “A party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism must be exhausted before an aggrieved party may seek outside relief”, and moreover, Article VIII, Section 5 of MOVEE 2016 Bi-Laws & Constitution provides that jurisdiction lies with the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the party to look into formal complaints. In his Final Ruling, the Hearing Officer essentially ruled that the complaints should be settled within the Party.”
Kemayah’s initiates reconciliation
Paye, in the statement recalled that, following the dismissal of the case in the final ruling by the Hearing Officer of the NEC on the complaint filed by Mr. Jeremiah Edison Paye and Mr. K. Mathew Shan, \Ambassador Kemayah proceeded with his reconciliation process within MOVEE, aimed at fostering genuine peace, unity and reconciliation amongst executives and partisans in the Party.
He added that this demonstration of continued astute leadership, statesmanship, mentorship, selflessness and forgiving spirit by Ambassador Kemayah, through his intervention in amicably resolving the conflicts in MOVEE is more than worthy of commendation.
“This display of invaluable leadership qualities by our esteemed Political Leader, His Excellency Ambassador Kemayah has laid the basis for genuine reconciliation within MOVEE, beginning with the holding of several reconciliation meetings amongst executives, active and inactive partisans and others who left the party for different reasons.”
Paye claimed that their withdrawal of the case and appeal from the National Elections Commission with prejudice and effective the October 29, 2024 Complaint Withdrawal Communication, submitted to the commission on October 31, 2024 is predicated on the prevailing realities; coupled with the critical need and their desire to move forward; aimed at fostering genuine peace, unity, and reconciliation in the Party.
The expelled executives maintained that all the aforesaid unprovoked, unwarranted and unfounded allegations and the case and all charges levied against their Political Leader, Ambassador Kemayah have been categorically withdrawn and dropped with prejudice, effective the October 31, 2024 submission date of the complaint withdrawal to the NEC.
The expelled MOVEE executives, however, reaffirmed and further recognized Ambassador Kemayah, as the astute Political Leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE).
“We still maintain and shall sustain, pursuant to the September 17, 2022 Election of His Excellency Ambassador Kemayah as the Political Leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) by the National Convention of MOVEE for a Six(6)-Year Term and the subsequent resolution of the National Executive Committee of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), which unanimously declared a Vote of Absolute Confidence in the wholesome integrity, professionalism, credibility, ability, leadership qualities and astuteness of Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. and effective the aforementioned resolution, which petitioned and mandated Ambassador Kemayah to guide, lead, and provide Political Direction for the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) as its Political Leader throughout the 2029 General and Presidential Elections.”
Convention pending
The expelled individuals emphasized that the National Executive Committee’s decision to hold an Emergency National Convention of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), for which, an approval request was submitted to the NEC remains unchanged, and a formal request shall be made to the National Elections Commission to urgently approve the September 3, 2024 request of the party to hold its aforementioned Emergency National Convention at which time, elections shall be held to fill in vacancies in the Party; including, but not limited to the positions of National Chairman, National Secretary-General, etc. and to also take decisions on other outstanding issues.
The Emergency National Convention Committee is also expected to constitute and draw out plans and activities for the party’s third National Emergency Convention.
A Special Constitution Review Committee would also be set up to devise a Draft Revised Constitution to the MOVEE 2016 Bi-Laws & Constitution for approval by the National Convention.
Paye recognized that given the urgency for opposition political parties to critique the ruling Unity Party Government on the governance of the state, MOVEE executives and partisans have embarked on a reconciliation process, with the utmost goal of moving the party forward in unity and peace, and common purpose.
“All executives and partisans, including all aggrieved partisans of MOVEE strongly reaffirm their unwavering endorsement and support to His Excellency Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., as our astute Political Leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE).”
Apologies
He continued: “To our astute Political Leader and well revered Statesman, His Excellency Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., as your children, we reiterate our heartfelt apologies and regret for all we did and said that offended you. We are very glad that you have accepted our apologies and opened your hearts to again work with us as your children. You are a true father and leader. Going forward, yes, we do recognize and honor you – Your Excellency Ambassador Kemayah as our astute Political Leader of the Great Orange Revolution, which is the Movement for Economic Empowerment MOVEE, but, more so, we consider you as our Teacher, Coach, Role Model and Mentor, and look to you for comprehensive guidance, direction and inter alia coaching.”
The expelled executives of MOVEE further vowed to remain committed and loyal to follow instructions, directives, leadership and guidance from Ambassador Kemayah and the NEC of the party.
“We are also sincerely apologetic and remorseful and appreciative to the MOTHER of the insurmountable MOVEE – THE ORANGE REVOLUTION, Rev. Mrs. Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah for her indispensable tireless role and support to our esteemed Political Leader, her beloved husband, His Excellency Ambassador Kemayah, in leading the party – MOVEE.”
Paye and the other expelled executives further commended and recognized Ambassador Kemayah as their ” Role Model, Father and Mentor of the Great Orange Revolution – The Movement for Economic Empowerment.”
“The Kemayah Family can be rest assured of our unwavering respect, honor, commitment, loyalty and service to them and our beloved insurmountable Movement for Economic Empowerment- MOVEE. In conclusion, we wish to reiterate our apologies and regret and tell our fellow members of the National Executive Committee and other partisans who saw our actions differently to understand that disagreements are common in politics. It is an ingredient of democracy. It strengthens the democratic nature of every political establishment. Instead of allowing the conflicts to divide us, let it strengthen our bond as one political family in MOVEE. “
They used the occasion to call on other executives and partisans of MOVEE not to “harbor hate” among themselves, but “put all our differences aside and focus on the common goal of moving MOVEE forward under the astute mentorship, guidance, statesmanship, inter alia coaching, fatherhood and direction of His Excellency Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. as our Political Leader and Father of the Insurmountable Orange Revolution – The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE).”
