MONROVIA: One of the oldest surviving political parties, Liberia People’s Party (LPP), is making some strives in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections come October.
Renowned Human Rights lawyer, Tiawan Saye Gongloe, is the new political leader following the retirement of Dr. Togba Nah-Topiteh.
LPP’s Political Leader, Cllr. Gongloe has been struggling to find a suitable personality who will help to drive his fight against corruption campaign, if elected President of Liberia.
However, following series of consultations with LPP executives, family members and political stakeholders, Cllr. Gongloe has identified Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, formerly Emmanuel K. Urey.
Dr. Yarkpawolo (Urey) was born in 1981 in Gomue Village near Shankpallai Town, Kpaquellie Clan, Zota District, Bong County, unto the union of the late Kpelekple Yarkpawolo and Gormah Yarkpawolo. His father gave him the name Kwakegba (meaning “let us be here” in the Kpelle Language).
His mother passed away when he was two years old. He grew up with his aunt, Nyamah Yarkpawolo. His father, who passed away at the age of 104 years in 2014, was one of the first persons to learn how to sew clothes in Bong County.
Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo learned how to farm, fish, set traps and cut palms at an early age.
Reports had it that Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo learned from his father and his aunt early on that the purpose of life was to help others. His father often advised him to be honest in dealings with people, not to worry about material things but to appreciate God for what he has, values which he carries today.
Growing up in the village where he did not have access to education, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo’s friends gave him the name King.
“Even as a child, I demonstrated hard work and leadership ability and because of that my friends used to call me King”, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo told this paper in an interview over the weekend.
He started school at the age of nearly 14 years in the Bheta Refugee Camp in Guinea in 1995.
Prior to starting school, his father sent him to an apprenticeship center to become a traditional blacksmith.
He spent two weeks in the blacksmith shop, ran away and returned to the refugee camp, where he later started school.
During the first day of school, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo gave himself the Biblical name Emmanuel, which means “God is with us”.
He was using the full name Emmanuel King Yarkpawolo during his early days in school.
When peace restored to Liberia in 1997, Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo returned to Gomue where he helped his father to make rice farm.
Knowing how smart his son was, Oldman Yarkpawolo sent Emmanuel to live with his uncle, Joseph M. Urey, who was the District Commissioner for Zota District.
It was in Belefanai Town in 1998 that Emmanuel started using his uncle’s last name, Urey.
Joseph’s father was Mulbah Quoiquoi. Mulbah Quoiquoi was only ten years old when he was recruited under force labor to work on building the Liberian Government motor road.
One of the Urey’s took him to Careysburg where his name was changed from Mulbah Quoiquoi to Mulbah Quoiquoi Urey.
Mulbah stayed in Careysburg and had several children including Joseph M. Urey.
As Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo was completing his Doctoral studies at the same time writing his autobiography, it became clear to him that there was a need to use his biological father’s name.
His autobiography is about his life through the life of his father situated in the broader Liberian narrative. “I am very grateful to Joseph M. Urey and his wife Mama Urey for taking me in as their son and helping to educate me.
I officially informed them about my intention to change my name back to my biological father and they both agreed”, Dr. Urey Yarkawolo informed this media outlet.
COURT’S DECREE OF CHANGE OF NAME
“The Petitioner by and thru his Legal Counsel, filed a Petition before this Court requesting this Honorable Court to order the Change of his name from Emmanuel King Urey to “Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo”.
During the hearing, the Petitioner testified that the Change of his name requesting this Honorable Court is intended to reflect his biological parents’ name and render his identity more explicit and absolute. After conducting the necessary interrogations required by law in these proceedings, the Court observe that the intention is just and legal and there is no objection to the change of his name proposed by him”, Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar, assigned Circuit Judge, observed.
That the petition having been heard, same is hereby order granted and we now render that the name Emmanuel King Urey be changed to Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo beginning this 23rd day of December A.D. 2021. That all documents signed by the petitioner herein prior to this degree remain valid”.
This is the man Cllr. Gongloe has identified as his running-man to lead the LPP 2023 political machinery for the Presidency.
