MONROVIA: With provisional results from the National Elections Commission (NEC) clearly pointing to a runoff election in November this year between Unity Party Alliance Standard Bearer Joseph Nyuma Boakai and President George Manneh Weah of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, Ambassador Boakai has reached out to members of other political institutions in the country to join forces and rescue Liberia for the “country to breathe freely again”.
“We plead with everyone to join the Rescue Team and finish the job to make our country to breathe freely again. Liberia will rise again and flourish under our leadership.
“Together, we can, and we will effectively tackle the KUSH epidemic in our country and save the future of our young people. We want to bring honor to our families, stop the bleeding of our resources, offer a responsible government and rescue our country. We will not let you down!
“To achieve this, we crave your sense of patriotism. This is a call to our elders, our youths, our mothers and all Liberians. Our journey is not over. We have a runoff. This is the real test to our commitment. I am convinced with God our helper, we will Prevail!” a visibly reinvigorated Ambassador Boakai said to thunderous applause from party stalwarts and well-wishers who had gathered at the Unity Party Sinkor Fiamah Campaign Headquarters on Thursday, October 19, 2023 to hear their leader address them for the first time after casting their ballots which brought the Unity Party neck to neck with the ruling Coalition.
Expressing his gratitude for the huge turnout of Liberians who risked the elements to cast their ballots for a better Liberia under a new political dispensation, Ambassador Boakai used the occasion to shower praises to God Almighty whose grace and mercy he said have kept Liberia going despite the vast vicissitudes.
“Led by divine grace and a deep penchant for change, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, the Liberian people stood in long lines across our beloved country to exercise one of the most sacred rights offered by the Liberian Constitution to all Liberian citizens – the right to vote.
“The Liberian People in countless numbers who stood patiently in lines (pregnant women, the elderly and many others) never seen in recent times to democratically remove President Weah from the presidency of Liberia. Liberians decided to vote competence over incompetence, accountability over the brazen looting of our state resources, progress and development and progress over retrogression and mediocrity.
“As is now evident from the results of the presidential election announced by the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Liberian people, in their righteous rage, have sent President Weah a clear warning that his days in the presidency are numbered and casket which symbolized his campaign was an indication of the demised to a failed presidency and to make President Weah a one-term president.
“Through their votes, the Liberian people have presented to President Weah and his CDC the reality they feared the most throughout these elections – a second-round face-off against me, the Liberian people and our broad- based alliance – the Rescue Team. Liberia has won!
“I therefore want to take this time to express profound thanks, appreciation and deep gratitude to the Parties of the UP Rescue Alliance, all our partisans and sympathizers dispersed throughout the length and breadth of this country who exercised their rights and cast their votes for the Rescue Ticket. We want to thank all other Parties who engaged in this process to ensure a peaceful and competitive process. We have proven that a united and determined people can resist violence and demonstrate to the world that we are different.
“We want to thank the local and international observers, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Nations, European Union, United States and all others who continue to walk with us on this very tortuous journey.
“With your votes and support, we have made history. We proved that a people determined to achieve a noble goal can prevail. Despite the looting of our national coffers, the violation of every decent rule protecting our young democracy, the scare tactics and intimidations, threats to our supporters and government employees and the campaign of fear, President Weah and his CDC were unable to break the resolve of our people.
“On the journey to October 10, 2023, you, our people, defied rain and thunder; you defied the scorching sun and the suffocating heat; you defied sleep and fatigue. You walked long distances and crossed many rivers and creeks in common bond and solidarity with the Rescue Mission. You did so because you love Liberia deeply.
“My fellow Liberians, our country needs to be fixed from a broken governance system. Our country needs to be swept of corruption. Our country needs to be redeemed. Our country needs to be reunited. Indeed, our country needs to be rescued.
“To achieve these lofty goals, we need every Liberian and residents alike. I am convinced that all the talents and ideas we need to rebuild our country cannot be found in a single party, tribe, county, region or religion. That is why I am committed to forming a government of inclusion when we ultimately achieve our grand goal of democratically evicting President Weah from the Executive Mansion in a few weeks.
“We shall form a government that truly reflects the political, ethnic, regional, and religious, and gender diversity of our country. We shall form a government in which the true value of a Liberian is not determined by loyalty to party but by loyalty to country, competence and love for country.
“We are, therefore, reaching out to our brothers and sisters in the other political parties to unite. In Union strong success is sure. We will overall prevail,” former Vice President Boakai intoned as the crowd erupted in rapturous applause.
Reaching out to solidify alliances
According to a well-informed Unity Party Alliance high-up who spoke to this paper on condition of anonymity, the Rescue Alliance is frantically reaching out to political institutions and actors that participated in the just-ended October 10 presidential and legislative elections.
“The party is leaving no stone unturned during this runoff. Everyone is important to our ultimate goal of democratically removing Weah. In the coming days, the Liberian people will see a recalibrated Unity Party Alliance that incorporates the aspirations of all well-meaning Liberians. We have no time to waste,” the UP stalwart intoned.