By: H. Richard Fallah
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County: The embattled Political Leader of a faction of Liberty Party (LP) and Senator of Grand Bassa County, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, has finally endorsed the Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Jeremiah Koung’s Ticket ahead of the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections.
Presenting her party`s (LP) position statement at the fair ground in Buchanan city, Grand Bassa County, on Sunday May 14, 2023, Senator Karnga- Lawrence said the LP’s decision to support the ‘JNB-Koung’ ticket, is in consideration of the selfless agenda that they brought to the table when they (LP) embarked on the journey with Ambassador Boakai to rescue Liberia.
“In consideration of the selfless agenda that we brought to the table when we embarked on the journey with this astute statesman and following two weeks of consultations with a broad spectrum of the membership of our party, stakeholders and sympathizers at home and abroad, I am pleased to announce that we wholeheartedly endorse the Boakai-Koung Ticket,” she announced.
The Grand Bassa County Senator noted that as the train gets in motion for the rescue mission, it is time that all Liberians including partisans and supporters of the Liberty Party across the length and breadth of Liberia and in the Diaspora join her (Nyonblee) to support the ticket.
“It is about the country and its future. Liberia stands to regain its lost image if we all work for the success of this ticket,” she said.
Senator Lawrence: “By this decision, we know that we are standing against some of the powerful people of this country. But, please bear with us, it’s time to set a new agenda for our country. And we want to actively contribute in setting that new agenda. Let God be God and man be man.”
The LP Strong Woman also used the time to thank international partners, for their involvement with Liberia from the inception of the civil crisis and even up to current.
She believes that the international partners can and will do more to help Liberia guide its democratic course.
“We have an ardent desire to work for Liberia that our children and our children’s children, would be proud of. Now is the time. A new Liberia is on the horizon. We must, as a nation, stand tall to the challenge,” she mentioned.
Senator Lawrence served as chairperson of the Women Legislative caucus of Liberia; the first female Senator of Grand Bassa County- serving two terms; the only female in the Liberian Senate of thirty (30) members.
NKL: “I call on all the women of Liberia to join me in this effort not because the ticket is a perfect ticket as there is no perfection anywhere, but because the two individuals on the ticket – Amb. Joseph Boakai and Jeremiah Koung are two of the proudest sons gifted to our nation by two humble and struggling women; two of the proudest sons with a plan to THINK LIBERIA, LOVE LIBERIA, and BUILD LIBERIA.”
“So, as mothers of the land, I call on you all to join me to embrace our children, our two fine sons, Joseph and Jeremiah, so that we can collectively rescue our country. And you know as well as I do, when we, the mothers, bless our children, God Almighty usually brings success to the family. Amb. Boakai and Senator Koung have asked me to be the Mother on the Rescue Team; and I, representing the women and girls on this rescue mission, wholeheartedly accept the offer,” she maintained.
The Liberian female Senator thanked God for his GRACE over her life and the public for the show of love and support to her from across the nation.
She also lauded Liberians in the diaspora, The UP Women in Liberia and the Diaspora; the LP Women in Liberia, the LP USA and LP Liberia, the people of the Bassa County.
Sen. Karnga Lawrence: “Madam Julia Bundo and the entire What the Women Say organization, my colleagues in the Legislature, my private consultants and advisors, The Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence Movement, church leaders , elders and chiefs, my office staff, my social media fans, the Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence National Youth mentoring teams, The Nyonblee Cares Foundation, staffers of the Liberian Senate in support of our cause, my father and family and children; I thank ALL OF YOU for the endless love and support.”
Most importantly, the Liberty Party political leader recognized the Liberty core team, who she said worked tirelessly and have agreed that it is not about them, but Liberia.
She in a particular way, thank Mr. Jacob Smith for being the brain behind the Liberty party; Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon for being the Senator of the most popularity who she noted has added value to the LP; Senators Steve Zargo, Jonathan Kaipay and representative Hans Barchue, for their commitment and wisdom to stay on course, their diaspora organization for its unending support, financially and morally, and also the clergy men and women who stood by the LP founding father Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine to lay the foundation of the party, and to the Friends of Brumskine Organization for being the Foundation Stone, and many others who have stood in defending the cause of Liberty Party.
“We assemble here today in fulfillment of a patriotic duty to take a course of action that will mark the beginning of a significant turn in the political history of our beloved country,” Senator Lawrence disclosed.
She maintained that the Liberty Party action and direction to go the JNB way is in execution of identifying, declaring and defending the right path, a path meant to put country first and foremost.
On April 28, 2023, former Vice President Boakai named Senator Lawrence colleague from Nimba County, Senator Jeremiah Koung, as his running mate in the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.
This naming was greeted with mixed public reactions; because of the overwhelming support the Grand Bassa county senator had gotten for the past two years from a cross-section of Liberians from across the Country as their preferred choice to be the running mate to Amb. Boakai.
But responding to the public concern on the Unity Partys standard bearers decision, especially those who wished her name (NKL) had surfaced as the running mate to JNB, the influential female Senator appreciated and recognized the public trust and support and all the concerns, but said, it must all be a part of God’s plan, that this time is Koung’s and not Nyonblee’s.
“We must now look deeper beyond not naming us, and put the country first,” She averred.
The Grand Bassa County vocal lawmaker said, when they initially decided to team up with Ambassador Boakai to embark on a rescue mission a few years back, she and her team did so against the background of his public service records, qualification, experience and his love for country.
She mentioned that to simply disengage from the process of rescuing the country on account of not being named as running mate, would speak less of her honesty and commitment to contributing to the change that Liberia so deserves and finds in the person of Ambassador Boakai.
“Again, we say, our loyalty to country is stronger and more important than our personal ambition or the personal ambition of any other individual,” Senator Lawrence asserted.
The Lioness as she is affectionately called by her admirers, further disclosed, that to arrived at the decision to support the Boakai-Koung`s ticket, the LP was guided by the following considerations: The safeguarding of the political image of she and my team, the general direction of her partisans and supporters, the prospects of forming a winning ticket at this time of the electoral calendar; and, the long-term best interest of the nation.
