WITH THE GENERALLY peaceful and non-violent conduct of the 10, October, 2023 President and Legislative elections and later, the 14, November, 2023 Presidential runoff elections, Liberians have been applauded worldwide for this rare democratic, pioneering and indelible achievement, particularly on the African continent.
FROM The UNITED States, through its President Joseph Biden, to the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among many other nations and organizations, Liberia and its leaders including incumbent President George Manneh Weah, have been at the receiving end of worldwide approbations for the country’s 2023 elections which outcome were duly acknowledged and forthrightly embraced by the Nation’s incumbent President.
President Weah did not only acknowledge his defeat at the 2023 polls to his longtime political rival, former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, of the opposition Unity Party (UP), but subsequently applauded Mr. Boakai for his success via the ballot box.
As if his concession speech to Ambassador Boakai was not enough, Weah assured the Nation to work with the President-elect for a smooth transition of state power, something to which the incumbent President has, so far, shown unwavering commitment and dedication.
Similarly, President-elect Boakai publicly acknowledged enthusiastically the incumbent President’s concession of defeat, and at the same time, expressed delight and resolve to work with incumbent President Weah in the best interest of the country and in the strengthening and consolidation of Liberia’s hard-won peace and democracy.
In this connection, President-elect Boakai, reciprocally named members of Unity Party (UP’s), Transition Team which is now cordially working with incumbent President Weah’s transition team.
For us, at The INDEPENDENT newspaper, we consider these important or vital measures by both incumbent President George Manneh Weah and President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, as steps taken toward safeguarding and protecting Liberia’s hard-won peace which is paramount for national development and progress.
This is why the need for all Liberians, including supporters of both President Weah and President-elect, Boakai, at home and abroad to embrace one another as brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, friends and love ones, and particularly as Liberians with the same destiny cannot be overemphasized.
Indeed, we must collectively and individually rise above whatever disagreements and acrimonies we may have had relative to our recent elections and to work together in the rebuilding of the country. In other words, we, as a Nation, must eschew all forms of bitterness and focus our pressure time, energy and available resources in rebuilding Mama Liberia for the betterment of all and sundry.
