22/11/2023
Liberian diplomat and international civil servant sends congratulatory message to Amb Joseph Boakai and Sen Jeremiah Kpan Koung on their historic elections as President and Vice President of the Republic of Liberia!
I’m pleased to congratulate His Excellency Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai and Senator Jeremiah K. Koung on their election as President and Vice President of the Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷 . The elections out of which they have emerged as winners were competitive and have brought out a few lessons that need to be stenciled on the mental sheets of Liberians, especially political actors. It has been established that even though the Constitution of Liberia provides that a president can be in office for two terms, such depends on the Liberian people and one’s stay is not automatic or guaranteed once one has received the first term mandate of the Liberian people. It’s only possible to stay for two consecutive terms if and only if the president leads very well and delivers on the promises of addressing the bread and butter issues of the country in line with the expectations of the people and only the people . Simply, performance is the guarantee! It has also be made known that even a seated president is not above defeat in Liberia 🇱🇷.
Most importantly, I want to wholeheartedly appreciate and clearly declare my admiration for President Weah for the democratic act of graciously accepting his defeat and resisting the temptation of some of his followers who might have advised and maybe continue to advise, I am told, that over their “dead bodies that power should exchange hands” even though they have lost. In our Liberia where the rigging of the 1985 elections unfortunately paved the way for political actors to invest in the 1989 Civil War, leaving more than 250000 of our compatriots dead, properties worth millions of dollars destroyed and the motherland painfully plunged into underdevelopment and poverty, power needs to continuously exchange hands peacefully with our living bodies but not over a single person’s dead body. No ! Never!
Frankly speaking, had President Weah just ventilated that he has won and his supporters should celebrate, his supporters who want him cleave or cling onto power no matter what and opposers who want him leave power because they are convinced of their political win would have clashed in the streets and corners of Liberia with damaging consequences. Thankfully, President Weah avoided this for which he must be applauded . President Weah is a very good example on the African continent and the world that political leaders who lead their people and manage their resources in democratic societies should only continue to do so if and only if the people and only majority of their people through the ballot boxes 🗳️ provide them such mandate. Leaders such as President Weah deserve honor for being respecters of their people’s will.
Even though there were isolated incidents of violence during the campaign and electoral processes, let me congratulate the Liberian people for being peaceful and recognizing that only through the ballot boxes they can express themselves freely in terms of admiration for their choice of candidates and rejection of those they don’t want. With this mentality, war and destruction can only be issues of the past that can never ever be visited upon our fatherland anymore. Yes, you Liberians have won the admiration and honor of the global community. That’s the way to go! Thank you 🙏🏿!
To my brothers and sisters who will be leaving officialdom in January 2024, your lesson like ours before you, is that it’s always better to know that “power is like a Kru canoe” that capsizes when it capsizes. So, live in power and with power as though there’s a tomorrow and most importantly prepare and sophisticate yourselves honestly for the tomorrow that certainly comes no matter what. To those who will be privileged to enter or re-enter officialdom, don’t allow power and money to manage you for arrogance to overcome you but manage and use power to the betterment and advancement of our fatherland. No matter what, there’s time for everything and nothing lasts forever! No even political power!
Finally to the Present-elect, and Vice President-elect, please know that you have been elected to manage people and their resources but not to allow people and their resources manage you in ways that make you feel that you have arrived. Liberia needs and deserves much and the responsibilities will yours after inauguration to drive the country forward in the right direction.
Thank you, President Weah!
Thank you, Liberians!
Again, congratulations to His Excellency Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai and Senator Jeremiah K. Koung on your election!
Liberia 🇱🇷 has won and let peace prevail always!
In my lane, especially back on my hustle ground in New York, I remain.
Patriotically,
Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Sr.
