Former Vice President Joseph Boakai Thursday launched an open appeal for Liberians to help him secure the country’s top office as he heads into the presidential runoff election with incumbent President George Weah.
Boakai is trailing his main rival with 796,513 or 43.3% votes after first round of voting on October 10. Neither he nor Weah hit the constitutionally required 50% plus one vote for outright victory.
He has promised to form a government of national unity that will improve governance and fight corruption.
“To achieve these lofty goals, we need every Liberians 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 unite: “In Union strong success is sure. We will overall prevail.”
See full statement below
Preliminary Statement by Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai, Standard-bearer of Unity Party, following the October 10,
2023 Elections
October 19, 2023
Fellow Citizens, Dear Liberians
God is good. All of the time God is good. All praise goes to God Almighty whose grace and mercy have kept our nation.
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 in 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 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 and States and all others who continue to walk with us on this very tortious 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 rules 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 Liberians 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 unite: “In Union strong success is sure. We will overall prevail.”
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 res cue our country. We will not let you down!
To achieve this, we crave your sense of patriotism ( 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!
Together, LET US THINK LIBERIA; LET US LOVE LIBERIA; AND LET US REBUILD LIBERIA.
